(MENAFN) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is aiming to regain control over decision-making powers from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to a report by a news outlet on Tuesday, which referenced diplomats knowledgeable about the situation.

Merz, who has grown increasingly critical of Brussels, seeks to enhance Berlin’s role in matters that directly impact EU member states, one of the sources revealed.

He has already expressed opposition to von der Leyen’s proposals for new European Union taxes and her plan to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine.

Additionally, he has confronted her on a tariff deal with the United States and disagreements related to climate policies.

“We must now put a stick in the wheels of this machine in Brussels,” Merz declared to business leaders last Friday, as noted by the news outlet.

In the run-up to an informal summit of EU leaders scheduled for Wednesday in Copenhagen, Merz reiterated his call for a “fundamental correction” of what he described as overbearing regulation. “It is simply too much,” he stated, according to the German Press Agency.

This year, the European Commission has introduced several initiatives aimed at reducing bureaucratic obstacles, including the Defense Readiness Omnibus, designed to simplify procedures within the EU defense market.

This effort is part of von der Leyen’s larger plan to mobilize up to €800 billion ($938 billion) in investments for the procurement of weapons and ammunition by 2030.

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