19 July 2013

Chancellor Merkel: Germany is in great shape

In a recent press conference, German chancellor Angela Merkel commented on the progress that had been made with the euro crisis, successful fiscal consolidation and record-breaking employment figures. She also presented an eight-point plan to improve data protection.

Translated from the German

As well as looking at a number of domestic issues, Mrs Merkel commented positively on progress made in dealing with the European financial crisis. Deficits of the eurozone countries had decreased significantly, from 6.2 per cent in 2010 to 3.7 per cent in 2012. "Greece has also halved its deficit and will – if the measures continue to work as they do - achieve a primary surplus by the end of the year", said Merkel. The stability of the euro, however, remained a pertinent issue on the future European agenda. Mrs Merkel stressed that Germany would only continue to do well if Europe as a whole recovered swiftly from the crisis.

At the moment though, Mrs Merkel said: "Germany's economy is strong, our country's situation is good". This was due to the success of individuals as well as innovative companies in Germany. The statement, "This government is the most successful federal government since Germany’s reunification", was still holding true, affirmed the chancellor. The number of people in employment was higher than ever before (41.8 million). Fiscal consolidation, she continued, was successful and the federal government expected a small surplus already in 2014.

Merkel described the demographic change as the greatest challenge Germany was facing. "In the foreseeable future, there will be six million fewer people of working age", she warned. "The issue of skills shortages could decide substantially on Germany as an industrial location."

On the issue of the US "Prism" programme, Merkel emphasised that when monitoring data, not all technical options available should be used, but that the principle of proportionality had to be observed at all times. "Germany is not a police state, Germany is a land of freedom", she stated. "In Germany and in Europe it is not the law of the strongest that counts, but the strength of the law. This is what I expect everyone to adhere to", she added.

The chancellor then presented an eight-point package of measures to improve data protection and confirmed that Germany also wanted to promote data protection at the European level.

Full press release (in German)

© Bundesregierung