The finance ministers of the euro area\u2019s two biggest economies pledged to join forces to provide additional support for European startups.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want Europe to create an environment where innovative companies can grow into global champions,\u201d Germany\u2019s Lars Klingbeil and France\u2019s Eric Lombard wrote in a\u00a0joint op-ed<\/a>\u00a0published Tuesday in Handelsblatt newspaper.<\/p>\n The two ministers, who are due to meet on Wednesday near Berlin, said they plan to create a \u201cpanel of experts\u201d led by former Bank of France Governor Christian Noyer and Joerg Kukies, an ex-German finance minister who was a close adviser to former Chancellor Olaf Scholz.<\/p>\n Europa braucht mehr Investitionen und weniger B\u00fcrokratie, um im globalen Wettbewerb zu bestehen, schreiben Lars Klingbeil und \u00c9ric Lombard \u2013 und legen konkrete Reformvorschl\u00e4ge vor. https:\/\/t.co\/nxUPfswG2i<\/a>\u2014 Handelsblatt (@handelsblatt) July 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cThis panel will develop concrete proposals to strengthen financing for startups and growth companies in Europe,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n Policymakers across the region are attempting to invigorate the euro-area economy, which is typically seen as lagging the US and China in innovation. Lack of access to capital has been a regular complaint voiced by Europe\u2019s startup scene.<\/p>\n Separately, the government in Berlin said Chancellor Friedrich Merz had discussed \u201chow to further enhance Germany\u2019s attractiveness as a business and financial center\u201d with top domestic and international finance executives at a meeting Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n \u201cChancellor Merz promoted Germany as a business location,\u201d the government said in an emailed statement. \u201cHe also used the chance to discuss opportunities for private investment in the modernization of our country.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n