BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – The leaders of the government coalition will explore with employers and unions on Wednesday the extent to which there is a common view of the need for reform in Germany. This should first and foremost be about the labor market, but also about social reforms, taxes and reducing bureaucracy. Decisions are not expected. These should only be decided at a meeting of the coalition committee, which is scheduled for July 1st.
The meeting at the invitation of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) will take place in the Chancellery (7 p.m.). Three hours are allotted for this. “We now need fewer red lines and more willingness to take responsibility,” demanded Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn (CDU) before the deliberations. SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch spoke of a “very decisive meeting”.
Germany’s employers have already identified a key point for them that could meet with resistance from the unions. They object to the fact that pensions should continue to rise significantly in the coming years despite a lack of economic growth, thus costing billions more and more. Among other things, the unions are against making working hours more flexible. At the union conference they recently received Chancellor Merz with whistles and boos./mfi/DP/jha