Merz Presses Cabinet for Faster Pro-Growth Reforms Ahead of Neuhardenberg Retreat

Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Bild am Sonntag on August 23 that he will press his cabinet to accelerate implementation of pro-growth reforms agreed before the summer recess, ahead of a two-day cabinet retreat at Neuhardenberg Castle in Brandenburg. Merz said the reforms — covering taxes, pensions, deregulation, and digitalization — must move faster to ease burdens on businesses, particularly tradespeople and small and medium-sized companies. "At stake in Germany are growth and employment. That is the most important issue," Merz said, calling for "rapid and comprehensive relief for the economy." The push comes as Germany looks to build on nascent signs of an economic turnaround after three years of stagnation.