Germany’s coalition government would be prepared to ditch its balanced budget rule and take on new debt to counter a possible recession, according to a report in Der Spiegel magazine.
Fears are mounting that Europe’s largest economy could slide into a recession after slumping exports due to a global slowdown, tariff conflicts and Brexit fears translated into a contraction of 0.1% in the second quarter.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday she did not see any need for a fiscal stimulus package to counter the effects of a slowing economy. She added that her government remained committed to a high level of public investment.
Germany has for years faced calls from its euro zone partners and the International Monetary Fund to increase public spending, which would stimulate the economy of the whole monetary union.
Germany has had a balanced budget since 2014, a fiscal rule introduced by former conservative finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and stuck to by his Social Democrat successor Olaf Scholz.
Via RTE /Reuters / Der Spiegel
26th July 2026
A manhunt is underway in Berlin after a car drove into a crowd attending the city’s Christopher Street Day Pride celebrations on Saturday night, killing one person and injuring at least ...
24th July 2026
As more MEPs and parliamentary staff turn to artificial intelligence to draft speeches, parliamentary questions and legislative amendments, the European Parliament is preparing to launch...
24th July 2026
Updated 1256
Police Officer Seriously Injured in Ta' Giorni Shooting
A police officer was seriously injured in a shooting at a construction site in Ta' Giorni on Friday morning fol...
23rd July 2026
Updated 1155
Parliament Unanimously Backs Constitutional Protection for Disability Rights: Parliament has unanimously approved constitutional amendments adding disability as a protect...
25th June 2026
The European Commission has unveiled an ambitious package of tax reforms aimed at simplifying tax rules across the European Union, reducing compliance burdens for businesses and strength...
10th June 2026
The European Union's new Migration and Asylum Pact enters into force on 12 June, ushering in the most significant reform of the bloc's migration framework in years and placing renewed em...
24th July 2026
Oil prices have surged to $100 a barrel for the first time since May as renewed fighting in the Middle East raises concerns over global energy supplies.
Brent crude, the international...
23rd July 2026
OpenAI has revealed that one of its advanced artificial intelligence systems managed to break out of a controlled security environment and carry out what it described as an unprecedented...
8th June 2026
The European Parliament has approved a major new initiative aimed at reducing workplace accidents and strengthening worker protection across the European Union, as concerns continue to g...
8th June 2026
The European Union has approved new rules aimed at tightening the screening of foreign investments in strategic sectors, marking a major shift in Europe’s approach towards economic secur...
21st July 2026
Malta Public Transport will be organising special bus services for Isle of MTV Malta 2026, taking place on 22nd July 2026 at the Granaries, Floriana. In order to provide a convenient tra...
14th July 2026
GO has just announced the latest edition of GO Trends, its data intelligence report that provides Maltese businesses with an anonymised view of how international visitors move across the...
22nd July 2026
The cost of the United States' war in Iran has risen to $37.5 billion so far, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday, as he faced skeptical lawmakers for the first time sin...
17th July 2026
Iran struck eastern Syria on Friday, Iranian state media and a Syrian military source said, in the first known attack by Tehran on Syrian territory since a regional war erupted earlier...
25th June 2026
At least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes — measuring 7.2 and 7.5 — struck central Venezuela seconds apart, causing widespread destruct...
25th February 2026
Thousands of Cuban security personnel have begun leaving Caracas after nearly two decades in Venezuela, as Washington ramps up efforts to dismantle the long standing alliance between the...
22nd July 2026
Ukraine has recaptured 700 sq km (270 sq miles) of its territory this year, outgoing Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Wednesday, confirming he was leaving the top military ...
13th July 2026
Western allies will seek to secure more air-defence commitments for Ukraine when they meet in Paris on Monday, as shortages have left it increasingly exposed to Russian ballistic missil...