U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on March 3, 2026. Jonathan Ernst/ReutersGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the European Union’s budget system to be streamlined to prioritize spacing on defense and make the bloc more competitive.Mertz’s speech, delivered on Thursday, comes ahead of a major debate over the 2028–2034 $2.2 trillion EU budget.
Germany Calls on EU to Streamline Spending, Focus on Defense
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