It was a lightning-fast inaugural visit. Within just six hours, newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz dashed through a series of high-level meetings in Brussels — with European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Merz made his priorities unmistakably clear: supporting new trade deals, de-escalating the tariff standoff with the United States, curbing irregular migration, and strengthening Europe's defense posture.

His message was one of unity: "Problems can only be tackled together," he said, adding that the German government is committed to doing exactly that. It must have sounded like music to the ears of European Council President Costa, who welcomed the fresh energy Merz brought to Brussels and emphasized the importance of Germany as a reliable partner.

After years of hesitation, many in Brussels are cautiously optimistic. "Leadership is what we need," said Karel Lannoo of the Brussels-based Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS) to DW, pointing to the political vacuum that followed the implosion of the German traffic-light coalition in November last year.

Brussels has since had to contend with the fact that Germany has been unable to speak with one voice on many key European issues, as Rafael Loss, political scientist at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin, explained.

New approach to defense

Few issues illustrate the need for a unified European voice more than defense. Decisions have been delayed for years, and Brussels is eager to move faster, Lannoo pointed out. Merz echoed that urgency during his visit, stressing the need for more efficiency — not just higher spending. This, he argued, required a pragmatic approach to joint procurement and shared arms development, ideally within the NATO framework and in close cooperation with US partners.

"America is indispensable for Europe’s security, now and for the long term," Merz said alongside NATO Secretary-General Rutte. The chancellor expressed hope that the upcoming NATO summit in June would result in a "shared strategy" with Washington. He left open what shape such a strategy might take.

Rutte agreed. He had long emphasized that stronger European defense depended on Germany being more assertive and better equipped — both militarily and politically. Lannoo echoed this sentiment, especially regarding the war in Ukraine: "When you're at war, hesitation is the worst you can do," he said, adding that he hoped Merz's determination would mark a turning point from the indecision that characterized Olaf Scholz's chancellorship.

In response to the war in Ukraine and mounting pressure from Washington to negotiate a settlement, the European Commission recently unveiled a historic defense strategy, along with plans for financing large-scale rearmament. Merz has thrown his support behind these efforts, including calls to relax EU fiscal rules and potentially raise joint defense debt, though he insisted such borrowing should remain a last resort.

While international partners welcomed the move as a long-overdue step toward European strategic autonomy, reactions at home were far more mixed. Critics in Germany have accused Merz of abandoning the country’s long-standing fiscal orthodoxy, with some viewing the softening of the debt brake as a dangerous precedent — even as the domestic defense industry quietly applauds the shift. The challenge now will be to sell this pivot to a skeptical German public, while maintaining momentum in Brussels.

A political powder keg: migration

But migration could become the real political flashpoint. Merz has placed it high on his agenda, announcing a "de facto entry ban" for migrants without proper documents from the very first day of his chancellorship. That unilateral declaration triggered concern across Europe — both because it appears to contravene European law and because it raises fears of undermining the Schengen zone, the EU’s cornerstone of passport-free travel. Critics warn that such measures could set a dangerous precedent, weakening trust among member states and threatening one of the EU’s most tangible achievements.

Speaking alongside European Council President Costa, Merz sought to calm fears, assuring partners that "there is no German solo attempt here," and promising full adherence to European law. Still, neighboring countries like Luxembourg, Austria, and Poland were quick to voice opposition. They argue that informal rejections at Germany's borders are not legally feasible, and warn of long border delays and traffic jams if permanent checks are reintroduced.

Commission President von der Leyen also pushed back diplomatically, saying: "Migration is a common European challenge and it needs a common European solution."

Back in January, Merz and his party pushed a controversial non-binding motion on asylum policy through the Bundestag — with support from the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. It marked the first time such an alliance had occurred, and sent shockwaves through German society. The proposal called for harsher asylum measures, increased deportations, detentions, and permanent border controls. Days later, a subsequent draft bill narrowly failed to pass the Bundestag, despite receiving supporting votes from the AfD.

Reviving Europe's economy

Also on Merz's packed agenda: Europe's faltering economy and escalating trade tensions with the US. Together with his Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners, Merz has already driven a seismic shift in Germany's fiscal policy, amending the constitution to allow for massive borrowing aimed at overhauling infrastructure and defence.

Karel Lannoo sees this as a welcome and necessary change. He stressed that Brussels was now looking to Berlin not only for leadership but for economic momentum. Despite being in recession for three years, "Germany remains the most important European country, with the largest economy and enormous potential," he said.

This also includes addressing the trans-Atlantic trade rift. Merz has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, which have hit Germany's export-driven economy particularly hard. In a phone call Thursday evening — his first direct contact with Trump as chancellor — Merz called for the "complete abolition of tariffs" between the EU and US, advocating for "zero [tariffs] for everything and for everyone."     

Trade talks and a call for unity

On Friday, Merz sought to position himself as a consensus-builder rather than a solo actor. He revealed that the US president had invited him to Washington for further trade talks, but emphasized that any negotiations must involve all 27 EU member states. His message was clear: Germany does not act unilaterally. A staunch supporter of trans-Atlantic relations, Merz appears determined to maintain close ties with Washington without sidelining his European partners in the process.

Still, internal EU tensions will likely be hard to avoid — particularly around international trade. Merz has called for a swift ratification of the long-delayed free trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc, a deal strongly opposed by France over environmental and agricultural concerns.

That's why Paris, too, has been watching Merz's Brussels debut closely — especially since it came just a day after stops in Warsaw and Paris. Visiting the French president is a traditional first step for any new German chancellor. Adding Warsaw on the same day was a notable break from protocoll.

"Seeing [Polish Prime Minister Donald] Tusk and [French President Emmanuel] Macron in one day shows Europe: we can't do this alone," said Lannoo, noting that while the Franco-German engine remains vital, broader alliances are now essential. Merz seemed to agree. On Friday, he made it clear he wanted to listen to big and small EU member states alike.

Edited by: Maren Sass