German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the next European Commission should clinch more free trade agreements (FTAs) with third countries even without requiring unanimous consensus among EU member states.

While attention in Brussels is focused on the announcement of the EU’s top jobs when the bloc’s 27 heads of state and governments meet on Thursday and Friday (27 and 28 June), EU leaders are also expected to adopt a five-year ‘strategic agenda’, setting out priorities for the upcoming legislative mandate.

Speaking at a conference held by German industry organisation BDI on Monday (24…