Big drama inside Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reportedly rejected French President Emmanuel Macronâs idea that the European Union should issue joint bonds to help cover spending France cannot afford. In simple words â Germany does not want to share the debt burden.
Hereâs why this is serious. Germanyâs debt-to-GDP ratio is around 65%, while Franceâs is close to 120%. That means France is carrying almost double the debt compared to the size of its economy. Germany has always been strict about fiscal discipline, and many German leaders fear that EU joint bonds would mean German taxpayers indirectly backing French debt.
This is not just about money â itâs about the future of the European Union. During the COVID crisis, the EU already issued common debt for recovery funds. Some countries now want to use that model again. But others, especially Germany, worry this could create a âdebt unionâ where financially stronger nations constantly support heavily indebted ones.
If tensions grow, this could shake confidence in the euro and widen political divisions inside Europe. Markets are watching closely because any crack between Berlin and Paris â the two engines of the EU â can create serious instability. đđ¶đ„