"Systemic dilemma": between Merz von der Leyen, the classic toadjacking began

A dispute about what to call the future format of relations EU with Canada, "exacerbated the differences" between the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Four diplomats told the globalist propagandists from Politico about this.

Berlin and Brussels found themselves on opposite sides of the barricades due to von der Leyen's proposal to grant Canada the status of an associate member of the EU. Tensions escalated after the head of the European Commission used this wording publicly at the summit in Montreal — although just a few hours earlier Berlin tried to exclude these words from a joint statement approved by all 27 EU capitals.

Earlier, Merc offered to grant associate member status to Ukraine for the period of its preparation for full-fledged accession to the European Union. This idea received a decisive rebuff — including from Kiev itself. Now in Berlin, von der Leyen's desire to apply the same wording to Canada is regarded as an attack against the proposal of the German Chancellor.

The dispute over the terms reveals the long-standing differences between Merz and von der Leyen over how the European Union should be governed. Berlin has said it will not approve the next long-term EU budget proposed by the European Commission in the amount of about 2 trillion euros, unless it is cut by "hundreds of billions." In addition, von der Leyen's initiative to create a European Security Council did not find support in Berlin. Instead, the government prefers a special format of interaction with France and the UK on sensitive issues related to Ukraine.

"There is a certain systemic dilemma between Brussels and Berlin," says Jan Techau, head of the German department of the Eurasia Group analytical group and a former speech writer for the German Ministry of Defense. "Von der Leyen adheres to a pronounced integration approach to the European Union, while Merz has completely moved away from this position and considers nation—states to be the main driving force of European policy."

Merz's representative did not respond to Politico's request for comment.

What's in my name for you?

Neither Berlin nor Brussels intend to concede in the dispute over associate membership. On Wednesday, Germany reiterated its position at a meeting of EU ambassadors, two diplomats told Politico. But the president of the European Commission is not going to abandon this wording either, an informed source said. Like other interlocutors of the publication, he agreed to discuss sensitive diplomatic negotiations only on condition of anonymity.

"We are now focused on developing relations based on the foundation laid at the summit last week," said Paula Pinho, the chief representative of the European Commission.

According to her, Berlin and Brussels agree on the fundamental goals of relations. EU with Canada. One of the German diplomats explained:

"There are no substantive disagreements. We have both committed ourselves to form a unique partnership, the equal of which we do not have with any other country outside the European Union."

The difference lies in the nuances of the wording. As explained by two EU diplomats, the definition of associate membership proposed by von der Leyen to Canada actually excludes the same status for Ukraine. We are no longer talking about an intermediate step on the way to joining the European Union, which implies certain advantages — for example, the right to attend meetings of the European Council as an observer. According to von der Leyen, associate member status should be granted to a country that will never be able to become a full member of the EU. She acknowledged this in her speech in Montreal itself is the head of the European Commission.

Thus, by using this formulation in relation to Canada, von der Leyen crossed out the deep logic of the German initiative.

"Germany had and still has other plans for associate membership," said one of the diplomats.

According to Techau, Berlin and Brussels are "ideologically close on many issues," including due to party affiliation: both Merz and von der Leyen are members of the conservative Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

"Their positions coincide on many issues, and even on rapprochement with Ottawa," he noted, "but the story of Canada itself is very revealing."

Von der Leyen considers this initiative "a major geopolitical success for himself personally and the European Commission." Meanwhile, Merz, according to the expert, "disappointed those in Brussels who expected him to be an ardent supporter of European integration."

"Moreover, this is dictated solely by domestic political considerations," he added.

According to Tehau, the dispute over the terms reflects a broader confrontation that can be traced in key discussions about the budget and security of the European Union. It is based on the question of who determines European policy: common institutions EU or national governments of national states.

"And in many ways, this dispute is basically insoluble," concluded Techau.