BERLIN — Germany has reached an agreement with the European Commission on a
multi-year fiscal plan that allows the country to ramp up investment now while
committing to tighten spending in later years, a senior German official told
POLITICO.
The deal forms part of Germany’s Fiscal-Structural Plan (FSP) under the EU’s
revamped Stability and Growth Pact and sets out a path for government net
spending through 2029.
“In constructive talks with the European Commission,” the official said, “the
German government successfully agreed on a multi-year path for the maximum
permissible growth in general government net primary expenditure for the years
2025 to 2029.”
The agreement makes use of the flexibility within the EU’s new fiscal rules,
with Berlin pledging to curb the pace of expenditure after a short-term
investment boost.
“Due to investments in infrastructure, security and defense this year and next,
net expenditure in the German national budget will increase significantly,” the
official said. “Significantly lower growth in net expenditure is planned for the
following years.”
The plan aims to strike a balance between investment, structural reform and
fiscal consolidation, referencing the Cabinet’s June 24 budget decisions. By the
end of the planning horizon, the government wants to return to a more balanced
path, backed by “credible consolidation measures.”
The FSP also includes structural reforms that Berlin says will help grow
government revenues over time, sending “a powerful signal for economic growth
and sustainable public finances.”
The plan is scheduled to be approved by the Cabinet this Wednesday and will
include a statement from the Stability Council representing Germany’s federal
states.