Germany’s chancellor calls for reform, expansion of European Union
- He also highlighted the importance of not overlooking concerns of smaller EU states, as he addressed a conference of European social democrats
- A copy of his speech circulated in advance indicated that Scholz also wanted the EU to be stronger, also in military terms, and proposed a coordinated procurement of weapons and equipment
Scholz also said the principle that requires unanimity for decisions in foreign policy and tax policy should be gradually phased out, though he acknowledged this would take some persuasion.
“But I also say clearly: if a geopolitical Europe is our aspiration, then majority decisions are a gain and not a loss of sovereignty,” Scholz told delegates at the Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
However, it is important that the concerns of smaller states are not overlooked. “In the future, too, every country must have its concerns heard; anything else would be a betrayal of the European idea,” he said.
A copy of his speech circulated in advance indicated that Scholz also wanted the EU to be stronger, also in military terms and was proposing a coordinated procurement of weapons and equipment, establishing an EU rapid reaction force by 2025 and a genuine EU headquarters for European armed forces. “We must confidently advance common, European defence efforts.”
EU states should resolve conflicts over financial and migration policy, according to Scholz, who said migration was an issue that needed to be managed with some degree of foresight. Irregular migration should be reduced, while efforts should be made to support legal migration and to bring in skilled workers from abroad.
