About: Bundestag
First German election debate reveals divisions on climate policy
Only four weeks ahead of the German election, the three lead candidates met on Sunday (30 August) to debate the future of Europe’s biggest economy. While the most contested issue was climate policy, there was one topic in the debate that was almost missing completely from the agenda: the European Union.
Bundestag adopts national CAP package amid ongoing EU negotiations
While negotiations on the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform have not been concluded in Brussels, the German Bundestag, racing to complete work before national elections in September, has passed a legislative package to be implemented at the national level.
Germany adopts new data protection and privacy law
German parliament this week adopted a law regulating data protection and privacy in telecommunications and telemedia. For the first time, the legislator transposed EU requirements on cookies from the bloc's e-privacy directive. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Bundestag to make agroforestry funding a reality
The German federal parliament (Bundestag) is to decide whether agroforestry will be recognised as a form of land use in the future, which would make the practice eligible for funding in the national strategic plan under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). EURACTIV Germany reports.
Selmayr defends EU Commission in German ‘toll debacle’ case
The European Commission is not responsible for the highway toll debacle, Martin Selmayr, the head of the European Commission Representation in Austria, said on Thursday (5 November). EURACTIV Germany reports.
Green German MP: The times are changing, and so must the CAP
The European Parliament will vote on the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at the end of the week. In an interview with EURACTIV France, Bundestag MP Harald Ebner (Greens) spoke about how crucial it was to integrate the European Commission's 'Farm to Fork' strategy into the new CAP, which according to him, should be greener and fairer.
Bundestag’s investigative committee starts work on Wirecard scandal
The Bundestag's committee looking into the Wirecard case, Germany's biggest financial scandal in years, started work on Thursday (8 October). It could be particularly unpleasant for Finance Minister and SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz. EURACTIV Germany reports.
‘No second shutdown’, Germany’s Altmaier promises business leaders
Speaking at the annual Industry Day event, Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) promised business leaders that there would not be a second shutdown. He also took the opportunity to be critical of his SPD colleague, Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Wirecard scandal: Bundestag inquiry committee increasingly likely
A probe into the Wirecard affair is picking up speed. At a special session of the Bundestag Finance Committee, MPs have questioned top ministers and lobbyist influence over the government is becoming increasingly clear. Setting up a special inquiry committee is becoming more likely as a result. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German online hate speech reform criticised for allowing ‘backdoor’ data collection
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.
German parliament suspends debt brake to fight coronavirus outbreak
The German lower house on Wednesday (25 March) suspended the country's constitutionally enshrined debt brake, approving a massive stimulus package by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to weather the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.
Von der Leyen admits mistakes, denies responsibility in defence contract scandal
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denied personal liability but admitted mistakes had been made as she faced questions from lawmakers in the Bundestag yesterday (13 February) in the so-called "advisor affair". EURACTIV Germany reports.
German Conservatives vote ‘in unison’ against excluding Huawei from 5G network
After months of discussion, the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) voted against excluding Huawei from Germany's 5G network. Yet, strict criteria to minimise security risks will be imposed, EURACTIV Germany reports.
Bundestag wants to impose climate tax on MPs’ official trips
The Bundestag's Council of Elders decided that there should be a climate tax for the official trips of MPs, starting in 2020. For the first time, the Council has started to debate the building blocks of Germany's recently proposed climate package. EURACTIV's media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
What else does Merkel want?
Following German Chancellor Angela Merkel's appearance in the Bundestag debate on Wednesday (11 September), it seems clear that she will not change. And this is not such a bad thing. EURACTIV's partner der Tagesspiegel comments.
North Macedonia president: We need date for EU talks before autumn
Decoupling North Macedonia and Albania’s EU path, by giving the green light to the former and holding the start of accession talks for the latter is not great, but is the only way forward, North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview during his visit to Brussels on Thursday (13 June).
German immigration law will be adopted, despite disagreements
Leading German parties have struggled to find a common line on immigration. For the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the draft bill on immigration does not go far enough. EURACTIV's media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Discrete launch of cooperation between French and German parliament members
This Franco-German project, criticised by the French extreme right, was launched in Paris on Monday (25 March). The new chamber aims to facilitate exchange, not political decision-making. EURACTIV France reports.
‘Mass hack attack’ against politicians raises eyebrows in Berlin
Hackers posted personal data, including credit card details and mobile phone numbers, of hundreds of German politicians, national media reported on Friday (4 January).
Offering Macron a stage is not enough
French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech in the German Bundestag – but this will not bring him any closer to his idea of Europe. A commentary piece by Albrecht Meier, correspondent in the Berlin office of EURACTIV Germany’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel.
Going Dutch: Why Germany needs others besides France
The Franco-German engine gets all the media attention, but it is Dutch-German cooperation that has done the important work in recent years. France and Germany can do a lot together, but Germany and France should remember that Berlin has - and needs - other options, writes Christel Arlette Zunneberg.
Germany’s far-right enters parliament amid fears and protests
Almost a hundred far-right MPs make their debut in the German Bundestag on Tuesday (24 October), where they plan to give Chancellor Angela Merkel a hard time in a display of nationalism unseen since 1945. EURACTIV’s partner Ouest-France reports.
Schäuble receives €100 notes with his face at farewell party
Eurozone finance ministers deluged German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble with farewell gifts yesterday (9 October) as the man who inspired Europe's austerity answer to the debt crisis attended his last meeting with them.