European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen (R) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) give a joint press conference at the EU headquarters in Brussels. AFP
After back-to-back trips to boost ties with key neighbours Paris and Warsaw, Merz's visit sought to turn the page on months of political turbulence that left Berlin hamstrung on the EU stage.
"Germany needs to play a strong role, an active role, in the European Union, and the German government is going to do so," he told a news conference alongside EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.
"In a way, I'm coming home to Brussels, coming home to Europe," said the German leader who, although in many ways an Atlanticist, cut his teeth as an EU lawmaker three decades ago.
Merz has already made his EU priorities clear: supporting new trade deals -- and de-escalating the tariffs standoff with Washington -- striking a balance between climate action and support for industry, curbing migration, and bolstering Europe's defence capability.
"The challenges that we face are big challenges, and we can only meet those challenges together," he said.
'Common European solutions'
Merz's meeting with von der Leyen -- a fellow German conservative who calls him a "friend" -- was being closely watched for clues to their working relationship.
It is no secret that many in Brussels are glad to see the back of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, after what was often seen as an underwhelming tenure at the helm of Europe's largest economy, from 2021 to 2025.
There was potential for early friction between Merz and von der Leyen after Germany's new government moved unilaterally to reject most asylum seekers at its borders -- to the notable displeasure of Poland.
The step drew a reminder from von der Leyen that migration required "common European solutions" by the bloc's member states -- and that any border curbs "have to be time limited".
But she also said Berlin seemed to be playing by the rules -- coordinating with the commission and its neighbours -- reducing the likelihood of a clash with Brussels. Merz insisted Germany was not going "solo" on migration.
The pair made clear they would collaborate closely on trade -- where Germany's export-driven economy is especially vulnerable to US President Donald Trump's tariffs campaign -- as well as in the critical area of defence.
Sea change on defence
Merz said he had conveyed to Trump that any trade negotiation must be conducted with all 27 EU states, and that the US leader had invited him to Washington for further talks.
On defence, he signalled Germany's intent to play a key role in driving the continent's rearmament -- faced with US disengagement and war on its doorstep in Ukraine.
But after earlier casting doubt on Trump's reliability as an ally, he insisted the United States remained "indispensable" for Europe's security. The messaging from Washington had become more positive, he added.
"I now can be more optimistic about the future of the NATO alliance," he said at a meeting with NATO head Mark Rutte.
'Exceptional'
The chancellor's visit came as Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered a cohort of friendly leaders for a World War II victory parade in Moscow -- underscoring the growing threat posed by Russia on Europe's eastern rim.
Merz insisted the ball was "exclusively in Moscow's court" to agree to a US plan for a 30-day ceasefire.
On the matter of security, the chancellor and his Social Democrat coalition partners have already ushered in a sea change in fiscally conservative Germany, changing the constitution to enable mass borrowing for defence and infrastructure.
In that spirit, he has endorsed steps by Brussels to free up hundreds of billions in additional defence spending by member states, including by relaxing the bloc's fiscal rules.
And speaking alongside von der Leyen, he did not close the door on the possibility of "exceptional" European joint borrowing for defence -- as during the pandemic -- something the previous Berlin government considered taboo.
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