Metsola meets German chancellor ahead of European Council summit
The European Parliament president stressed the need for Europe to adapt to remain competitive
European Parliament president Roberta Metsola met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Tuesday ahead of a European Council meeting in Brussels.
In a speech during her visit, Metsola said the EP wanted to see more progress on Europe’s Single Market, less red tape for industries and concrete action to make it easier for companies to invest and grow in Europe.
Europe has remained focused on boosting investment and competitiveness since the publication of a landmark report by a former Italian premier and European Central Bank chief, Mario Draghi, which called for "unprecedented" European investment to rival superpowers such as the US and China.
Speaking in a keynote address at the Europe 2026 Conference, “A Stronger Europe in the Age of Geopolitics”, the EP president stressed that “Small steps will no longer be sufficient in today’s world”.
“Europe needs to adapt, move faster, and show that our way of life - our European values - can shape our future in a turbulent world, just as they have shaped our past”, she said.
Merz thanked Metsola for her cooperation and the European Parliament for its strong support to improve European competitiveness, a statement announcing the visit noted.
While in the German capital, she also held talks with the Bundestag president Julia Klöckner, justice and consumer protection minister Stefanie Hubig, industry leaders and Malta’s ambassador to Germany, Marlene Bonnici.
She also addressed students at an event organised by the Hertie School and the Jacques Delors Centre.
The conference was organised by media outlets Die Zeit, Handelsblatt, Tagesblatt, and WirtschaftsWoche.