News German Government Outlines Spending Increases Berlin, January 13, 2025 (hib) – The German government has released a report detailing significant increases in public spending over the next several years. The document, titled “Ausgabensteigerungen” (“Spending Increases”), projects a 6.3% increase in government spending in 2025, followed by annual increases of 4.8% in 2026 and 2027. The … Read more
German Union Questions Finance Minister’s Travel Expenses Berlin (hib/HAU) – The German Union of Public Services, Verdi, has asked about the business trips of Saxon Finance Minister Hartmut Kukies (SPD). The union’s parliamentary group leader, Franziska Schubert, wrote to the Saxon Ministry of Finance on Friday, demanding detailed information on Kukies’ travel expenses since the … Read more
German antitrust authority has not yet used new powers The German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) has not yet used its new powers to break up dominant companies. The new powers were granted to the Cartel Office in January 2023 as part of the 10th Amendment to the German Competition Act. The powers allow the Cartel … Read more
Questions about the healthcare insurance risk adjustment system Berlin. The Federal Government is planning to make changes to the healthcare insurance risk adjustment system. The German Bundestag is currently debating the corresponding draft law. The risk adjustment system is intended to ensure that health insurance funds with a high proportion of sick or elderly members … Read more
Rising Insurance Contributions in Statutory and Private Health Insurance Berlin. Statutory and private health insurance (GKV and PKV) contributions are expected to rise again in 2025. This was announced by the Federal Insurance Supervision (BaFin) on Friday in Bonn. The authority set the average contribution rate for the GKV at 16.2 percent. This means that … Read more
No information on HR plans Berlin: The federal government has no information on how many civil servants will be needed in the coming years. This was stated by the Federal Ministry of the Interior in response to a written question from the Greens parliamentary group, which is available to the German Press Agency. The ministry … Read more
Revamp of Hannover’s Train Station Forecourt A redesign of the train station forecourt in Hannover, Germany, is underway. The project aims to enhance accessibility, improve traffic flow, and create a more inviting and modern public space. The plans include widening the sidewalks, adding new pedestrian crossings, and creating a central plaza with seating areas, greenery, … Read more
Motion to Restructure Development Policy: Abolish the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Integrate Development Aid into the Foreign Office and Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action 20/14478: Antrag Entwicklungspolitik neustrukturieren- Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung abschaffen und Entwicklungshilfe in das Auswärtige Amt und das Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz … Read more
Condolence Telegram from Federal Chancellor Scholz to President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China Berlin, January 13, 2023 – Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz sent a condolence telegram to President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on January 13, 2023, following the tragic accident at Jinyang Lake in Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province. … Read more
Lidl fined for failing to provide accurate consumer information on prices On January 13, 2025, the French Ministry of Economy announced that SNC Lidl, the company that operates the Lidl store in Rosières, had been fined for failing to provide accurate information to consumers about prices. According to the Ministry of Economy, inspectors found several … Read more