Germany's center-right CDU party has struck a deal with the Greens on a massive spending plan, a party source told Agence France Presse (AFP) on Friday, March 14, paving the way for its approval in parliament next week.
The plan jointly put forward by the CDU, whose leader Friedrich Merz is likely Germany's next chancellor, and center-left Social Democrats (SPD) would see defense spending exempted from the country's constitutionally enshrined debt brake when it exceeds one percent of GDP. It also calls for a €500 billion special fund for infrastructure spending.
The Green party also said in a statement that there had been an "agreement" reached on the issue, with further details expected in the afternoon.
It was not immediately clear how far the proposal has been changed to gain the Greens' approval. Their votes are necessary to achieve the two-thirds majority in parliament needed to modify the debt brake.
Merz had said on Thursday that €50 billion from the infrastructure fund could be set aside for climate protection measures. The deal follows several days of often acrimonious debate during which the Greens had threatened to withhold their support, citing insufficient action on the environment in the plan.