Erika Körner

EU bonus payments for countries taking in refugees mooted
German centre-right MEP Elmar Brok has proposed a bonus system for individual member states, paid for by the EU budget, for countries taking in large numbers of asylum seekers. EURACTIV's partner Tagesspiegel reports.
Berlin outranks London in start-up investment
A new study confirms Berlin is the start-up capital of Europe but for those responsible for the sector's success it is no time to rest. EURACTIV's partner Tagesspiegel reports.
Merkel booed at site of refugee attacks
Amid an influx of refugees, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced plans providing more support for asylum seekers. But, during a visit to a refugee centre on Wednesday (26 August) she was labeled a “traitor” by protesters. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Mass protest against TTIP and CETA to take place in Berlin
More than 30 organisations are teaming up for a major demonstration against TTIP and CETA, with concerns ranging from the end of cultural diversity in Europe to devastating effects the deals could have in developing countries. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Die Linke attacks EU institutions
After Sahra Wagenknecht attacked the EU and the euro, Die Linke leader Bernd Riexinger warned that institutions like the ECB have more power than elected governments. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Antibiotics on animal farms spread deadly pathogens, experts warn
The consistent use of antibiotics in animal farms in Germany are spreading antibiotic-resistant germs and causing experts to call for stricter measures against drugs. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German onshore wind power drops in first half of 2015
The rapid expansion of onshore wind energy in Germany has slowed significantly in the first half of 2015, with the industry representatives saying it is now up to the German government but also the EU. EURACTIV Germany reports.
AFD founder: ‘Schäuble’s Greece policy is pure marketing’
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble’s latest plans for a euro tax have solidified the prospect of a transfer union, says Eurosceptic Bernd Lucke in an interview with EURACTIV Germany. The founder of the Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, argues that all the “talk about a Grexit” is just a bluff.
German advisory council calls for exit option in the eurozone
Economic analysts in Germany are proposing new structures in the European Monetary Union as a result of the Greece crisis, saying an option to leave the eurozone should also be included. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Study: Restrictions on refugee healthcare cost more than free access to services
Asylum seekers in Germany only have limited access to medical care, an attempt by the state to keep costs low, but a new study shows health-related costs are much lower when refugees can freely access health services. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Malmström: We can finish TTIP during the Obama administration
The EU’s Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström was amazed at German criticism over the planned EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and emphasised its benefits in an interview with Tagesspiegel.
Study: Effects of German division have endured longer than expected
25 years after reunification, the old German-German border is still recognisable in many aspects of life, according to a new study on the state of German unity. Tagesspiegel reports.
NGOs tell Germany to stop blocking anti-discrimination directive
Almost all EU member states are in favour of a planned Union-wide directive against discrimination. Only Berlin objects, and has been targeted by human rights associations, demanding that it stop blocking the legislation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Bavaria’s tough asylum policy gains support across Germany
Horst Seehofer’s confrontational policy against asylum seekers from Balkan states sparked protest in Berlin. But now a growing number of Germany states and municipalities are calling for a tougher approach. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Study: Solar thermal power promotes social development in North Africa
With Morocco’s electricity demand growing rapidly, solar thermal power plants could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offer a sustainable solution to many social issues. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German coalition in turmoil over Schäuble
The conflict over Wolfgang Schäuble’s Grexit proposal is entering a new round, after Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel accused the finance minister of being unreasonable. EURACTIV Germany reports.
‘Migration is not a security issue,’ study says
The Federal Republic should apply new thinking to its development aid and asylum policy, says a new study from the University of Osnabrück, calling on decision-makers to see migration as an opportunity rather than a threat. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Amid growing demand, German organic farming suffers first decline
The organic foods sector is booming, but in Germany, farming is decreasing, with the number of acres devoted to cultivation shrinking for the first time. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Climate change increases risk of death from heart disease, study says
High temperatures, heat waves and extreme temperature fluctuations pose an ever-increasing threat to the global population, with a recent study by the German Weather Service indicating higher health risks. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Michael Kaeding: ‘Juncker decides the fate of the European Parliament’
One year after Jean-Claude Juncker was elected, the Parliament is undergoing a radical change, says Michael Kaeding, who believes that Juncker’s leadership style is giving MEPs new political power.
Energy providers sue Commission over Hinkley Point subsidy
An alliance of green energy providers and municipal utilities in Germany and Austria have lodged a complaint with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over subsidies for the planned British nuclear power station Hinkley Point C. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Eurodac fingerprint database under fire by human rights activists
The German Institute for Human Rights has criticised the repurposing of the EU's fingerprint database, Eurodac, for registering asylum seekers. Tagesspiegel reports.
Financiers attack EU rules against food speculation
The EU’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) II is supposed to prevent excessive food speculation. But Oxfam says the financial sector is fighting stricter rules, with grave repercussions. EURACTIV Germany reports.