BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised the United States on Friday for no longer following the rules, part of what he called a fundamental shift in Europe's transatlantic partner. These changes happened over years, he said, and they will not suddenly roll back after the next election takes place. Looking at the news every day, it is "no longer a given" in many parts of the world that countries abide by rules, laws, treaties and international obligations, Merz said. The chancellor on Friday also targeted Germany's reliance on software from the United States, calling for Europe to focus more on digital sovereignty and its own data centres. "I want us in Europe, not just us in Germany, but we in Europe as a whole, to become more independent," he said.