German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has reiterated Berlin's firm stance against introducing common European debt, telling Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that the government sees "no need" to change course. Klingbeil echoed Chancellor Friedrich Merz's resistance to shared borrowing, arguing that sufficient resources are already available and that the priority should be on improving the efficiency and speed of EU spending rather than enlarging the bloc's collective balance sheet.
The statement was positioned as a direct rebuttal to renewed advocacy from French President Emmanuel Macron for joint borrowing as a tool to bolster EU competitiveness. With the debate intensifying ahead of a series of high-level summits, Klingbeil framed Germany's approach as one that favors internal reforms and operational agility within existing fiscal arrangements.
Domestic debate and shifting voices
Despite the government's clear "no," Klingbeil acknowledged that the conversation within Germany is evolving. He pointed to "new voices" in the financial community - notably Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Christian Sewing and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel - that have expressed a degree of openness to the idea of joint debt issuance. Klingbeil's recognition of those statements highlights a growing dissonance between political leadership and parts of the financial elite.
Those developments raise questions about the cohesion of the so-called "frugal" camp within the EU. Klingbeil suggested that if the Bundesbank and other influential institutions continue to soften their positions, political pressure on the Merz administration to compromise could increase, potentially becoming significant by the end of 2026.
Banking sovereignty and takeover concerns
Beyond fiscal policy, Klingbeil stressed Germany's protective posture toward its banking sector. He explicitly rejected what he described as "unfriendly" moves by UniCredit SpA toward Commerzbank AG and affirmed the government's clear commitment to preserving the lender's independent strategy. The intent of that stance is to deter hostile takeover attempts that have unsettled parts of the European banking system.
By underlining state support for Commerzbank's independence, Klingbeil signalled that Berlin is prepared to act to maintain stability within its domestic banking market and to limit external consolidation pressures that could unsettle local stakeholders.
ECB leadership and market signaling
Klingbeil also addressed speculation about leadership at the European Central Bank. Despite circulating rumours that President Christine Lagarde might step down before the end of her 2027 term - a move that could open a path for Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel - Klingbeil said that her succession is "not currently on the agenda."
Market participants are likely to read Klingbeil's remarks as an attempt to project stability across fiscal policy, banking oversight and central-bank leadership. Still, with the Eurobond conversation revived and takeover tensions resurfacing, Germany - as the Eurozone's largest economy - remains at the centre of an unfolding policy and market dynamic.
Conclusion
In sum, Klingbeil's comments keep Germany aligned with Chancellor Merz's opposition to common EU debt while acknowledging emerging debate among influential financial actors. His defence of Commerzbank's independence and the assertion that ECB succession is not a current matter aim to limit short-term market disruption, but the underlying tensions between political positions and newly expressed views in the banking and central-banking community leave room for further political friction going forward.