In the week from 29 September to 5 October, Federal Chancellor Merz first visited the State Parliament in North Rhine-Westphalia and was a guest at the ‘Ständehaus-Treff’ political forum. The highlight of the week was the Federal Cabinet retreat at Villa Borsig. The Federal Chancellor then visited Copenhagen, where an informal European Council meeting and consultations of the European Political Community took place. The week ended with celebrations surrounding German Unity Day. The Federal Chancellor's week in pictures.
Düsseldorf, 29 September 2025: the Federal Chancellor visited North Rhine-Westphalia on Monday. In the state parliament, he held talks with André Kuper, President of the State Parliament.
The Federal Chancellor was a guest at the ‘Ständehaus-Treff’ forum hosted by the Rheinische Post in the evening.
Friedrich Merz answered questions from Moritz Döbler, editor-in-chief of the regional daily newspaper.
Berlin, 30 September 2025: on Tuesday morning, the Federal Chancellor received relatives of the German hostages held by Hamas. He paid tribute to the impressive strength with which they are campaigning for the release of the hostages and peace in Gaza.
The Federal Chancellor then exchanged ideas with young researchers. The winners of the 60th edition of the “Jugend forscht” competition were invited to a reception at the Federal Chancellery.
Federal Chancellor Merz honoured the winner of the “Special Prize for the Most Original Work”. This prize went to Louis Schwarzlose for the development of the “Bojenergy” research buoy.
The two-day Federal Cabinet retreat on the topics of competitiveness and state modernisation then began at Villa Borsig.
Berlin, 1 October 2025: at the end of the retreat, the Federal Cabinet met and adopted the so-called modernisation agenda, which is intended to strengthen competitiveness and initiate a fundamental renewal of the state and public administration. “We are determined to regain our position at the top,” said Merz.
In the evening, Federal Chancellor Merz was expected in Copenhagen for an informal meeting of the European Council.
Copenhagen, 2 October 2025: on Thursday, the 47 members of the European Political Community also met in the Danish capital for talks.
Federal Chancellor Merz pledged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy support in Ukraine's fight for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Saarbrücken, 3 October 2025: together with the heads of the constitutional bodies and guest of honour Emmanuel Macron, the Federal Chancellor attended the official celebrations to mark German Unity Day.
In his speech at the ceremony, he called on people to deal positively with change and “to undertake a joint effort for a new unity in our country.”
After the celebrations in Saarbrücken, the Federal Chancellor also paid a visit to the East German federal states before travelling to Halle (Saale).
There, he took part in the singing with candles that took place on German Unity Day under the motto of the nationwide musical initiative “Deutschland singt & klingt”.