Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)

The Federal Ministry of Finance ( BMF), shortly Federal Ministry of Finance, is a Supreme Authority of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has its headquarters in Berlin and Bonn. The Federal Ministry is assisted by a Scientific Advisory Board.

First official residence is the Detlev - Rohwedder-Haus in the Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin (the former Ministry of Aviation and later the House of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic).

• 4.1 Federal Minister since 1949
• 4.2 Parliamentary Secretaries
• 4.3 Officers Secretaries

History

The Minister of Finance is in addition to the interior, exterior, Justice and Defense (formerly still belonged to the Postmaster General to ) one of those members of the government, projecting one of the remaining so-called classical departments. This designation has the background that there were only these divisions in the first German Reich government. To emphasize this, in the name of the definite article is used.

From the original Reich Treasury showed the Reich Ministry of Finance in the Weimar Republic. This in turn was the precursor of today's ministry. The establishment of the Ministry in 1949 immediately preceded the 1947 Joint Fiscal created.

After the dissolution of the Federal Ministry of the Treasury in 1969 its tasks were transferred in part to the Treasury.

Responsibility at the federal level

The main responsibilities lie in the fiscal, budgetary policy and in the European financial policy. Furthermore, it is among other things responsible for the following units:

• The Federal Financial
• The Federal Agency for Real Estate (BImA )
• The Federal Agency for Special Tasks
• The Federal Monopoly Administration for Spirits
• The Center for Information Processing and Information Technology
• Customs ( Federal Customs Administration)

From May 1971 to December 1972 the Ministry of Finance was merged with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to the Federal Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Since 1998, the Federal Ministry of Finance is also responsible for the issuance of postage stamps bearing the name of Germany.

Role in European politics

Europe Political responsibility

At EU level, the main responsibility of the Ministry of Finance is in the coordination of European economic and monetary policy for the Federal Government. In addition, the Ministry of Finance participates in the preparation and control of the EU budget and is responsible for the EU regulatory areas of customs, taxation and financial services.

The main organ in which the BMF at the EU level is active, the Council for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN). The Federal Minister of Finance represents Germany in the ECOFIN. The Ecofin meets about ten times a year. In addition, the Finance Ministers of the Member States meet at least once every six months for an informal meeting in the country of the Presidency.

Within the Ministry of Finance, the design of its European policy areas of responsibility falls of the key responsibilities of the Department E under the direction of MD Westphal.

The Federal Ministry of Finance also the EU Observatory is located, the point of contact for citizens questions about European legislation on EU funding programs and policies of the EU and exchange of diverse information sources.

European policy objectives

A self-titled " essential objective " of the Federal Ministry of Finance in European policy is to stabilize the euro and the European Economic and Monetary Union. To achieve this goal, the BMF is for a reformed financial market supervision in Europe, closer coordination and monitoring ( European Semester, reform of the Stability and Growth Pact, Euro Plus Pact, etc. ) as well as rescue measures (ESM, EFSF etc.).

In addition, the Ministry of Finance is in the lead position within the Federal Government and in cooperation with the European Court of Auditors, the European Commission and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF ) for the proper and efficient use of European subsidies paid.

Line positions

Federal Minister since 1949

After Alex Möller resigned in protest against the debt policies of other ministries, was in the period following the financial department of the respective Ministers, initially by Karl Schiller, later by Helmut Schmidt, co-managed, before the original division was restored.

Short term there was this amalgamation previously had, as in the second cabinet under Ludwig Erhard, the FDP ministers had resigned, Kurt Schmücker stood at the head of each Ministry. This personal union ended with the formation of a grand coalition under Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger almost a month later.

Parliamentary Secretaries

Officers Secretaries

Expert commissions

• Commission to improve the tax environment for investment and jobs, Chair: Reinhard Goerdeler (Opinion, BMF Series, No. 46, Bonn 1991)
• Income Tax Commission for exemption from tax of the subsistence level since 1996 and the reform of the income tax, Chair: Peter Bareis (Opinion, BMF Series, No. 55, Bonn 1995)
• Commission on the reform of corporate taxation, Chair: Alfons Kühn (Opinion, BMF Series, No. 66, Bonn 1999)
• Independent Commission of Historians for research into the history of the Reich Ministry of Finance during the period of National Socialism, since 2010, Chair: Hans -Peter Ullmann