In the second half of 2020, Germany held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Europe was facing huge challenges due to the corona pandemic. We were adopting ambitious fiscal policies to drive Europe’s recovery – together.
Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union
In this unprecedented crisis, Germany’s Council Presidency showed that the European idea lives; our common values live: solidarity, freedom, rule of law. That is a great success, and it is a joint success.
#EU2020DEfinance
VIDEO
PHOTOS
German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz passes on the baton of the EU Council Presidency to his colleague João Leão
Germany hands over the EU Council Presidency to Portugal: Finance Ministers Olaf Scholz and João Leão in dialogue
Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual Eurogroup meeting on 16 December 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual Eurogroup meeting on 16 December 2020
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Press conference with Olaf Scholz after the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 1 December 2020
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Press conference with Olaf Scholz after the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 1 December 2020
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Press conference with Olaf Scholz after the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 1 December 2020
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Olaf Scholz during the video conference of the ECOFIN Council on 1 December 2020
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Olaf Scholz during the video conference of the ECOFIN Council on 1 December 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 1 December 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 1 December 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 1 December 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual Eurogroup meeting on 30 November 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual Eurogroup meeting on 30 November 2020
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Press conference with Olaf Scholz after the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 4 November 2020
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Press conference with Olaf Scholz after the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 4 November 2020
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Press conference with Olaf Scholz after the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 4 November 2020
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Olaf Scholz during the video conference of the ECOFIN Council on 4 November 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 4 November 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 4 November 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 4 November 2020
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Olaf Scholz during the video conference of the ECOFIN Council on 4 November 2020
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Olaf Scholz during the video conference of the Eurogroup on 3 November 2020
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Olaf Scholz during the video conference of the Eurogroup on 3 November 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual Eurogroup meeting on 3 November 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual Eurogroup meeting on 3 November 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual Eurogroup meeting on 3 November 2020
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Press conference: Olaf Scholz after the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 6 October 2020
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Virtual ECOFIN meeting with Olaf Scholz on 6 October 2020
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Virtual ECOFIN meeting with Olaf Scholz on 6 October 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 6 October 2020
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Doorstep: Olaf Scholz prior to the virtual ECOFIN meeting on 6 October 2020
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Olaf Scholz at the press conference following the informal ECOFIN meeting on 11-12 September 2020
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Press conference with Olaf Scholz, Valdis Dombrovskis and Luis de Guindos following the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11-12 September 2020
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We are family. Family photo of the
informal ECOFIN meeting in Berlin
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Group photo at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11-12 September 2020
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Finance Minister Olaf Scholz chairs
the informal ECOFIN meeting in Berlin
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Informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
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Informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
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Eurogroup press conference in Berlin on 11 September 2020
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Informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
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Informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
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Doorstep: Finance Minister Olaf Scholz before the informal ECOFIN meeting on 11–12 September 2020
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Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
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Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Welcoming delegates at the informal ECOFIN in Berlin on 11–12 September 2020
© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Press conference with Olaf Scholz and Valdis Dombrovskis following the first ECOFIN Council meeting under Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 10 July 2020© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Olaf Scholz presenting the programme of Germany’s Council Presidency to EU ambassadors in a video conference © Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Press conference with Olaf Scholz and Valdis Dombrovskis following the first ECOFIN Council meeting under Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 10 July 2020© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Olaf Scholz at the first (virtual) ECOFIN Council meeting under Germany’s Council Presidency on 10 July 2020 © Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
First (virtual) ECOFIN Council meeting under Germany’s Council Presidency on 10 July 2020 © Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Olaf Scholz prior to the first ECOFIN Council meeting under Germany’s Council Presidency on 10 July 2020 © Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Olaf Scholz prior to the Eurogroup meeting on 9 July 2020 © Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Highlighting the Council Presidency at the
Federal Ministry of Finance© Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
Olaf Scholz presenting the programme of Germany’s Council Presidency to EU ambassadors in a video conference © Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
The BMF shines for Europe: 25 years of the Maastricht Treaty © Federal Ministry of Finance / Festival of Lights 2017
The BMF lights up for Europe: EU barcode © Federal Ministry of Finance / Festival of Lights 2017
Brandenburg Gate lights up at the start
of the EU Council Presidency© Federal Ministry of Finance
Olaf Scholz presenting the programme of Germany’s Council Presidency to EU ambassadors in a video conference © Federal Ministry of Finance / Photothek
The BMF shines for Europe: Europe is for Lovers © Federal Ministry of Finance / Festival of Lights 2018
The EU’s response to the coronavirus crisis
Containing the coronavirus pandemic and dealing with its impact remain the most important goal. The plans for the EU’s economic recovery need to be ambitious, in order to enable sustainable and inclusive growth and to expedite the digital transformation.
Modern EU finances for a sustainable future
The 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework will play a key role in stimulating the EU’s economic recovery and promoting sustainable investments in our common strategic goals.
Fair taxation for an EU based on solidarity
For the single market to function properly, we need to have fair and effective taxation, especially since the economy is becoming increasingly digitalised. In addition, we have to fight tax evasion and money laundering with determination.
A new partnership with the United Kingdom
Following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union on 1 February 2020, the agreed transition period is ending on 31 December 2020. This means that the UK will leave the single market and the customs union, and that EU rules will no longer apply to it. The German Finance Ministry is currently reviewing the new agreement and will be providing extensive details in the next few days.
