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Germany criticizes EU bureaucracy and France's defense spending at European summit
Feb 16, 2026- Feb 12, 202625 sources
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Story Timeline
Feb 13, 2026German and French leaders meet to discuss European economic policy and competition15 sources
Feb 16, 2026Germany criticizes EU bureaucracy and France's defense spending at European summit25 sources
Summary
At an EU summit in Belgium, Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the bloc's bureaucracy amid tensions over solidarity among member states. Separately, German officials including the foreign minister criticized France for insufficient defense spending, highlighting disagreements within Europe on security priorities.
