Germany updates: Merz seeks to win over investment

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is welcoming executives from top German firms on Monday, hoping to rally fresh investment after two years of recession.

Around 30 companies — including big hitters like Siemens and Deutsche Bank — are expected to present projects under the "Made for Germany" push to restore confidence in the economy.

While the government has approved billions in tax relief and a €500-billion ($580 billion) fund for infrastructure and climate, Berlin says public money alone won't be enough.

Below is a roundup of what Germanyis talking about on Monday, July 21:

07/21/2025July 21, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Guten morgen from the DW newsroom, overlooking the Rhine River in Bonn — the former capital of West Germany.

You join us as Chancellor Friedrich Merz gets ready to woo some of Germany's biggest business bosses to help get the sluggish economy back on its feet.

Top names like Siemens and Deutsche Bank are expected talks in Berlin, along with more than a dozen other DAX-listed giants.

About 30 firms are set to join what's being billed as a major push to rebuild investor confidence in the country’s economic future.

Merz is under pressure after two back-to-back years of recession and little sign that 2025 will turn things around.

Follow along for the latest on what Germany is talking about on Monday, July 21.