Editing Angela Merkel (section)

==Political positions==
{{Conservatism in Germany}}
{{Christian democracy sidebar}}

===Immigration, refugees and migration===
In October 2010, Merkel told a meeting of younger members of her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party at [[Potsdam]] that attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany had "utterly failed",<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11559451 |title=Merkel says German multicultural society has failed |date=17 October 2010 |archive-date=17 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017050644/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11559451 |url-status = live}}</ref> stating that: "The concept that we are now living side by side and are happy about it" does not work<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101017/wl_afp/germanymuslimreligionimmigration |title=Merkel Says German Multi-Cultural Society Has Failed |publisher=[[Yahoo! News]] |first=Audrey |last=Kauffmann |date=17 October 2010 |access-date=18 December 2013 |archive-date=18 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018203110/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101017/wl_afp/germanymuslimreligionimmigration |url-status = dead}}</ref> and "we feel attached to the Christian concept of mankind, that is what defines us. Anyone who doesn't accept that is in the wrong place here."<ref>{{cite news|title=Zentralrat der Juden kritisiert Seehofer: Debatte ist scheinheilig und hysterisch |language=de |url=http://www.swr.de/nachrichten/-/id=396/nid=396/did=7030978/166vg7v/index.htm |newspaper=Südwestrundfunk |access-date=21 October 2010 |quote=Wir fühlen uns dem christlichen Menschenbild verbunden, das ist das, was uns ausmacht. Wer das nicht akzeptiert, der ist bei uns fehl am Platz |archive-date=1 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001195707/http://www.swr.de/nachrichten/-/id=396/nid=396/did=7030978/166vg7v/index.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> She continued to say that immigrants should integrate and adopt Germany's culture and values. This added to a growing debate within Germany on the acceptable levels and mechanisms of immigration, its effects on Germany, and the degree to which Muslim immigrants had integrated into German society.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11532699 |date=17 October 2010 |work=BBC News |title=Germany's charged immigration debate |archive-date=14 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014045042/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11532699 |url-status = live}}</ref>

Merkel is in favour of a "mandatory solidarity mechanism" for [[European migrant crisis#Quota system (relocation)|relocation of asylum-seekers]] from Italy and Greece to other [[Member state of the European Union|EU member states]] as part of the long-term solution to Europe's migrant crisis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Merkel Losing Her Patience with Lack of EU Solidarity |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/europe-s-refugee-disaster-merkel-losing-her-patience-with-lack-of-eu-solidarity-a-2a13fc6c-3fc3-4d86-9eb7-70f9c1b49ef0 |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=18 September 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924024039/https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/europe-s-refugee-disaster-merkel-losing-her-patience-with-lack-of-eu-solidarity-a-2a13fc6c-3fc3-4d86-9eb7-70f9c1b49ef0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Germany pushes for EU solidarity on migration – again |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants/germany-pushes-for-eu-solidarity-on-migration-again-idUSKCN26D12V |first1=Thomas |last1=Escritt |first2=Gabriela |last2=Baczynska |work=Reuters |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203150412/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants/germany-pushes-for-eu-solidarity-on-migration-again-idUSKCN26D12V |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
[[File:Angela Merkel Barack Obama 2015-02-09.jpg|thumb|left|alt=photograph of Merkel and Obama|Merkel with US president [[Barack Obama]] in the [[Oval Office]], 2015]]{{Main|Foreign policy of the Angela Merkel government|List of international trips made by Angela Merkel}}

Merkel's foreign policy has focused on strengthening European cooperation and international trade agreements. She and her governments have been closely associated with the [[Wandel durch Handel|change through trade]] ({{lang|de|Wandel durch Handel}}) policy.<ref name="Matthijs-2021">{{cite news |last1=Matthijs |first1=Matthias |last2=Kelemen |first2=R. Daniel |title=The Other Side of Angela Merkel |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/09/angela-merkel-german-chancellor-europe-trade-euro-refugees-crisis/ |access-date=27 May 2022 |publisher=Foreign Policy |date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430055833/https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/09/angela-merkel-german-chancellor-europe-trade-euro-refugees-crisis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For this, she has come under criticism, especially after the 2022 [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name="Karnitschnig-2022">{{cite news |last1=Karnitschnig |first1=Matthew |title=12 Germans who got played by Putin |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/blame-germany-russia-policy/ |access-date=27 May 2022 |publisher=Politico |date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529010644/https://www.politico.eu/article/blame-germany-russia-policy/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Schulz-2022">{{cite news |last1=Schulz |first1=Sven Christian |title=War der Westen naiv? |url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/war-der-westen-naiv-ES3APKTGJ5CGXLCP57MMYKUJ2M.html |access-date=27 May 2022 |publisher=Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland |date=5 April 2022 |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527034758/https://www.rnd.de/politik/war-der-westen-naiv-ES3APKTGJ5CGXLCP57MMYKUJ2M.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Merkel has been widely described as the ''de facto'' leader of the [[European Union]] throughout her tenure as Chancellor.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=TIME Person of the Year 2015: Angela Merkel |url=https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-date=29 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529051902/http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Giuffrida |first1=Angela |last2=Connolly |first2=Kate |last3=Henley |first3=Jon |date=3 October 2021 |title=Draghi, Scholz or Macron? Merkel's crown as Europe's leader up for grabs |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/03/draghi-scholz-or-macron-merkels-crown-as-europes-leader-up-for-grabs |access-date=8 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603052636/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/03/draghi-scholz-or-macron-merkels-crown-as-europes-leader-up-for-grabs |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Forbes">{{Cite web |title=Angela Merkel |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/angela-merkel/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525025708/https://www.forbes.com/profile/angela-merkel/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[2015 G20 Antalya summit|2015]], with the absence of [[Stephen Harper]], Merkel became the only leader to have attended every [[G20]] meeting since the first in [[2008 G20 Washington summit|2008]], having been present at a record [[List of G20 summits|fifteen summits]] as of [[2021 G20 Rome summit|2021]]. She hosted the twelfth meeting at the [[2017 G20 Hamburg summit]].<ref name="G20Announcement">{{cite news|title=G20-Gipfel in Hamburg: Merkel nennt erstmals Themen|url=https://www.abendblatt.de/politik/article208177485/G20-Gipfel-in-Hamburg-Merkel-nennt-erstmals-Themen.html|access-date=12 September 2016|newspaper=Hamburger Abendblatt|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055517/https://www.abendblatt.de/politik/article208177485/G20-Gipfel-in-Hamburg-Merkel-nennt-erstmals-Themen.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Merkel favors the [[EU-Ukraine relations#European Union Association Agreement|Association Agreement]] between [[Ukraine]] and the [[European Union]]. In December 2012, she stated that its implementation depends on reforms in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Kyiv Post]] |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/klitschko-ukraines-eu-prospects-depend-on-new-parliament-317148.html |title=Klitschko, Merkel discuss prospects for signing EU-Ukraine association agreement |agency=[[Interfax-Ukraine]] |date=5 December 2012 |archive-date=5 December 2012 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205070507/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/klitschko-ukraines-eu-prospects-depend-on-new-parliament-317148.html  }}</ref>

Merkel expressed support for Israel's right to self-defence in the context of the [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict]]. She telephoned Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] on 9 July to condemn "without reservation rocket fire on Israel".<ref>{{cite web |last=Shamah |first=David |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-pounds-gaza-targets-after-rocket-barrage-hits-as-far-north-as-hadera/#at_22:15 |title=Hamas rockets reach the north, Abbas charges Israel with genocide |newspaper=[[The Times of Israel]] |date=6 July 2014 |access-date=7 June 2020 |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607204208/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-pounds-gaza-targets-after-rocket-barrage-hits-as-far-north-as-hadera/#at_22:15 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 20 June 2018, which was [[World Refugee Day]], Merkel said that there had been "no moral or political justification" for the post-war [[Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–50)|expulsion of ethnic Germans]] from Central and Eastern European countries.<ref>{{cite news |title=Merkel calls Sudeten German expulsion "immoral", drawing Czech ire |url=http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/merkel-calls-sudeten-german-expulsion-immoral-drawing-czech-ire |work=Czech Radio |date=21 June 2018 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172217/https://english.radio.cz/merkel-calls-sudeten-german-expulsion-immoral-drawing-czech-ire-8157867 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Social expenditure===

At the [[World Economic Forum]] in Davos, 2013, Merkel said that Europe had only 7% of the global population and produced only 25% of the global GDP, but that it accounted for almost 50% of global social expenditure. She went on to say that Europe could only maintain its prosperity by being innovative and measuring itself against the best.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bundesregierung.de/ContentArchiv/DE/Archiv17/Reden/2013/01/2013-01-24-merkel-davos.html |title=Bundesregierung {{pipe}} Rede von Bundeskanzlerin Merkel beim Jahrestreffen 2013 des World Economic Forum |language=de |publisher=Bundesregierung.de |date=24 January 2013 |access-date=24 February 2016 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010140150/https://www.bundesregierung.de/ContentArchiv/DE/Archiv17/Reden/2013/01/2013-01-24-merkel-davos.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After this, the comparison became a central element in major speeches.<ref>Among others, in her speech on the occasion of her honorary doctoral degree at the [[University of Szeged]] in Hungary, see {{cite web |url=http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Rede/2015/02/2015-02-02-merkel-budapest.html |title=Rede von Bundeskanzlerin Merkel anlässlich der Verleihung der Ehrendoktorwürde der Universität Szeged |publisher=Die Bundesregierung |language=de |date=2 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010140512/https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Rede/2015/02/2015-02-02-merkel-budapest.html |archive-date=10 October 2017 }}</ref> The international financial press has widely commented on her thesis, with ''[[The Economist]]'' saying:

{{Blockquote|If Mrs Merkel's vision is pragmatic, so too is her plan for implementing it. It can be boiled down to three statistics, a few charts and some facts on an [[A4 paper|A4]] [[ISO 216#A series|*]] sheet of paper. The three figures are 7 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent. Mrs Merkel never tires of saying that Europe has 7 percent of the world's population, 25 percent of its GDP and 50 percent of its social spending. If the region is to prosper in competition with emerging countries, it cannot continue to be so generous.<ref name="economist.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21579144-germanys-vision-europe-all-about-making-continent-more-competitive-merkel |title=The Merkel plan |newspaper=The Economist |date=15 June 2013 |access-date=24 February 2016 |archive-date=23 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323014928/http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21579144-germanys-vision-europe-all-about-making-continent-more-competitive-merkel |url-status=live }}</ref> ... She produces graphs of unit labour costs&nbsp;... at EU meetings in much the same way that the late [[Margaret Thatcher]] used to pull passages from [[Friedrich Hayek]]'s ''[[The Road to Serfdom|Road to Serfdom]]'' from her handbag.<ref name="economist.com"/>}}

The ''[[Financial Times]]'' commented: "Although Ms Merkel stopped short of suggesting that a ceiling on social spending might be one yardstick for measuring competitiveness, she hinted as much in the light of soaring social spending in the face of an ageing population.<ref>{{cite news |last=Peel |first=Quentin |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8cc0f584-45fa-11e2-b7ba-00144feabdc0.html |title=Merkel warns on cost of welfare |work=Financial Times |date=16 December 2012 |access-date=24 February 2016 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324134929/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8cc0f584-45fa-11e2-b7ba-00144feabdc0.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate policy ===
Merkel has been credited as a key part of 2007 [[G8]] negotiations that led to a significantly more ambitious [[renewable energy]] transition commitment than had been anticipated.<ref>{{Cite news |title=EU-Klimaziele: Merkel freut sich über "Durchbruch" |language=de-DE |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/merkel-freut-sich-uber-durchbruch-1461181.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=1865-2263 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728171523/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/merkel-freut-sich-uber-durchbruch-1461181.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2010, the coalition government published a long-term plan for [[Sustainability|sustainable]] development of the [[electrical grid]] until 2050; efforts to transition to sustainable and otherwise preferable sources of energy have been termed [[Energiewende|Energy Transition]] ({{lang|de|Energiewende}}). Although the initial plan was criticised for lifetime extensions of [[nuclear power plant]]s, it was amended following the [[Fukushima nuclear disaster]], and the last nuclear power plants in Germany were shut down in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jacobs |first=David |date=2012 |title=The German Energiewende – History, Targets, Policies and Challenges |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24324660 |journal=Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=223–233 |jstor=24324660 |issn=1869-4942 |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827153149/https://www.jstor.org/stable/24324660 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Deutschlands letzte Atomkraftwerke vom Netz genommen |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/atomkraftwerke-stilllegung-105.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415223357/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/atomkraftwerke-stilllegung-105.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Atomkraft-Aus: Letzte deutsche Akw endgültig abgeschaltet |url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/atomkraft-ausstieg-akw-abgeschaltet-aus-100.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.mdr.de |language=de |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416062538/https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/atomkraft-ausstieg-akw-abgeschaltet-aus-100.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The plan also aimed at a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, a goal that was initially achieved largely due to reductions in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erfolgsmeldung mit Schönheitsfehler – Deutschland erreicht seine Klimaziele für 2020 – dank Corona |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/erfolgsmeldung-mit-schoenheitsfehler-deutschland-erreicht-100.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=4 January 2021 |language=de |archive-date=29 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129004823/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/erfolgsmeldung-mit-schoenheitsfehler-deutschland-erreicht-100.html |url-status=live}}</ref> However, emissions increased to a level above the target in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bauchmüller |first=Michael |date=21 December 2021 |title=Klimaschutz: Deutschland verfehlt wieder sein Klimaziel |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/klimaschutz-corona-emissionen-1.5493011 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221133945/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/klimaschutz-corona-emissionen-1.5493011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2023 |title=Energieverbrauch sinkt, Emissionen stabil: Warum das so ist |url=https://www.zdf.de/uri/3ff3b9c3-9626-47be-9cfa-0544647917e5 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.zdf.de |language=de |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728162311/https://www.zdf.de/uri/3ff3b9c3-9626-47be-9cfa-0544647917e5 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In preparation for the 2015 [[2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference|Paris Climate Change Conference]], Merkel announced that Germany would significantly increase its contributions to international climate aid and financing by 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2015 |title=Germany increases funding for climate action |url=https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/archive/archive/germany-increases-funding-for-climate-action-442202 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Bundesregierung |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215025035/https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/archive/archive/germany-increases-funding-for-climate-action-442202 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, some observers criticised Merkel's lack of action with regards to climate change that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Climate plan: Hendricks demands Merkel put down her foot" |url=https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/industry-grid-fee-rebates-rise-germany-retired-climate-pioneer/climate-plan-hendricks-demands-merkel-put-down-her-foot |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Clean Energy Wire |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201023842/https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/industry-grid-fee-rebates-rise-germany-retired-climate-pioneer/climate-plan-hendricks-demands-merkel-put-down-her-foot |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Angela Merkel und der Klimawandel: Klimakanzlerin außer Dienst |language=de-DE |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/klimakanzlerin-ausser-dienst-6020302.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=1865-2263 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728171522/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/klimakanzlerin-ausser-dienst-6020302.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, Merkel criticised the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]]'s decision to withdraw from the 2015 [[Paris Agreement]] and reaffirmed the commitment of the remaining [[G20]] members to the treaty.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 June 2017 |title=Angela Merkel: Trump can't stop us on Paris deal |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-trump-cant-stop-us/ |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=POLITICO |archive-date=2 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602121312/https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-trump-cant-stop-us/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Halasz |first1=Angela|last2=Dewan|first2=Stephanie |date=8 July 2017 |title=G20 closes with rebuke to Trump's climate change stance |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/08/europe/g20-merkel-trump-communique/index.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=CNN |archive-date=8 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708152917/https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/08/europe/g20-merkel-trump-communique/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In early 2019, a governmental commission appointed by the coalition government approved a plan to phase out [[Coal-fired power station|coal power plants]] by 2038, allocating a budget of {{Currency|40|EUR|linked=no}} billion to the plan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buck |first=Tobias |date=26 January 2019 |title=Germany set to phase out coal-fired power stations by 2038 |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cfae297e-213c-11e9-8ce6-5db4543da632 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127053532/https://www.ft.com/content/cfae297e-213c-11e9-8ce6-5db4543da632 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 January 2020 |title=Germany agrees plan to phase out coal power by 2038 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51133534 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=21 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121041216/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51133534 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2019, the Merkel government announced a set of climate change mitigation policies with a total budget of {{Currency|54|EUR|linked=no}} billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eddy |first=Melissa |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany Unveils $60 Billion Climate Package |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/germany-climate-protection-merkel.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920172021/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/germany-climate-protection-merkel.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Although described as a "new beginning for Germany's climate policy" by then-minister of the environment [[Svenja Schulze]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buck |first=Tobias |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany unveils sweeping measures to fight climate change |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/26e8d1e0-dbb3-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17 |access-date=30 June 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920172059/https://www.ft.com/content/26e8d1e0-dbb3-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17 |url-status=live}}</ref> the package was widely criticised; environmental protection groups have labelled it insufficient, and opposition parties have argued that it is ineffective.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany plans €54bn climate deal amid 500 protests |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49767649 |access-date=30 June 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920165710/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49767649 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Polarized public over Germany's climate plan? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/does-germanys-weak-climate-plan-reflect-a-polarized-public/a-50681461 |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=9 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009110911/https://www.dw.com/en/does-germanys-weak-climate-plan-reflect-a-polarized-public/a-50681461 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Not even the bare minimum: unpacking Germany's 2030 climate package |url=https://climateanalytics.org/blog/2019/not-even-the-bare-minimum-unpacking-germanys-2030-climate-package/ |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Climate Analytics Blog |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603073756/https://climateanalytics.org/blog/2019/not-even-the-bare-minimum-unpacking-germanys-2030-climate-package |url-status=live}}</ref> Prominent climate scientists have called it "a failure of the political system"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Götze |first=Susanne |date=20 September 2019 |title=Klimapaket der Bundesregierung: So beurteilen Experten die Einigung |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/klimapaket-der-bundesregierung-so-beurteilen-experten-die-einigung-a-1287888.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920193108/https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/klimapaket-der-bundesregierung-so-beurteilen-experten-die-einigung-a-1287888.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and "ridiculous".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kritik an Bundesregierung – Latif: Klimapaket verdient den Namen nicht |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/kritik-an-bundesregierung-latif-klimapaket-verdient-den-100.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=26 September 2019 |language=de |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116225327/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/kritik-an-bundesregierung-latif-klimapaket-verdient-den-100.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Fiscal policy ===
In 2009, Merkel announced plans to take on additional government debt in order to stimulate economic growth, arguing that this should take priority over other fiscal concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2009 |title=Merkel verteidigt Schulden- und Steuerpolitik |url=https://www.merkur.de/politik/merkel-verteidigt-schulden-steuerpolitik-zr-524344.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.merkur.de |language=de |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728173941/https://www.merkur.de/politik/merkel-verteidigt-schulden-steuerpolitik-zr-524344.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Merkel government's tax policy at the time was widely criticised, mostly for taking on additional debt instead of increasing tax rates at high levels of income.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 August 2010 |title=Analysis: Merkel under pressure to raise tax for rich Germans |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-tax-analysis-idUSTRE67N1RW20100824 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=3 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703084333/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-tax-analysis-idUSTRE67N1RW20100824 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 November 2009 |title=Recession Upends German Zeal for Fiscal Prudence (Published 2009) |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/business/global/11deficit.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |last1=Schwartz |first1=Nelson D. |last2=Dempsey |first2=Judy |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728173941/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/business/global/11deficit.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, Merkel expressed support for a global financial transaction tax, but was ultimately unsuccessful in international negotiations on the matter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bank levy defeated |url=https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-concedes-defeat-on-bank-levy-at-g-8/a-5732220 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325104139/https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-concedes-defeat-on-bank-levy-at-g-8/a-5732220 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 June 2010 |title=Sarkozy, Merkel call for bank levy, financial transactions tax |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20100614-france-germany-merkel-sarkozy-meeting-eu-summit-economy-governance-diplomacy |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=France 24 |archive-date=16 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616145627/https://www.france24.com/en/20100614-france-germany-merkel-sarkozy-meeting-eu-summit-economy-governance-diplomacy |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, Merkel argued for the importance of a [[Government budget balance|balanced government budget]], rejecting calls for additional investment to stimulate growth.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 2019 |title=Germany sticking to balanced budget goal, Merkel says |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-budget-idUSKCN1VV2D9 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=11 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911081026/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-budget-idUSKCN1VV2D9 |url-status=live}}</ref>