German Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck takes part in a meeting of the German Bundestag in Berlin on November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen/File Photo acquire license rights
BERLIN, Dec 3 (Reuters) – German Economy Minister Robert Habeck on Sunday canceled a planned trip to the Middle East to focus on talks over a gap in Germany's 2024 budget, saying he was “very optimistic” that a solution will be found.
The economy minister was due to fly to Dubai on Monday evening to attend COP28 and then to Oman, Israel and Saudi Arabia, but was asked by the Chancellor to postpone the trip, a spokesman said.
The coalition government is in intensive discussions about how to close the 17 billion euro ($18.50 billion) gap left in the 2024 budget by a Constitutional Court ruling last month.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner suggested in an interview on Saturday that the gap in social spending, international climate finance, development cooperation and some subsidies could be reduced.
When asked about Lindner's suggestion on the talk show “Anne Will” on Sunday evening, Habeck said that all parties had made suggestions that corresponded to their views, but that this was “not a contribution to solving the problem.”
“I am very optimistic that we are well on the way to reaching an agreement,” the economy minister added, declining to give further details before an agreement was reached.
($1 = 0.9187 euros)
Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Victoria Waldersee; Writing by Victoria Waldersee; Edited by Sharon Singleton and Chizu Nomiyama
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Comments are closed.