GERMANY is reported to be keen on further cuts 6 billion euros to bring the structurally balanced budget by 2014. The government's budget for 2013 envisages new net borrowing of 17.1 billion euros, down from an earlier target of 18.8 billion euros and some 11 billion less than in 2012. 

The disciplined budget is much needed to overcome the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis and aims to balance its own books next year, two years earlier than a previous target. In a move to achieve this Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble would seek savings of 5-to-6 billion euros in addition to spending cuts already planned. 

The gap of 5 billion euros can be brought about only through spending cuts making clear tax increases were not on the agenda. The axe would fall across all ministries and would also affect subsidies for the health care system. The finance ministry last month denied a report that Schaeuble planned cuts in social spending and hikes in value-added tax to balance the budget.