The recent decisions of the German federal government’s relief cabinet have drawn cautious praise from Wolfgang Steiger, General Secretary of the “Economic Council of the CDU” a lobby and professional association closely linked to the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). While acknowledging the steps taken, Steiger emphasized the crucial need for swift and demonstrable implementation, warning against the danger of the measures remaining mere announcements.
Speaking to the “Rhinische Post” on Wednesday, Steiger stressed the paramount importance of tangible benefits reaching businesses directly. He cautioned that without clear evidence of relief impacting the operational reality for companies, the government’s credibility risks serious damage.
The assessment also extended to the digitalization modernization agenda spearheaded by Federal Minister for Digital Affairs, Karsten Wildberger (CDU). While acknowledging that the cabinet’s decisions fall short of the ambition set by Wildberger’s overarching plan, Steiger recognized the potential to initiate a much-needed process of bureaucratic reduction. He lauded the efforts of Chancellor Merz and Minister Wildberger, framing them as contributing to the plausibility of their broader agenda.
However, the underlying message carried a stark warning. Steiger articulated a growing concern within the business community: that without measurable improvements to the administrative burden, investment decisions will increasingly trend away from Germany, potentially leading to a gradual erosion of domestic entrepreneurship. This highlights a political pressure point for the Merz government – securing both the symbolic victory of reform and the concrete outcomes necessary to maintain investor confidence amid increasing global competition. The success of the relief measures, therefore, will be judged not on rhetoric, but on discernible, positive impact.