About: Germany
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Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU.
How Germany’s Nord Stream pipes promote war in Europe
Unlike the naïve West, Russia knew perfectly well what it was doing by building the first Nord Stream pipe, which came onstream in 2011. Andreas Umland ponders if anything has changed until the present day when Nord Stream 2 is completed.
Scholz walks EU tightrope in push for ‘international climate club’
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has championed the creation of a "climate club" bringing together large economies pushing for more ambitious climate action. But as the EU pushes for a carbon tariff at its border, he is walking a diplomatic tightrope.
Germany wants to attract 400,000 skilled workers from abroad each year
Germany's new coalition government wants to attract 400,000 qualified workers from abroad each year to tackle both a demographic imbalance and labour shortages in key sectors that risk undermining the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Analysis: In Ukraine crisis, Germany faces tough decisions over Nord Stream 2
Germany could find itself in a no-win situation if Russia invades Ukraine, pitting Berlin's main gas supplier against its most important security allies.
Internal rifts loom as Germany ponders arms exports to Ukraine
After the German government initially refused to supply Ukraine with defensive weaponry, German politicians are pushing to reconsider the position. The biggest EU country has already hinted it might now support exports of certain weaponry to Ukraine via NATO, which it has previously blocked.
Presidential candidate Mélenchon ready to push for EU Treaty reform
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, presidential candidate of radical left party La France Insoumise, hopes to push member countries to break away from EU treaties "that block us" if he wins the election in April.
Will France quit Mali? Crunch time nears as junta defies Paris
As relations between France and Mali sour rapidly, Paris is wondering whether it is time to stop providing military backup to a country run by a junta that has defied the international community.
Germany signals it could halt gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine
Germany signalled on Tuesday (18 January) that it could halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia if Moscow invades Ukraine, and Western nations rallied behind Kyiv over a Russian troop buildup that has stoked fears of war.
New Bundesliga CEO faces COVID-19 challenges amid sustainability push
For one of the world’s largest football leagues, 2022 has been the stage of massive changes: the Bundesliga finally has a new CEO, Donata Hopfen, who must now tackle the massive tasks that await it.
‘We want peace’: Blinken to meet Russian, Ukrainian officials, US says
US President Joe Biden's top diplomat will seek to defuse a crisis with Moscow over Ukraine when he meets the Russian foreign minister in Geneva this week following visits with Ukrainian leaders in Kyiv and European officials in Berlin.
Germany, France show divisions on EU budget rules
Germany and France laid out differing visions for the future of the European economy Monday (17 January), signalling a fight later this year to overhaul the bloc's strict rules on government spending.
Centre-left Scholz and Sánchez far apart on EU fiscal rules
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez no indication his left-leaning government is ready to support a relaxation of EU fiscal rules, even as the two agreed to work closer together on European policies.
Germany continues blocking arms exports to Ukraine due to new foreign ‘peace’ policy
Germany reiterated its refusal to send defensive weapons to Ukraine that according to Kyiv would help the country fend off a potential Russian invasion. This comes as part of a new German peace policy that aims at restricting arms exports and fostering peace via diplomacy.
French and German SMEs oppose tracking-based ads, survey finds
Ahead of a crucial EU parliamentary vote on the Digital Services Act, a survey has found that a majority of small businesses in France and Germany want alternatives to tracking-based advertisements by Google and Facebook, which they perceive as being too invasive.
German government disavows blue hydrogen
The new German government unveiled plans last week to massively increase the ambition of its national hydrogen strategy. There is just one caveat: fossil gas-based hydrogen likely won't be included in subsidy schemes, despite demands from the oil and gas industry.
German transport minister backs electric cars in e-fuel debate
The debate over how best to decarbonise road transport has long pitched synthetic e-fuels against full electrification. In a policy shift, Germany’s transport minister has now said that electric cars have won the race in the EU.
Berlin’s new wind power goals seen clashing with EU bird protection laws
The new German government aims to regain the rapid pace of onshore wind expansion it once had. To do so, it may have to clash with entrenched interests from nature conservation groups.
Germany’s pesticide rules have major shortcomings – report
Germany's legal framework for using plant protection products has significant shortcomings, the conclusions of a report presented on Wednesday by an alliance of various associations shows. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Google proposes measures addressing German antitrust body’s concerns
Google has proposed measures on Wednesday (12 January) to address concerns raised by the German antitrust authority in the ongoing case regarding the Google News Showcase platform. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Ukraine ready to take decisions to end war at new ‘Normandy’ summit
Ukraine is ready to take the necessary decisions to end the war in its eastern Donbass region at a new summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday (11 January).
Germany will likely ‘miss its 2022 and 2023 climate targets’, Vice-Chancellor says
Germany missed its climate target for 2021 and is likely to miss them again this year and next, according to Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck who said the country “must triple the pace of emission cuts” to reach its 2030 goals.
Tough EU car emission rules ‘necessary’, says leader of key German state
The European Union's proposed package of energy and climate laws received surprise backing from the leader of Baden-Württemberg, an influential German state which is renowned worldwide for its cutting-edge automotive industry.