Finance
German Finance Minister Sets Out Sweeping Reform Plans to Boost Growth
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 25, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 25, 2026
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Germany’s Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on March 25 unveiled sweeping reforms—including income tax overhaul, capping excess energy profits, and ending current spousal income splitting—to boost sluggish growth, productivity, and innovation amid stalled economic recovery.
German finance minister sets out sweeping reform plans to boost growth
Overview of Proposed Economic Reforms
By Maria Martinez
BERLIN, March 25 (Reuters) - Germany's Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on Wednesday proposed measures, including income tax reform and capping the excess profit of energy companies, to boost the sluggish economy, saying the country needed a new growth model.
Vision for Germany’s Economic Future
"Whether Germany remains a strong country is up to us alone. We alone will decide that," Klingbeil said.
"We need technological leadership in key areas, competitive conditions for investment, a modern industrial base, secure supply chains, and functioning capital markets," he said.
Challenges Facing the German Economy
Europe's largest economy has struggled to grow since the pandemic, as rising competition from China and higher energy prices have strained its export-driven economic model, with a renewed surge in energy prices due to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran posing a further threat to recovery.
"President Trump's misguided policies are having a direct impact on people's wallets here," Klingbeil said.
Key Reform Measures
Energy Sector Reforms
The finance minister proposed a cap on energy companies' excess profits, with the proceeds to be used to fund relief for consumers, alongside a binding price cap.
Fiscal Policy and Budget Planning
Klingbeil, who is working on the 2027 budget, said the government's reforms will include fiscal consolidation, with a detailed analysis of revenues and expenditure.
Labour Market and Taxation
Increasing Working Hours and Productivity
INCREASING WORKING HOURS AND PRODUCTIVITY
Germany's labour market is suffering due to high levels of part-time work, incentives for early retirement and tax-transfer systems that in some cases discourage additional work, he said.
"I want us to create a system in which willingness to perform pays off," Klingbeil said.
Income Splitting Reform
Under new proposals, Germany will abolish the current income splitting system for married couples, which lowers taxes for partners with unequal earnings. In practice, the system raises the effective rate for the lower income earner, discouraging them from taking on more hours in a country where half of women work part-time.
It will only apply to future marriages.
Income Tax Relief
He also called for changes in income tax that will deliver several hundred euros a year in relief to 95% of employees.
"Anyone who works hard and works more will finally have more money in their pocket as a result of this reform," the finance minister said, adding that higher earners and wealthy asset holders should shoulder more of the burden.
Pension and Bureaucracy Reforms
Klingbeil also called for private pension reform and for the introduction of a mandatory occupational pension scheme funded by employers and employees to encourage workers to stay longer on the job.
He said he favoured "radical cuts" to bureaucracy and less state control, coupled with tougher penalties for lawbreakers.
Protecting Domestic Industry
PROTECTING INDUSTRY
Trade and Investment Policies
Klingbeil said targeted tariffs could be used to protect domestic companies and that strategic sectors should be subject to local content and "Buy European" requirements.
In areas where Europe has fallen behind technologically, foreign companies could be required to enter joint ventures with domestic firms as a condition for operating in the European market.
Long-Term Investment Strategy
Klingbeil also said investment decisions must not be driven solely by short-term returns because that kind of behaviour costs jobs and erodes technological know-how.
(Reporting by Maria MartinezEditing by Madeline Chambers and Sharon Singleton)
Key Takeaways
- •Income tax reform targets inefficiencies and disincentives—abolishing traditional spousal income splitting for future marriages aims to encourage higher workforce participation, particularly among women.
- •Proposal to cap excessive profits of energy companies seeks to address energy cost pressures and support fairer economic outcomes.
- •Reforms focus on long‑term structural recovery: enhancing productivity, technological leadership, secure supply chains, and fiscal consolidation—including a thorough review of revenues and expenditures to move away from crisis‑driven spending.
Frequently Asked Questions about German finance minister sets out sweeping reform plans to boost growth
1What reforms did Germany's finance minister propose?
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil proposed income tax reforms, capping excess profit of energy companies, and measures to modernize Germany's economic model.
2Why does Germany need a new growth model?
Germany's economy has struggled since the pandemic due to rising competition from China and higher energy prices, necessitating innovation and higher productivity.
3How will the government address issues in the labour market?
Plans include addressing high part-time work, discouraging early retirement, and reforming tax systems that discourage additional work, especially among women.
4What changes are proposed for income splitting for married couples?
Klingbeil proposed abolishing income splitting in its current form for future marriages to encourage more equitable participation in the workforce.
5Is Germany planning more government spending to solve economic problems?
No, the finance minister emphasized fiscal consolidation and careful analysis of revenues and expenditures, stating that not every crisis can be solved with more money.