German reforms are necessary due to "Putin's war against Europe" — Merz

The Guardian reported the information.

“A war against Europe, and not just a war against the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Merz said.

He warned that these reforms also respond to hostile activities against Germany, citing attacks on critical infrastructure, arson, espionage, disinformation, and broader efforts to divide and weaken the EU.

“We will defend ourselves against these attacks on our open society, on our freedom … with everything at our disposal,” he promised.

Merz stated that Germany must "rebuild our defense capabilities, in part from scratch," prioritizing procurement, European satellite systems, and drones. Signaling his future policy as chancellor, he emphasized awarding contracts to European manufacturers "whenever possible," calling it a "paradigm shift in defense policy."

He added that Germany's initiative could lead to “a new European defense community,” open not only to EU members but also to countries like the UK and Norway.

Merz emphasized the need for further reforms, calling for “a technological boost,” streamlined planning and approval procedures, and “a genuine reduction” in regulations, including those from the EU.

SDP co-leader Lars Klingbeil called the reforms “a historic decision” that could mark “a new direction” in Germany’s history and “a positive beginning” for both Germany and Europe.

He said that Europe needs to acknowledge it finds itself between “aggressive” and “neo-imperial” Russia and “unpredictable” U.S., and “must now do our homework.”