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Brussels (dpa) - Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz sees rapid vaccination as crucial for Europe's economic recovery from the Corona crisis.
There was no time to lose, said the SPD politician on the sidelines of a meeting of the Eurogroup.
"If enough vaccine is available, vaccination must be carried out quickly and across the board."
The second important point for overcoming the crisis is to use the "historic opportunity of the construction fund".
The economic situation was the main topic of the online meeting of the economics and finance ministers of the 19 euro countries on Monday afternoon.
The latest economic forecast by the EU Commission predicts that the economy in the euro area will pick up again from the second quarter, if requirements are relaxed and vaccinations are promoted.
This year and next, growth of 3.8 percent should be achieved.
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Scholz admitted that the extension and, in some cases, tightening of the lockdown measures against the pandemic would have an impact on the economic recovery.
Nonetheless, this recovery continues.
Regarding the EU's 750 billion euro expansion program, he said: "The money should not only stimulate the economy, but spark a real push for modernization in our countries."
The finance minister added that they don't want a flash in the pan, they want good long-term development.
His plan to use the German share in the fund of an estimated 22.7 billion euros is balanced and "a clear signal for the future".
In contrast, the Greens criticize the German plan because the German government wants to finance projects that are already planned with EU funds.
"She pours old wine into new bottles," complained the members of the Bundestag Franziska Brantner and Sven-Christian Kindler.
The economics and finance ministers are concerned about the financial situation of many companies.
It is feared that the pandemic will drive up the number of company bankruptcies.
In 2020, at least in Germany, this was not yet noticeable: The number of bankruptcies last year was even below that of 2019, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The background is, however, that the obligation to report insolvency has been suspended.
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The topic of the Eurogroup was once again the strengthening of the euro as a world currency.
Scholz again campaigned for the introduction of a digital form of the common currency - as a supplement to cash.
"A sovereign Europe needs innovative and competitive payment solutions," said the finance minister.
You shouldn't wait too long to prepare and implement it.
"Europe must be at the forefront of this central issue and actively shape this process so that we can defend our currency sovereignty."
The Eurogroup is an informal body for the coordination of the economic and financial policies of the states with the common currency.
The Irish Paschal Donohoe presides over it.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210215-99-453969 / 2