Volker Wieland sees numerous opportunities for savings in the federal budget (Bild)

Following the Federal Constitutional Court's ruling that the budget is unconstitutional, the federal government is working on a supplementary budget. The debt brake is being put to the test. According to Prof. Volker Wieland, there are numerous opportunities for potential savings. In his view, suspending the debt brake is not appropriate. The debt brake was created to set priorities. "You can certainly cut back without immediately jeopardizing Germany's future," he said.

Wieland sees potential savings in various areas:
▶ Abolition of the VAT reduction in the catering sector
"Corona aid such as the VAT reduction for restaurants and pubs should have been ended a long time ago," says Wieland.
▶ Less citizen's income
Wieland: "More and more cases are being reported of how the citizen's income discourages people from working"
▶ Less money for Intel and co.
In Wieland's opinion, the excessive billions in subsidies to Intel and Co. should be put to the test.
▶ End of the electricity and gas price brakes
"It makes sense to end the price brakes for electricity and gas. Many people who can heat without the support would receive money here."
▶ Expansion of emissions certificate trading to the building and mobility sector instead of billions in subsidies (Heating Act)
"Climate policy must be redesigned," demands Wieland. Without an expansion of CO2 prices, the transformation would remain a permanent subsidy. In contrast, emissions certificate trading in the building and mobility sector could generate higher revenues.
Based on these proposals, there is a savings potential of more than 47 billion euros, according to Bild.

Bild: "Top-Experten machen Ampel Vorschläge" (€)