Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said it is too early to withdraw government stimulus measures.

“Developments in 2013 will be decisive for determining the right time for budget consolidation in member states,” Schaeuble said today in Brussels. “When a self-sustaining recovery is in sight, member states must in 2011 at the latest start reducing deficits. We stand to this agreement,” he said.

“I share the assessment that a self-sustaining recovery is in sight and so Germany will start budget consolidation in 2011,” the minister said. “The structural deficit will be reduced gradually,” he said.

“We will accept the targets laid down in the deficit procedure and bring our general deficit back below 3 percent in 2013. We assume that the commission will publish such a recommendation tomorrow.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Rainer Buergin in Berlin at rbuergin1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 10, 2009 08:10 EST