The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has urged this Friday for the European Commission to adopt a "firm" stance to safeguard the economic interests of the European Union against global imbalances and practices that "distort markets," but without neglecting "constructive dialogue" with trading partners, in a debate marked by tensions with China.
"The Commission will have to adopt a firm position when defending our interests, while maintaining constructive dialogue," Merz stated at a press conference following the European Council held in Brussels, after a discussion among heads of state and government on global macroeconomic imbalances, in which economic relations with China and the strengthening of European trade defense instruments played a central role.
In this context, the German leader emphasized that the EU "has weight in the world" and must use it to protect its interests, although he avoided advocating for direct confrontation with Beijing, stressing that the European response must combine determination and dialogue.
Merz added that there is broad support among member states for the idea of protecting themselves "against imbalances and trade practices that distort markets," so that the Union "needs to have effective instruments to effectively defend its interests worldwide."
Brussels Designs New Defense Instruments
On the other hand, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, confirmed that the Community Executive will develop new tools, including a "diversification instrument," in order to support European companies in risk reduction and the decrease of strategic dependencies.
"As President Costa said, the Commission will work on new instruments, such as a diversification instrument," indicated the German conservative, who valued the "clear support" of the leaders for a European response based on the unity of the member states and dialogue with China, which, she reiterated, "remains crucial."
The president of the Community Executive has clarified that this new mechanism will not be directed against any specific country, but will have a general approach to support European companies in their risk reduction strategies. In her opinion, this process has been "too slow" in recent years, even though "the risks were visible" and required a more agile reaction.
"The best thing would be not to have to use it because things change for the better," Von der Leyen pointed out, although she warned that current pressure forces the Union to prepare better and equip itself with new tools to strengthen its economic resilience.
The head of the Commission has assured that Brussels will continue this work and that the issue will continue to occupy a prominent place on the EU's common agenda, in parallel with the debate on competitiveness and the urgency of reducing the bloc's strategic dependencies.