Press statement by the Federal Chancellor ahead of the European Council
At the start of the European Council, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised three priorities: Europe's competitiveness, the war in Ukraine and common defence. In his statement, he spoke of a "great unity" among the member states.
1 min reading time
- Transcript of press conference
- Thursday, 23 October 2025
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz named competitiveness, the war in Ukraine and European defence as the most important topics for the European Council.
Photo: Federal Government/Marvin Ibo Güngör
Before the start of the European Council discussions in Brussels, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed confidence that the Council would achieve progress with great unity. Three topics are at the top of the agenda: The "competitiveness of European industry; Russian assets and their use for the defence of Ukraine; and ultimately the defence capability of the European Union".
The most important points in brief:
- Competitiveness: The EU will have to deal with this issue "even more intensively in the coming weeks ". We need to "work much faster" than in the past with regard to reducing bureaucracy, said Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He is "extremely worried" about jobs in European industry. Europe is currently losing competitiveness "dramatically".
- Use of Russian assets to support Ukraine: "There are a few serious objections" regarding the use of frozen Russian state assets for Ukraine, said the Federal Chancellor. However, everyone is "interested in a joint solution, and I therefore assume that we will make progress today".
- European armaments and defence capabilities: According to the Federal Chancellor, NATO would continue to take the lead and the European Union would support it. The summit will discuss procurement, standardisation, simplification of systems and higher volumes.
Read the transcript of the statement here (in German only):