Philipp Grüll Archives

The German meat industry has been under fire for years over its low working standards and workers rights. The coronavirus clusters in slaughterhouses have now offered the government an opportunity to intervene. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Austria's anti-coronavirus measures were partly illegal, as the country's Constitutional Court confirmed last week. On Tuesday (28 July), Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) acknowledged the mistakes and announced plans to reorganise his ministry and amend the Epidemic Law. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The German business climate is improving: according to a survey, the economy is regaining its optimism. However, this phenomenon should be treated with caution, because many companies still lack future prospects, the DIHK warns. EURACTIV Germany reports.

In the fight against illegal online content, the Austrian government wants to make platforms more accountable. Many details are still missing, but the German NetzDG seems to be a model. Critics fear over-blocking and collateral damage but also see opportunities. EURACTIV Germany reports.

At the EU summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a U-turn as German advocated for the assumption of joint debts and dissociated itself from the donor countries for the first time and not just for economic reasons. This time, Merkel is fighting for her legacy as a shaper of the EU. EURACTIV Germany reports.

German business associations are cheering the deal EU leaders reached at a marathon summit that ended on Tuesday morning (21 July), and they have every reason to do so, explains economic researcher Jürgen Matthes. But some observers are displeased with cuts in funding for innovation, research or defence. EURACTIV Germany reports.

In his presentation of the German EU presidency's priorities, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) urged MEPs on Thursday (16 July) to be more realistic, particularly on renewable energy and relations with China. But he continues to believe that barring Huawei, as the UK recently did, is wrong. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Austria's EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler does not expect an agreement to be reached at the EU's budget summit on Friday and Saturday. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, she explains where Austria wants to renegotiate and pleads for a stricter link to the rule of law.

Just before the EU Council summit on 17 July, leaders of those EU countries that suffered most from the coronavirus pandemic are meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the politician on whom they pin their hopes for a rapid recovery. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Five days before an EU summit that could adopt a historic EU budget and a recovery fund, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met Angela Merkel in Berlin. Both support a generous aid fund and both want an agreement at the weekend. But for Conte, the economic survival of his country is at stake. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The balance sheet scandal surrounding the payment company Wirecard raises many questions. Politicians are currently vigorously pursuing one of them: Where were the supervisory authorities? EURACTIV Germany reports.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was set to take part in a "mini-summit" with the leaders of the EU institutions in Brussels on Wednesday evening (8 July). It is her first trip abroad since the coronavirus crisis started, testifying to how seriously she is taking her second and last German presidency of the EU Council. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Rule of law as a priority of the German EU Council presidency was an open secret long before the programme was presented. Thus, it was only fitting that the first Council meeting chaired by Germany was that of the ministers of justice. EURACTIV Germany reports.

They have ruled Germany together for 15 years. Now they are at Europe's helm. With the start of the German EU Presidency, Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have, together, forged plans to navigate Europe out of crisis, EURACTIV Germany reports.

As Germany took over the EU Council Presidency on Wednesday (1 July), Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) presented plans for reorienting the bloc's economic policy, signalling Germany's commitment towards non-EU countries and confirming the focus on the digital and green economy. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Four months after the European Commission presented its 'white paper' on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the German government said it broadly agrees with Brussels but sees a need to tighten up on security. The government is particularly concerned by the fact that only AI applications with "high risk" have to meet special requirements. EURACTIV Germany reports.

In a show of unity, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met on Monday (29 June) and reaffirmed their commitment to the EU Recovery Fund, voicing hope that EU leaders would overcome their current differences. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Solidarity and sovereignty is the name of the game for the German presidency, according to Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD). In a speech on Monday, he emphasised the need for greater EU independence from the current geopolitical power struggle between the US and China.

One week before Germany takes over the EU Council presidency on 1 July, its highly anticipated programme went through the cabinet, with priorities focused on managing the coronavirus crisis and its economic and social fallout. However, that was not enough to placate critics in the green and left-wing opposition. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Almost €2 billion are missing from the balance sheets of Wirecard, a German financial services provider. Markus Braun, CEO of the company until last week, was released on bail on Tuesday afternoon (23 June) after a night in custody. EURACTIV Germany reports.

With immediate effect, the Facebook company must stop merging and sharing user data from its Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram platforms in Germany, according to a ruling by the country's highest court. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire (LREM) are confident that the current OECD negotiations on international tax systems will be concluded by the end of 2020. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The European Council summit ended on Friday (19 June) without agreement on the EU recovery fund. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear that she wants to act quickly, and the next round of negotiations is scheduled for mid-July. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Germany's Network Implementation Act, NetzDG for short, is now even stricter. Social networks must not only delete potentially criminal content but also report it to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). However, some data of online posters will have to be forwarded to the authorities. EURACTIV Germany reports.