Merz’ European Policy-making: The End of the ‘German Vote’?
Friedrich Merz’s European ambition is to turn Germany, long seen as hesitant into a leading actor within the European Union (EU). To that end, he has pledged to end the “German vote,” a phenomenon that epitomizes the paradox of a country both indispensable and frequently absent from European decision-making.
Germany’s indecision, often rooted in internal coalition division, has translated in Brussels into delays, significant abstentions, and a gradual erosion of trust among its partners. Worsened in recent years, this uncertainty has weakened Germany’s credibility and contributed to paralysis in EU decision-making. To address this, Merz’s government has introduced new mechanisms in Berlin designed to increase coherence in Germany’s European policymaking.
Substantively, Friedrich Merz’s European agenda rests on two closely linked pillars: European sovereignty and competitiveness. His government promotes deregulation of administrative burdens and an industrial strategy focused on innovation, energy, and the single market, aiming to prevent the EU from falling behind the United States and China.
In practice, however, the first months of the CDU/CSU-SPD government have shown that the promise to end the practice of the “German vote” still faces partisan and procedural tensions. These continue to produce tactical abstentions, attempts to bypass coordination channels, and rivalries between ministries.
On the European stage, Merz relies on the Franco-German partnership, the Weimar Triangle, and other small-group formats. His more intergovernmental approach fuels both expectations for clearer German leadership and concerns among member states wary of an overly assertive “Germany-first” approach. Yet the window of opportunity to shape a lasting European agenda, particularly with France, remains narrow and uncertain as 2027 approaches.
Jeanette Süß is researcher at the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), working in particular on the European Union and the Franco-German relations.
This publication is available in French (pdf): "La fabrique de la politique européenne de l’Allemagne", Etude de l'Ifri, janvier 2026.
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Ifri, Study, January 2026
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Merz’ European Policy-making: The End of the ‘German Vote’?
Jeanette SÜß
Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was created in 1954 by an inter-governmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and France, in order to raise awareness of Germany in France and analyze Franco-German relations, including in their European and international dimensions. In its conferences and seminars, which bring together experts, political leaders, senior decision-makers and representatives of civil society from both countries, Cerfa develops the Franco-German debate and stimulates political proposals. It regularly publishes studies through two collections: Cerfa notes and studies as well as Franco-German visions.
Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think tanks. In addition to its research and debate activities, Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation through original cooperation programs. This is how in 2021-2022, Cerfa led a program on multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program is aimed at young professionals from both countries interested in the issues of multilateralism in the context of their activities. It covered a wide range of themes relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament. Previously, Cerfa had participated in the Franco-German future dialogue, co-led with the DGAP from 2007 to 2020, and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Daniel Vernet group (formerly the Franco-German Reflection Group) which was founded in 2014 upon the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.
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