MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Germany will not give up a balanced and deficit-free budget despite being affected by the ongoing migration crisis in Europe, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in an interview published Sunday.
According to the chancellor, an opinion that the costs of hosting migrants would make the German government run into debt is "completely unfounded."
"Having a budget without new debts is reasonable for a country with an aging population," Merkel told the Bild am Sonntag magazine.
Berlin has managed to achieve the balanced budget within several years by gradually limiting social benefits and increasing taxes.
Germany is rather loyal and tolerant to the refugee arrivals. According to the budget review, the German government expects to spend 16.5 billion euros ($18.1 billion) on refugee-related programs in 2016.
