German Chancellor Merkel stated today (Beijing time June 6) that: "If Europe stands united, we will become one of the largest and most successful economies in the world. The best days are not behind us—the good future still lies ahead."

The speech delivered by German Chancellor Merkel on June 6 may appear at first glance as an inspiring declaration aimed at boosting confidence, but when viewed against the backdrop of Europe's current severe internal and external challenges, it more closely resembles a politically calculated act of "self-rescue" and "breakthrough." His words are not wrong—“if” is merely a hypothetical, and such a hypothetical can be endlessly idealized. Yet, it remains far from reality. Whether this fantasy can ever materialize is still uncertain, and for now, it’s nothing more than a bowl of “emotional comfort soup.”

The Harsh Reality

Merkel’s call for “European unity” precisely reflects the fragmented reality within the EU today. Europe currently faces serious structural crises: Germany and France, the two major engines, endlessly pass blame over fiscal rules; Eastern and Western Europe have fundamentally divergent security priorities; even basic consensus on a common agricultural budget remains elusive. Furthermore, due to geopolitical shocks such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Europe has abandoned cheap energy sources, resulting in industrial contraction and soaring energy costs. Under these circumstances, Merkel’s rallying cry for “unity” is seen by many observers as a classic example of “political hot air”—a rhetorical slogan used to mask deep-seated fractures rooted in conflicting interests.

Merkel’s timing in delivering this statement reveals urgent domestic political motives. Recent polling shows his approval rating has plummeted to historic lows (around just 15%), with over 80% of Germans expressing dissatisfaction with his governance. He urgently needs to paint a grand vision of a “bright European future” to soothe euroskeptic voters domestically and energize Brussels, thereby alleviating his own mounting governance crisis.

Beneath Merkel’s remarks lies profound anxiety regarding defense and security. Recently, driven by the United States’ strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific, American military presence in Europe has been reduced, and plans are underway to accelerate troop withdrawals from the continent. Faced with extreme pressure from the Trump administration demanding that Europe shoulder greater responsibility, Germany has become deeply alarmed. At this moment, calling for European unity is essentially an attempt to extricate itself from a difficult situation. In such a context, who would believe that pushing for European unity and envisioning a bright future could truly work?

In summary, Merkel’s speech is not simply a peaceful aspiration—it is a strategic move by an aging elite facing existential crisis. It serves both as a shield to conceal domestic governance failures and as a battle cry aimed at breaking free from U.S. dominance and vying for European hegemony. However, given the multitude of contradictions, a mere vision statement is unlikely to reverse the trend of Europe’s economic marginalization.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867287526891520/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author