The heads of state and government of the European Union (EU) who belong to the European People's Party (EPP) and other conservative leaders are meeting in Berlin at the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany to address European competitiveness amid Chinese competition and the threat of U.

Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner to replace Chancellor Olaf Scholz after Germany's upcoming elections, is calling on the European Union to present a united front in response to US President-elect Donald Trump.

European Commission president is in Berlin for her first public appearance since she was admitted to hospital.

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become Germany's next chancellor, said the second presidency of Donald Trump would bring clarity for the European Union as he hosted conservative EU heavyweights in Berlin.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen called for caution on Thursday after a second suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in livestock was reported in eastern Germany. A first outbreak at a water buffalo farm near Berlin last week has led to widespread culling and some trade restrictions.

According to the confidential cable published by the German daily 'Bild,' Berlin's envoy Andreas Michaelis denounced Trump's planned 'strategy of maximal disruption' to 'redefine the constitutional order.

CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attend the EPP leaders' meeting in Berlin on January 17. (Photo by Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via ) [(Photo by Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via )] Boosting the EU's flagging economy will require abolishing renewables goals and suspending supply chain reporting rules,

The EPP’s messaging is clear that the CDU will return in the driver’s seat, if Merz becomes Germany's chancellor.

Berlin is leading efforts within the bloc to ease sanctions imposed during Bashar Assad's rule, the Financial Times has reported. The easing would come in return for progress on social issues.

The objective exchange of arguments is becoming increasingly difficult” on the platform formerly known as Twitter, says defense ministry.

The city’s cultural scene has long branded itself as radical but, for too long, politics has been confined to exhibition walls

Germany’s meat exports, mainly pork, have been concentrated on the EU after many countries banned imports after the disease swine fever was discovered in 2020. Germany said on Tuesday it had found no new foot-and-mouth cases following intensive testing around the area around the first case.