European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made her first public appearance after recovering from severe pneumonia during a two-day summit in Berlin on Friday. She met with Manfred Weber, President of the European People’s Party, and Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Key Topics: European Security and Migration

The summit agenda included European security, migration policies, competitiveness, and reducing bureaucracy. Discussions also focused on Europe’s evolving relationship with the US ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

Friedrich Merz, whose CDU leads the polls ahead of Germany’s federal election in February, commended Sweden and Italy for their progress in curbing illegal migration. He criticized Germany for taking only “small steps” and expressed openness to a stricter EU-wide migration policy, a central part of the CDU’s election platform.

Far-Right Influence Looms Over Talks

Although the summit aimed to strategize for the months ahead, the growing influence of far-right politics may dominate discussions. With the German election just five weeks away and Austria experimenting with a conservative–far-right coalition, the CDU faces increasing pressure to address these shifts in Europe’s political landscape.

As the election approaches, Merz’s stance on migration and the far-right’s rise will likely remain pivotal issues for the CDU and Europe as a whole.