German tax shock - 126bn euro missing
By Lisbeth Kirk
The Germans have received yet another shock relating to their bad economy. In a press conference in Berlin, Finance Minister Hans Eichel, yesterday (15 May) announced that for the period 2003 to 2006 the German state would take in some 126 bn euro less than was expected.
"We face a situation, of missing taxes up to 2006 corresponding to half of the federal budget," Mr Eichel warned.
Join EUobserver today
Get the EU news that really matters
Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.
Choose your plan
... or subscribe as a group
Already a member?
"We are continuously living beyond our means," the finance minister said and added there was no alternative other than economic reforms and moves to trim back German welfare.
The German conservative opposition immediately called on Mr Eichel to step down, while the leader of the Liberal FDP party, Guido Westerwelle, wants new elections to be held.
The news also added further pressure on the European Central Bank to lower interest rates in order to boost the economy.
In 2002, Germany breached the euro zone rules with a budget deficit of 3.6 per cent. The rules only allow a budget deficit of 3 per cent of GDP. Germany looks set to overshoot the euro zone budget deficit limits once again, in 2003.
The German economy makes up a third of the economy of the 12-country eurozone and the country is the largest single contributor to the EU budget. Germany pays some 24.4 per cent of the EU annual budget; the second largest contributor is France (16,7%) and the third largest is the UK (14,3%).