Germany's Merz to press cabinet for faster pro-growth reforms

BERLIN, Aug 23 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will urge his cabinet next week to accelerate reforms aimed at easing the burden on businesses and reviving economic growth, the Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported on Sunday.

"At stake in Germany are growth and employment. That is the most important issue," Merz told the newspaper ahead of a cabinet retreat in Neuhardenberg, Brandenburg. "So full concentration on that — keep your eye on the ball."

Merz, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union, plans to focus ministers on swiftly implementing reforms agreed before the summer recess, including measures covering taxes, pensions, deregulation and digitalisation, according to the report.

"We made historic decisions before the summer break," Merz said. "Now they must be implemented as quickly as possible."

He said the government's priority was to deliver "rapid and comprehensive relief for the economy," particularly for tradespeople and small and medium-sized companies.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez; Editing by Alistair Bell)