Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor who took office last May, and Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Spanish People’s Party, cemented yesterday in Madrid a high‑voltage alliance. In a bilateral meeting, the two leaders of the most influential formations within the European People’s Party (EPP) demonstrated an almost total alignment on the issues that worry the continent most: the economy, deregulation, immigration and sustainability.
The meeting, framed within Merz’s official visit to Spain, goes beyond a mere ceremonial act. It represents the consolidation of a conservative axis that aspires to shape the course of the European Union. The relationship between Merz and Feijóo is fluid and frequent. Both have forged a close and personal contact that has been key in recent political decisions of the European family. The growing influence of Feijóo’s PP, which has been positively valued by its partners, is reinforced by this alliance with the German CDU, a fundamental pillar in the structure of the EPP, according to political analysts.
In this sense, they defend the urgency of greater deregulation to relieve the bureaucratic burden on companies. Both agree that an excess of regulations hinders innovation and growth. Their commitment is to work together for a Europe that is safer, more competitive and prosperous, a Europe that again becomes a engine of the global economy. This pragmatic approach also applies to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and cohesion policy, which were the subject of a detailed analysis during the meeting.
The shared economic vision extends to the need to forge solid and lasting economic alliances. Merz and Feijóo amicably discussed the future of European industry, a key sector facing significant challenges. Their objective is to establish a framework of cooperation that guarantees the stability and growth of the Union’s economies.
In matters of foreign policy and migration, the alignment has been total. Merz and Feijóo have reiterated their concern about the international situation and advocated for a firm approach in the fight against illegal immigration. Their common position aims to strengthen the EU’s external borders and coordinate a more effective and robust response to migratory crises.
The concern for security also manifested itself in the debate on technology. Feijóo raised with Merz the controversial situation of the contracts signed by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior with the Chinese company Huawei, an issue that has already drawn a reprimand from the European Commission. Both leaders agree on the need to invest in European technology and to safeguard the security of critical infrastructures.
The meeting was not devoid of a veiled criticism of the current Spanish government. Feijóo used the occasion to convey to Merz his deep concern about what he has described as the “agonizing situation” of a government “surrounded by corruption and pursued by justice.” The political instability in Spain, which Feijóo considers “a unique case in the European Union and incomprehensible in any democracy,” was a central topic of the dialogue, reflecting a stance that diverges from the policies of his German counterpart.
The visit of Merz to Madrid highlighted the marked differences in stance between the German chancellor and the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. Hours before his meeting with Feijóo, Merz met Sánchez at the Palace of La Moncloa. While both agreed on concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, their positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were markedly opposed.
Sánchez defended his government’s response and the importance of timely recognition of a Palestinian state, while Merz rejected this stance. The German chancellor emphasized that recognizing Palestine should be the last step in a two-state solution, a position that contrasts with Spain’s and other European countries’ stance. Merz insisted that, while it is legitimate to criticize the Israeli government’s policy, it should not be an excuse to incite hatred against Jews.
Discrepancies on the Middle East conflict are a clear example of the tensions existing in European politics. While the Spanish government chose a more vocal and critical stance toward Israel, the German chancellor, representing a country with deep historical ties and an unbreakable commitment to Israel’s security, maintained a more cautious position.
The visit of Friedrich Merz to Madrid leaves a clear image: the new German chancellor and the leader of the Spanish opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, are building a solid alliance that seeks to influence the future of the European Union. Their shared vision on the economy, deregulation, and foreign policy shapes a conservative axis that could set the continent’s political agenda in the coming years.
