france urges more german investment to boost eu
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

France urges more German investment to boost EU

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleFrance urges more German investment to boost EU

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (L) and French Economy minister Bruno le Maire.
Berlin - Muslimchronicle

 

France's finance minister on Wednesday urged Germany to loosen the purse strings to help boost European growth, reminding Berlin of its wider responsibilities as Chancellor Angela Merkel struggles to forge a new coalition at home.

France has already done its bit by "reducing its public spending and reforming its economy," Bruno Le Maire told Die Zeit weekly.

"We expect Germany to join the movement, by adopting more offensive wage policies and investing more."

The call comes at a sensitive time for Merkel who is trying to renew an alliance with the reluctant Social Democratic Party (SPD) after an inconclusive September election.

Five days of exploratory talks are scheduled to end Thursday evening, when both sides will announce whether they have enough common ground to proceed to formal coalition talks -- with public spending one of the hot-button issues.

The centre-left SPD is demanding more spending to help the disadvantaged, but Merkel's conservatives want to keep the country's budget balanced as they argue that they are saving for the ageing population's future.

"Germany has already taken decisions in the right direction -- a minimum wage was introduced," said Le Maire, referring to a key condition by the SPD during negotiations for the outgoing coalition with Merkel.

"We are now expecting investments in big projects, in innovation, research and infrastructure," the French minister added.

- Macron waiting -

Germany is expected to announce on Friday a budget surplus for 2017 that surpasses 10 billion euros ($12 billion), German media reported, putting pressure on Merkel for greater wealth redistribution in the country.

Germany also regularly comes under criticism over its massive trade surplus, the world's largest which swelled to around 250 billion euros last year.

France, the United States and the International Monetary Fund have long urged booming Germany to spend and invest more to push up consumption and allow other countries to benefit indirectly from its success.

Le Maire also called for a speedy end to Merkel's lengthy struggle to form a new government, after the chancellor's initial attempt at building a coalition with two smaller parties collapsed in November.

"The sooner we have a stable German government, the better for France," he was quoted as saying.

Merkel has been largely absent from the international stage in recent months as she focuses on her domestic woes, just as a newly confident France is looking for a strong partner in Berlin to help drive President Emmanuel Macron's EU reform plans.

While staunchly pro-EU, Merkel has responded cautiously to some of Macron's more ambitious proposals for a common eurozone budget, parliament and finance minister, ideas more warmly received by the SPD.

Germany's Social Democratic foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel on Sunday said it was time "that we finally support the French in their reform efforts."

Le Maire sought to play down fears of a drastic EU overhaul, saying some of Macron's more controversial plans would be discussed in due time, with tax harmonisation and a banking union first on the agenda.

"The German-French connection has to be renewed, immediately," Le Maire told Die Zeit.

"We need common goals that go beyond our own horizons."

 

Source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

france urges more german investment to boost eu france urges more german investment to boost eu

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 01:18 2012 Friday ,14 September

Al-Qaeda flags in Cairo

GMT 10:59 2018 Friday ,05 January

Global coral bleaching five times

GMT 11:02 2013 Wednesday ,19 June

Among the hungry you can’t dream big

GMT 16:07 2017 Monday ,05 June

Rouhani — Khamenei’s favorite president

GMT 10:05 2016 Tuesday ,27 December

Oman Court Reverses Ban On Al Zaman Daily

GMT 17:37 2011 Sunday ,05 June

RBS lures Middle East wealth funds

GMT 02:13 2017 Wednesday ,11 January

Rio's Maracana stadium suffers 'looting and destruction'

GMT 18:44 2017 Monday ,28 August

Only unity will defeat Daesh in all its forms

GMT 07:29 2015 Tuesday ,14 April

Pope's description of 1915 events 'big surprise'

GMT 11:13 2015 Thursday ,09 April

Islamic world risks 'disintegration'

GMT 09:02 2017 Tuesday ,11 July

Najla denies difference between Ruby& director

GMT 08:23 2017 Saturday ,19 August

Firms flock to Syria fair with eye on reconstruction

GMT 11:59 2016 Sunday ,09 October

Daimler-Nissan alliance enters its 7th year

GMT 12:39 2017 Thursday ,09 March

Giants enter CAF Champions League title race

GMT 08:56 2011 Tuesday ,28 June

Pregnant Bollywood star Rai puts film on hold

GMT 09:20 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

Spurs hold Real as City down Napoli

GMT 12:06 2017 Wednesday ,11 October

Smashbox launches Holiday 2017 Collection

GMT 15:17 2017 Monday ,18 September

Trump, Xi speak by phone: White House

GMT 10:40 2016 Saturday ,27 August

As Bayern rout Bremen in season opener
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle