About: Christian Lindner
Mixed reactions to suspension of EU fiscal rules
While EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday (23 May) discussed the pros and cons of the EU Commission’s proposal to keep the EU’s fiscal rules suspended for another year, civil society organisations used the opportunity to question the fiscal rules more fundamentally.
G7 agree on $18.4 billion to keep Ukraine running, ready with more
The Group of Seven's financial leaders agreed on $18.4 billion to help Ukraine pay its bills in coming months and said they were ready to stand by Kyiv throughout its war with Russia and do more if needed.
EU Commission proposes Ukraine reconstruction platform
Along with a €9 billion increase in short-term budgetary aid to the Ukrainian government, the European Commission proposed on Wednesday (18 May) setting up a reconstruction platform for Ukraine to help with the massive financing needs of rebuilding the country.
Is transatlantic trade back on the table?
As the Russian invasion is forcing the EU to cut many of the economic ties it still has with Russia, the US under president Biden are presenting themselves as the obvious partner for the future.
Berlin to unleash €200 billion for climate protection until 2026
The German government will funnel an extra €200 billion into climate protection, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said in a move widely considered a bid to pacify their Green coalition partners
German ministers warn against boycotting Russian oil
Germany's finance and foreign ministers cautioned Sunday (6 March) against banning Russian energy imports as the West searches for ways to tighten the screws on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s war in Ukraine triggers U-turn in Germany’s foreign policy thinking
The German government has broken with its long-standing tradition of its foreign and security policy that was rooted in ‘peace’ diplomacy and reserved defence spending and termed the Ukraine war to be a “turning point” in its policy approach.
Coalition against EU debt rule reform shows cracks
Eight EU countries known as “the alliance of responsibility" who spoke out in favour of an early return to strict debt rules in a position paper in September 2021 are being pushed towards compromise with even Germany adopting a more conciliatory tone. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany, France show divisions on EU budget rules
Germany and France laid out differing visions for the future of the European economy Monday (17 January), signalling a fight later this year to overhaul the bloc's strict rules on government spending.
German finance minister announces comeback for debt brake in 2023
In his inaugural speech to the German parliament, the liberal finance minister Christian Lindner argued for fiscal restraint but showed openness for more public investment to strengthen growth and decarbonise the economy.
Auditors: Berlin’s €60b climate fund booster ‘constitutionally questionable’
Germany's plans to supercharge its climate fund with unused credit lines from the COVID-19 pandemic in order to speed up the country's shift towards a green economy, have now been called into question by national auditors.
Green finance row splits Berlin
The EU is in the final stages of honing its green finance rules and a leaked draft proposing that nuclear and gas should receive the label for the transition has prompted complaints from Berlin. But positions differ even inside the new German coalition government
French and German finance ministers stress common interests in first meeting
Although he is known to be a hardline opponent of public debt, the new German finance minister showed his openness to compromise during his first trip to Paris only days after taking office.
Germany’s liberal FDP rules out additional debt for investments
The three parties of Germany's next government have made it clear they want to make the coming years a decade of investments for the future. Where the resources for such investments will come from, however, remains unclear.
Germany rejects relaxation of EU fiscal rules
Under a Liberal-led finance ministry, Germany will take a hard line on EU fiscal policy and reject calls from southern EU countries to relax fiscal rules. However, the business-friendly FDP is open to compromise. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German small parties pick Social Democrats over conservatives for coalition talks
Germany’s Greens and the liberal FDP, two kingmakers after the inconclusive federal election, have announced they want to launch talks about a potential coalition with the Social Democrat SPD, rather than with outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU. The first discussions are planned for Thursday (7 October).
Greens and Liberals hold key to form next German government
Following Sunday's federal election, the most likely outcome for the new German Bundestag is one of two coalitions: a Social Democrat-led 'traffic light'-coalition or a Conservative-led 'Jamaica'-coalition. Both camps will now try to win over kingmakers, the Greens and Liberals, to secure a stable majority.
Kramp-Karrenbauer faces backlash over ‘censorship’ calls
A broad debate should be held on the possible regulation of political views expressed online, the leader of Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK), said on Monday. But she faced an immediate backlash, with some accusing her of advocating censorship.
Germany’s liberals sign off on European election programme
At its European party congress on Sunday (27 January), the liberal FDP party elected Nicola Beer as its Spitzenkandidat and also adopted its election programme. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Donations to German parties soar during elections, raising concerns
The financial statements of German political parties for 2017 once again demonstrated that business is particularly generous during elections, with the Union of CDU and CSU benefitting in particular. Critics argue that these donations distort democracy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German coalition: Wolfgang Kubicki and the U-turn à la FDP
Wolfgang Kubicki has known the political business for more than 30 years. Such an experienced man, one could assume, makes no rookie mistakes. If someone like him wants to spread a message, he exactly knows what he is doing. EURACTIV Germany's media partner "Der Tagesspiegel" reports.
Merkel suffers local election setback as Schulz survives to fight another day
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives lost a closely-watched regional vote on Sunday (15 October), weakening her hand as she embarks on complex coalition talks following a disappointing showing at last month's general election.
European Parliament VP: ‘We must use the window of opportunity’ to deepen EU integration
Current conditions are ideal to push the EU towards becoming a European federal state, according to one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament, Rainer Wieland. EURACTIV Germany reports.