“Germany must not become a permanent blocker in Brussels” – this is how the debt dispute is dividing Europe

Berlin, Brussels, Paris The federal government rejects the reform proposals of the EU Commission for the European debt regulations. “What has been presented does not yet meet our expectations,” said Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP). “Significant adjustments are still needed in order to come to really reliable, transparent and binding rules”.

In its draft law for a reform of the Stability and Growth Pact, the Brussels authorities proposed on Wednesday to give heavily indebted European countries more flexibility in reducing irregular debts. Instead of uniform guidelines for all countries, the Commission is focusing on individual ways for each country to reduce debt and deficits in the long term.

The controversial reform is an important project by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Due to high debt after the pandemic and the need for investment for the green transformation, new rules are needed, said Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis. Governments are given more responsibility, but in return they will enforce the regulations more strictly.