Berlin, May 29 (EFE).— German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Thursday that the most important task for Europe was to become strong enough to restore peace and ensure its long-term preservation, pledging that would lead this effort.
“Our historic task is to make Europe so strong that it can restore peace on our continent and secure it for the long term,” Merz said at the Charlemagne Prize ceremony in the German city of Aachen, where the award was presented to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“I want to say clearly today: is prepared to take on the leadership of this task, in close coordination with our European partners and neighbors.”
Merz said that, since the return of war to Europe with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europeans have come to realize “in a truly existential way” how deeply the values of democracy and freedom underpinning the European project are under threat.
“It is worth defending freedom and democracy with resolve, and, if necessary, fighting to preserve them,” he said.
Merz, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a day earlier, promised that would continue ing Ukraine “with all its strength” and contribute to the defense of its partners and allies.
He noted that recently amended its constitution to provide almost unlimited funds for national defense and for ing allied nations.
“We are working to further strengthen European cooperation between our defense industries, not only within the European Union (EU), but also with partners like the United Kingdom, Norway, and others.”
Europe’s defense and transatlantic unity
Merz added that is “willing to make far-reaching decisions” at the NATO summit in June in The Hague.
“These decisions will fulfill Europe’s responsibility for its own security and further strengthen the transatlantic alliance as a whole,” he said.
He stressed that Europe’s mission also includes deepening the transatlantic partnership, one based on equality and lasting into the future.
“This is essential both for establishing and sustaining a just peace in Ukraine, and for maintaining peace across Europe as a whole,” he said.
The chancellor reaffirmed that “ stands at the service of a strong and united Europe” and “will not stand aside when it comes to defending and strengthening freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human dignity on our continent.”
“In these days, weeks, and months, we are collectively deciding the future of our continent, very concretely. Because history doesn’t simply happen. Politics is made by people. And history is shaped by political decisions,” Merz said.
He noted what he described as a “new spirit of unity” among European nations, reflected in the recent t trip to Kyiv by four European leaders, including himself, in high-level meetings across European capitals, and in the agreement brokered by von der Leyen with the United Kingdom, a step he said paves the way for renewed ties between London and Brussels.
“Ursula von der Leyen is a determined advocate of a strong Europe,” Merz said.
In congratulating her on the Charlemagne Prize, he also highlighted her leadership in ongoing negotiations with the United States to resolve trade tensions in the interest of the EU’s 450 million citizens and its single market.
As for himself, Merz vowed to work “with all my strength for a Europe that draws new energy from its unity, continues to serve its people, and—above all—defends their freedom,” the conservative leader said. EFE
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