With their draft election programme, Germany's Green party want to finally say goodbye to their image as an opposition party. Climate protection and expensive investments are central, but their ideas for tax and financial policy could become contentious.
European Council President Charles Michel wants to see regions more involved in the current European processes, particularly in the drafting of national recovery plans and the Conference on the Future of Europe. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Two German states are set to vote on Sunday in regional elections seen as a bellwether for September's national poll as Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) continue to reel from a mask procurement scandal that could prove the party's undoing.
Local authorities have had to rely on European aid distributed via the cohesion fund to maintain public services during the pandemic, but this process has not always worked smoothly, a study released on Wednesday (March 10) says. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU countries have reallocated €3.8 billion of EU structural funds away from climate action while increasing "generic support" for small and medium-sized firms as well as health measures. This was made possible by loosened rules to enable a rapid response to the crisis but the European Commission hopes that the incoming fresh cash will reverse that trend.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency on Wednesday (3 March) classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a suspected extremist movement, meaning the party can now be subjected to state surveillance, EURACTIV Germany reports.
They had no time to lose: A good six months before the German parliamentary elections, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) published its demands to the new government. In the Europe chapter, the focus on climate stands out, EURACTIV Germany reports.
The European Commission is cautious with EU member states moves to unilaterally issue a certificate offering travel privileges to those vaccinated, EU sources told EURACTIV.com, suggesting instead a common approach.
The US government is confident its sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany will have an impact. In a document obtained by EURACTIV Germany, the State Department lists 18 European companies that have already ended their cooperation with the project. EURACTIV Germany reports.
This Friday (19 February) marks the anniversary of the Hanau attack. To improve prevention against such attacks, the German government promised a package of measures against racism, but a real strategy is missing, NGOs say. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The EU Council finally managed to adopt a position on widespread new data protection rules on Wednesday (10 February), as part of the so-called ePrivacy regulation, although Germany and Austria abstained from voting and Berlin's data protection authority called for 'significant changes' to the text.
The German government wants to create a culture of open data sharing - and is setting a good example. The second Open Data Act, which the cabinet passed on Wednesday (10 February), expands the obligations of public authorities to make their data available to the general public. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) want to be seen as the party of the future. That is the core message of the resolution following last weekend's party retreat. But the SPD's proverbial red thread - on social issues - is missing. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Europe's regions are changing. The population is getting older and cities are growing while rural regions are increasingly dying out, causing strains on urban infrastructure. EURACTIV Germany reports.
On Wednesday (27 January), the German government will adopt its new data strategy. Among other things, citizens should be able to have more confidence that their data is in good hands with the state and companies, according to the document, which was leaked to EURACTIV in advance.
The German implementation of the European copyright reform is edging towards adoption, despite having been postponed from cabinet talks on Wednesday (27 January). The most recent draft, obtained by EURACTIV, once again strengthens rights for authors and publishers. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The German government said it will not abandon the Nord Stream 2 project, despite US sanctions and calls by the European Parliament to impose EU measures against the Russian-backed gas pipeline project over the Navalny case.
More than 1.1 million people demanded that the Commission do more to protect minorities, but Brussels neglected to take action. German minority associations are outraged and are trying to build up the pressure through the member states. EURACTIV Germany reports.
North Rhine-Westphalian (NRW) premier Armin Laschet has been elected the new chair of Germany's ruling conservative CDU and will lead the party into the September Bundestag elections, with a good chance of becoming the next chancellor. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany's ruling conservative CDU will choose its new leader on Saturday. Whoever of the three candidates wins has the best chance of becoming the next chancellor - and thus one of the most powerful people in Europe. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The draft of Germany's recovery plan promises that 80% of the EU recovery funds will go to climate protection and digitalisation, well above the EU's requirements. However, Green MEP Sven Giegold has complained that only a quarter will go to future investments and most of the money is earmarked for old projects. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany is modernising its competition law to stand up to digital corporations. In the future, the Cartel Office will be able to act faster and tougher when companies dominate the market. Europe can learn from this. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Europe's local politicians want a bigger role in establishing the future relationship between the EU and the UK. This was the overwhelming feeling among members of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) at Monday's meeting of the CoR-UK contact group. EURACTIV Germany reports.
