About: Olaf Scholz
Eurogroup fails to agree on a calendar to complete banking union
Eurozone finance ministers (Eurogroup) failed to agree on Thursday (17 June) on a calendar to complete the banking union with a common deposit insurance scheme, as Germany continued to oppose any progress unless member states address other issues, including bank exposure to sovereign debt.
Germany’s Scholz proposes ‘climate club’ to avoid trade friction
Germany wants the European Union to create a "climate club" with other countries like the United States, Japan and possibly even China to avoid trade friction linked to green tariffs such as a planned carbon border levy.
Would-be German leaders agree EU unanimity is overrated
The three candidates vying to succeed German Chancellor Angela Merkel have squared up for their first public debate ahead of September’s election, presenting varying positions on the EU, defence policy and the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The three would-be...
Race to succeed Merkel wide open as German election nears
With veteran German Chancellor Angela Merkel set to leave the political stage after the September election, many are wondering what's next for the globe's fourth-largest economy. The race for Germany's top job is hotting up, EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany, France, Italy, Spain push for implementation of recovery fund
Finance ministers of Germany, France, Italy, and Spain urged member states on Wednesday (28 April) to submit their recovery plans and pressed the European Commission to speed up the assessment of the investment and reform proposals.
France and Germany unveil green recovery plans
French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz unveiled their national recovery and resilience plan at a joint press conference Tuesday (27 April) ahead of the indicative 30 April deadline set by the European Commission.
Germany faces lockdown until June as curbs fail to push down cases
Germany's coronavirus infection rate rose at the weekend despite stricter restrictions as Finance Minister Olaf Scholz cautioned he did not expect moves to ease curbs before the end of May.
SPD enters election campaign focusing on the future, climate issues
Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) want to be seen as the party of the future. That is the core message of the resolution following last weekend's party retreat. But the SPD's proverbial red thread - on social issues - is missing. EURACTIV Germany reports.
OECD criticises German frugality, urges it to ‘clear the investment backlog’
Germany needs to invest more in infrastructure, digital policy, climate protection after years of government frugality, a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recommends. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Eurozone agrees to reform eurozone bailout fund
European finance ministers agreed on Monday (30 November) to crucial reforms of the eurozone's bailout fund, which had been put aside for a year amid reluctance from Italy and the coronavirus crisis.
Bundestag’s investigative committee starts work on Wirecard scandal
The Bundestag's committee looking into the Wirecard case, Germany's biggest financial scandal in years, started work on Thursday (8 October). It could be particularly unpleasant for Finance Minister and SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Financial scandals harm Scholz’s image as he gears up for chancellor candidacy
Olaf Scholz, Germany's finance minister and chancellor candidate for the Social Democrats (SPD), is currently in the spotlight for his involvement in two financial scandals currently shaking German politics: the Wirecard and Cum-Ex scandals. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German Social Democrats gear up for a climate election campaign
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz will lead the German Social Democrats (SPD) into the campaign for federal elections in 2021. Not an easy task for a party that faces strong competition from the Greens for number two position, behind the CDU/CSU conservatives. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany’s Scholz sees ‘no way back’ from EU joint debt
German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said Sunday (23 August) that the European Union's recovery package financed by joint borrowing was a long-term measure rather than a short-term coronavirus crisis fix, contradicting Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Wirecard scandal: Bundestag inquiry committee increasingly likely
A probe into the Wirecard affair is picking up speed. At a special session of the Bundestag Finance Committee, MPs have questioned top ministers and lobbyist influence over the government is becoming increasingly clear. Setting up a special inquiry committee is becoming more likely as a result. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Wirecard scandal: Why the German government should be nervous
Have leading politicians in the grand coalition up to the Chancellor been involved in a fraudulent scheme? The Bundestag's finance committee is looking into it.
Scholz and Le Maire present a united front on digital and corporate taxation
Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire (LREM) are confident that the current OECD negotiations on international tax systems will be concluded by the end of 2020. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German finance minister defends borrowing for economic stimulus package
For once, Germany is not shying away from debt to overcome a crisis. With the second supplementary budget, the state's additional borrowing due to the coronavirus is raised to a total of €218.5 billion. But criticism is coming from the German Taxpayers' Federation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
With almost €100 billion in tax losses, Scholz announces another stimulus package
For the German budget, the pandemic means greater expenditures and less income. For the first time since the financial crisis, tax revenues are falling but Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) is not thinking about austerity. On the contrary, another economic stimulus package is planned in June to help boost the economy, EURACTIV Germany reports.
German parliament suspends debt brake to fight coronavirus outbreak
The German lower house on Wednesday (25 March) suspended the country's constitutionally enshrined debt brake, approving a massive stimulus package by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to weather the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.
Germany set to foot massive but ‘necessary’ coronavirus bill
Coronavirus will cost Germany several hundred billion euros, according to new figures from research centre the ifo institute released on Monday (23 March). Production losses and unemployment will hurt, so Berlin will have to dig deep into its pockets. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Eurozone ministers discuss fiscal boost options as coronavirus worries weigh
Euro zone finance ministers discussed ways to pursue a more growth-friendly fiscal policy mix on Monday (17 February), in a potential nudge to Germany and the Netherlands to spend more as fears of a downturn grow in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic.
Merkel’s future in balance as SPD picks new leaders
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's political future hangs in the balance as her floundering coalition partners, the SPD, elect new leaders on Saturday.