German Chancellor Olaf Scholz chairs the first government meeting after being sworn-in on December 8, 2021. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Scholz and EU leaders discussed the bloc’s future and the current tension between Russia and Ukraine. EC President Von der Leyen said the EU wants a good relationship with Russia, but it depends first and foremost on the way in which Russia behaves. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a project to deliver natural gas from Russia directly to Germany, bypassing pipelines in Ukraine and eastern Europe, could play a major role, she added. However, Von der Leyen stopped short of suggesting a ban on the operation would be an appropriate measure.

The same day, Scholz discussed security issues with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Before Brussels, the German Chancellor had met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where the two leaders agreed to maintain strong France-Germany ties and strengthen integration in the EU.