Further steps, intended to afford Germans tax relief to the tune of DM 30 billion, could follow after the election. The FDP has, so far, refused to deal with the SPD on the first step of tax reform as an isolated element. Employers criticize government's plan to reward businesses with apprentices Bonn. Employers have expressed great criticism of the government's plan to give preference to companies with enough apprentices in awarding government contracts, effective immediately. The German Employers' Confederation said that the plan would not generate a single additional apprenticeship position.
German economy continues to grow Wiesbaden.
It has been two years since the German economy grew as strongly as it did in the second quarter of this year. The federal deficit fell in the first half of this year, from 3.4 percent of GDP to 3.1 percent. This is an important number for participation in the European monetary union, as the Maastricht Treaty requires a ratio of 3 percent or less, with some exceptions allowed. Baden-Wurttemberg to cut costs further Stuttgart. State Premier Teufel announced that this was the result of a two-day closed party meeting in Asperg near Ludwigsburg.