The latest statements by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and CDU leader Friedrich Merz on the subject of savings and investment have raised eyebrows. Both are calling for citizens' private savings to be increasingly used for "investments" - with supposedly voluntary incentives. But what sounds harmless and economically beneficial at first glance harbors considerable risks. Is this the beginning of creeping access to private assets?

The "savings and investment union" - a Trojan horse?

Ursula von der Leyen announced the introduction of a "Savings and Investment Union" (SIU) in order to "convert private savings into urgently needed investments". This raises the question: who defines which investments are "urgently needed"? Citizens save for various reasons - be it for their retirement provision, for emergencies or to secure financial flexibility. But now the EU Commission apparently wants to intervene and redirect capital flows.

Although von der Leyen emphasizes that the conversion is voluntary, the past teaches us that when politicians have leverage, they often do not use it for the benefit of citizens, but to finance their own projects. What is sold as an "incentive" today could be linked to legal regulations, tax disadvantages or even direct access tomorrow.

Merz and infrastructure - a harmless proposal or the precursor to expropriation?

Friedrich Merz put it this way at the CSU party conference: Germany would have to "mobilize" some of the gigantic private savings to invest in the ailing infrastructure. Specifically, he spoke of 2.8 trillion euros sitting in German bank accounts. If just 10% of this were invested in a targeted manner, many projects could be financed.

But how exactly is this "mobilization" to take place? In the free market, many citizens have long been skeptical when it comes to state-sponsored financial products. The promises of the Riester pension are a warning example of how supposedly safe investments have become a loss trap for many. What if politicians use less "gentle" methods this time?

Possible coercive measures: What is the real threat to citizens?

Although politicians are currently still emphasizing that everything is voluntary, several scenarios are conceivable as to how the "redirection" of savings into investments could turn into a creeping expropriation:

1. Tax discrimination against savings
   Those who simply leave their money in their accounts could soon be penalized with higher taxes or negative interest rates to "encourage" them to invest it in government-preferred projects.

2. Mandatory forms of investment for certain savings
   One possible variant would be that citizens would have to invest a certain percentage of their savings in state-subsidized funds - similar to occupational pension schemes, only this time without freedom of choice.

3. Direct special levies or wealth taxes
   In times of crisis, countries have already levied special taxes on savings in the past (e.g. in Italy in the 1990s). Who can guarantee that this will not happen again?

4. State-controlled investment funds with questionable returns
   Citizens could be forced to put their money into projects that are selected according to political rather than economic criteria. A low or even negative return would then be borne by taxpayers - with their own savings.

5. Capital controls
   In an extreme case, measures could be taken to restrict the free disposal of savings - for example by limiting cash withdrawals or transfers abroad.

Citizens pay for political mistakes

While politicians always emphasize that the redirection of private savings should only be a support for investments, an uncomfortable truth is revealed: decades of mismanagement, growing public debt and inefficient bureaucracy have led to public funds no longer being sufficient. Instead of taking responsibility for these mistakes, citizens' money is now being used.

Instead of real reforms - such as a more efficient administration or the avoidance of billions in waste - a system is being prepared in which savers are liable for the mistakes of politicians. The question is no longer whether, but whenvoluntary incentives will become de facto coercion.

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