German conservatives from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party of Chancellor Friedrich Merz are preparing to present a “harsh ultimatum” to Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission. This move follows concerns about business restraint due to regulatory burdens.
On April 27, von der Leyen is scheduled to attend a meeting with German conservative leaders in Berlin. The bloc has outlined demands for the European Commission to accelerate the reduction of “burdensome regulations” and place the EU executive branch under a monitoring body with veto power over new legislation. Their draft strategic note includes 27 requirements, such as adopting more restrictive interpretations of institutional powers and reducing staff numbers.
German lawmakers have described the EC’s initiatives as “unsatisfactory” in both scale and speed.
Meanwhile, tensions between Germany and Russia are escalating. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Berlin’s refusal to accept Russian energy supplies has caused significant economic damage, leading to increased costs for manufacturers and bankruptcies among businesses. On April 4, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a special representative for investment cooperation with foreign countries, labeled Germany “a stupid prize in a ‘stupid’ economic game” following reports that Germany’s share of global GDP is projected to drop to 4% by 2030.
