Samenvatting

This thesis considers the extent to which German fiscal policy can be used as a blueprint in other Eurozone countries that need revision after the crisis. This thesis also aims to discover the negative and positive sentiments regarding a common fiscal union in Eurozone countries and what exactly the role of Germany is. Finally, it addresses the economic successes of Germany, which cannot be easily copied by other Eurozone countries. The main question that has been considered in this thesis is the following:“To what extent can German fiscal policy be used as a blueprint in other Eurozone countries that need revision after the crisis?”
The methodology examines the secondary data used in this thesis. In this context there has been used legal legislatives, economic working papers, and working papers funded by the European Union and by the Deutsche (German) Bank etc. This thesis employs a comparative analysis to explain the correlation between Germany and the other Eurozone countries with respect to fiscal policy.
The result of this analysis is that Germany differs from the rest of the Eurozone countries.

. Germany owes its economic success to domestic factors and to policies that include stabilizing consumption demand, keeping unemployment low during the crisis, and stabilizing fiscal policy.
• Observers argue over whether the German debt brake is the key to its success or whether Germany benefits from its position in the middle of Europe and to its exports within and outside Europe. In fact, the debt brake is perceived as an artificial limit in the German State.
• Eurozone countries have adopted the German debt brake and currently consider a closer European integration by implementing a “German” equalization system. This means that “poorer” Eurozone countries will be funded by “richer” Eurozone countries.
However, the Germans are not satisfied with the fiscal equalization in their own country; thus a fiscal equalization system in Europe will open new conflicts between Eurozone countries. Furthermore, this will mean that the implementation of a fiscal union will lead to greater unity between the Eurozone countries. Germany will be asked to relinquish its political sovereignty, as decision-making will be at the European level. However, it seems that Eurozone countries are not prepared to have a “European government”.