Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet approved a healthcare overhaul and a multi-year budget blueprint, laying the groundwork for a push to revive Germany’s economic growth.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet approved a healthcare overhaul and a multi-year budget blueprint, laying the groundwork for a push to revive Germany’s economic growth.
Germany agreed on a budget blueprint and prepared a healthcare overhaul as the governing coalition seeks to push forward a reform agenda in the face of energy upheaval and persistent infighting in Berlin.
Germany agreed on a budget blueprint and prepared a healthcare overhaul as the governing coalition seeks to push forward a reform agenda in the face of energy upheaval and persistent infighting in Berlin.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is experiencing plummeting approval ratings. Photographer: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
Germany’s Finance Ministry signaled it’s ready to consider suspending debt restrictions as an emergency step with Europe’s largest economy bracing for the impact of the war in Iran.
Germany’s Finance Ministry signaled it’s ready to consider suspending debt restrictions as an emergency step with Europe’s largest economy bracing for the impact of the war in Iran.
Germany sounded out European lenders to defend Commerzbank AG against UniCredit SpA’s takeover bid earlier this year, according to people familiar with the matter.
Germany sounded out European lenders to defend Commerzbank AG against UniCredit SpA’s takeover bid earlier this year, according to people familiar with the matter.
The headquarters of Commerzbank AG seen from an observation platform in the Main Tower skyscraper in Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Commerzbank�Chief Executive Officer�Bettina Orlopp�is seeking to unlock more capital to pay out or invest, as she makes the case for an independent bank in the face of a potential takeover by rival�UniCredit SpA. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
Germany sounded out European lenders to defend Commerzbank AG against UniCredit SpA’s takeover bid earlier this year, according to people familiar with the matter.
Germany sounded out European lenders to defend Commerzbank AG against UniCredit SpA’s takeover bid earlier this year, according to people familiar with the matter.
The headquarters of Commerzbank AG seen from an observation platform in the Main Tower skyscraper in Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Commerzbank�Chief Executive Officer�Bettina Orlopp�is seeking to unlock more capital to pay out or invest, as she makes the case for an independent bank in the face of a potential takeover by rival�UniCredit SpA. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said two main factors around the Iran war are hampering efforts to map out a monetary-policy response.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said two main factors around the Iran war are hampering efforts to map out a monetary-policy response.
Christine Lagarde Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said two main factors around the Iran war are hampering efforts to map out a monetary-policy response.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said two main factors around the Iran war are hampering efforts to map out a monetary-policy response.
Christine Lagarde Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
A day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition limped out of a bruising weekend-long meeting with a gas-tax cut for consumers, his conservative economy minister was greeted like a champion at a party leadership gathering.
A day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition limped out of a bruising weekend-long meeting with a gas-tax cut for consumers, his conservative economy minister was greeted like a champion at a party leadership gathering.
It would be a mistake for the European Central Bank to signal where interest rates will be headed later this month, according to Governing Council member Joachim Nagel.
It would be a mistake for the European Central Bank to signal where interest rates will be headed later this month, according to Governing Council member Joachim Nagel.
It would be a mistake for the European Central Bank to signal where interest rates will be headed later this month, according to Governing Council member Joachim Nagel.
It would be a mistake for the European Central Bank to signal where interest rates will be headed later this month, according to Governing Council member Joachim Nagel.
It would be a mistake for the European Central Bank to signal where interest rates will be headed later this month, according to Governing Council member Joachim Nagel.
It would be a mistake for the European Central Bank to signal where interest rates will be headed later this month, according to Governing Council member Joachim Nagel.
Germany’s government presented a plan to overhaul its healthcare system and slash a financing deficit expected to balloon to €40 billion ($47.2 billion) by the end of the decade, placing Europe’s No. 1 economy on firmer footing for growth.
Germany’s government presented a plan to overhaul its healthcare system and slash a financing deficit expected to balloon to €40 billion ($47.2 billion) by the end of the decade, placing Europe’s No. 1 economy on firmer footing for growth.
14 April 2026, Berlin: Nina Warken (CDU), Federal Minister of Health, speaks during a press conference on the planned financial reform of the statutory health insurance scheme (SHI). Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa (Photo by Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images)
After Viktor Orban’s massive loss in Hungary’s election on Sunday, far-right parties in Europe are reassessing the political cost of being seen as too close to US President Donald Trump’s administration.
After Viktor Orban’s massive loss in Hungary’s election on Sunday, far-right parties in Europe are reassessing the political cost of being seen as too close to US President Donald Trump’s administration.
US Vice President JD Vance and Viktor Orban during an election campaign rally in Budapest, on April 7.
Germany is intensifying a push for greater flexibility in European Union vehicle-emission limits, part of an effort by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ruling alliance to bolster the nation’s ailing auto industry.
Germany is intensifying a push for greater flexibility in European Union vehicle-emission limits, part of an effort by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ruling alliance to bolster the nation’s ailing auto industry.
Markus Soeder, Friedrich Merz, Baerbel Bas and Lars Klingbeil during a news conference in Berlin, on April 13.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition government is heading into weekend talks deadlocked over billions of euros in relief for German consumers hit by surging in energy prices.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition government is heading into weekend talks deadlocked over billions of euros in relief for German consumers hit by surging in energy prices.
Fuel price signs at a Shell Plc and a TotalEnergies SE gas station in Schwedt, Germany, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The price of oil and natural gas jumped as escalating attacks in the Persian Gulf threatened long-term damage to major energy facilities.
Bank of England rate-setters cast doubt over the threat of a price spiral from the Iran war on Thursday, even as markets expect three hikes from the central bank this year.
Bank of England rate-setters cast doubt over the threat of a price spiral from the Iran war on Thursday, even as markets expect three hikes from the central bank this year.
German officials see a risk that the nation’s economy will grow at just half the pace they had envisaged if the Iran war drags on, according to people familiar with the matter.
German officials see a risk that the nation’s economy will grow at just half the pace they had envisaged if the Iran war drags on, according to people familiar with the matter.
Internal estimates anticipate expansion of just 0.5% in the worst-case scenario of the Middle East crisis dragging on.
German officials see a risk that the nation’s economy will grow at just half the pace they had envisaged if the Iran war drags on, according to people familiar with the matter.
German officials see a risk that the nation’s economy will grow at just half the pace they had envisaged if the Iran war drags on, according to people familiar with the matter.
Internal estimates anticipate expansion of just 0.5% in the worst-case scenario of the Middle East crisis dragging on.
German officials see a risk that the nation’s economy will grow at just half the pace they had envisaged if the Iran war drags on, according to people familiar with the matter.
German officials see a risk that the nation’s economy will grow at just half the pace they had envisaged if the Iran war drags on, according to people familiar with the matter.
Internal estimates anticipate expansion of just 0.5% in the worst-case scenario of the Middle East crisis dragging on.