Germany Archives - Euractiv

Highest German court rejects Yemenis’ claim over US strikes

AFP — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:24:05 +0000

Two Yemeni men had argued that Germany was partly responsible for a 2012 drone attack because the strike was aided by signals relayed via the Ramstein base in western Germany.

Europe’s ‘Washington Syndrome’ just got a lot worse

Alexandra Brzozowski — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 04:00:19 +0000

Europe’s leaders have done everything but genuflect in front of the White House of late to placate US President Donald Trump and avert a looming trade war.

German states unite against EU ‘superfund’ plan to absorb CAP

Jeremias Lin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:00:37 +0000

The ministers are calling for simpler rules, more flexible funding, and stronger support for rural development in the next EU farm policy.

Quartet of EU countries to cooperate on building sovereign digital infrastructure

Maximilian Henning — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:06:32 +0000

Alternatives to Microsoft Office are already in the works but France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands want to go further.

German economy minister opposes national digital tax

Maximilian Henning — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:59:20 +0000

Katherina Reiche said Europe needs fewer, not more trade barriers with the US.

Borderline decision: Tensions escalate on German-Polish frontier amid new controls

Alexandra Brzozowski, Nicoletta Ionta — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:33:04 +0000

Poland’s decision brings to 11 the number of countries that have reintroduced border checks within the Schengen zone.

German interior minister seeks direct talks with Taliban on deportations

Nick Alipour — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:57:30 +0000

Since coming to power earlier this year, the new German coalition government had championed a more restrictive line on migration, both at home and at the EU level.

HARVEST: Keeping the pace of innovation

EURACTIV's Agrifood Team — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:36:40 +0000

In today's edition: bird flu, seeds, EFTA Mercosur

Europe’s chemical powerhouse tells Brussels to go easy on new regulations

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:03:15 +0000

Hendrik Wüst, state premier of Germany's chemical hub North Rhine-Westphalia, demanded “level-headed chemicals policy” on a visit to the EU capital on Wednesday.

German Greens urge EU action over Berlin’s nitrate pollution U-turn

Jeremias Lin — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:05:25 +0000

Green MEP calls for EU action as Germany backtracks on pollution controls.

HARVEST: The split over capping CAP funds

EURACTIV's Agrifood Team — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:46:43 +0000

In today's edition: CAP reform, biopesticides, Nature Restoration Law

German states push to scrap EU nature restoration law

Jeremias Lin — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:17:42 +0000

Nine German Länder call for EU nature law to be scrapped, citing cost and red tape.

TACO Trump vs EUCO Europe

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:58:53 +0000

The US president has been widely mocked for “always chickening out”. No one, however, backs down better than the Europeans.

German privacy watchdog asks for Chinese AI DeepSeek to be blocked from app stores

Claudie Moreau — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:20:03 +0000

DeepSeek's privacy issues in the EU are stacking up.

Modest Merz focuses on the vibes in his first EUCO as Germany’s chancellor

Nick Alipour — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:43:02 +0000

The summit debut of the leader of the EU's biggest economy was unremarkable, if not underwhelming.

Farmers get wins in Berlin budget, eyeing the CAP pot in Brussels

Jeremias Lin — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:20:25 +0000

The announcement arrived on the eve of the annual event organised by the biggest national farmers' organisation.

Berlin plans rollback of key anti-pollution farming rule

Jeremias Lin — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:43:13 +0000

The Agriculture Ministry calls the rule “unnecessary bureaucracy” – though it takes just five hours a year to complete.

US Patriot missile maker counts on Europe to increase missile production

Aurélie Pugnet — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:00:49 +0000

“We’re also incrementally increasing our capacity in the United States, but the real step function is the German capacity," Tom Laliberty, the head of land and air-defence systems, said.

Germany pushes for Mercosur deal as France rallies allies to block it

Jeremias Lin — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 13:45:26 +0000

While Berlin remains a strong supporter of the trade deal, Paris is its fiercest opponent.

Berlin says poor countries must reform to get EU funds

Jacob Wulff Wold, Nikolaus J. Kurmayer, Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 12:28:28 +0000

The move is likely to inflame tensions between Germany and countries in the EU's South and East.

Europe urges ‘restraint’ over Israeli strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Alexandra Brzozowski — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 10:11:33 +0000

With little leverage in the region left, European leaders are now looking to Washington.

Germany’s legal showdown over the limits of press freedom

Nick Alipour — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:00:16 +0000

Germany banned a 'right-wing extremist' magazine. The resulting court case will help decide just how much power the government has to suppress extremism.

Tiny insect plagues German crops, raising fears of wider spread

Jeremias Lin — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:02:43 +0000

A tiny insect is wreaking havoc on German crops – and it’s heading for Europe.

German privacy watchdog fines Vodafone €45 million over GDPR failures

Claudie Moreau — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:53:09 +0000

The company has already paid its fines in full to the German treasury.

EU checks on Brazilian black pepper grind on spice lobby

Jeremias Lin — Sat, 31 May 2025 08:11:19 +0000

Although officially framed as a food safety measure, industry officials and politicians argue that the policy is effectively a trade barrier.

Europe’s next climate target may already have been agreed in Berlin

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer — Tue, 27 May 2025 04:00:24 +0000

Germany’s new coalition has adopted a climate stance shaped by talks with the EU’s top climate official, signalling where the bloc may land on a likely upcoming 2040 emissions target.

Gene-edited crops spark debate in Berlin as Brussels advances new rules

Jeremias Lin — Thu, 22 May 2025 10:23:15 +0000

For Social Democrat MP Isabel Mackensen-Geiß, “the majority wants food from NGTs to be labelled. Removing this isn't progress – it’s a step backwards.”

Spain leads on pharma transparency as Germany falls behind, report finds

Emma Pirnay — Wed, 21 May 2025 15:56:55 +0000

The way European governments negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies remains opaque, according to a new report.

Germany’s new economy minister hopes cheaper energy can bring back growth

Jasper Steinlein — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:51:38 +0000

Katharina Reiche will try to balance German energy policy between boosting industry and sticking with net-zero climate targets.

North-South clash ferments over fungicide in organic wine

Jeremias Lin — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:26:05 +0000

While northern states argue for greater flexibility, southern countries, particularly Italy and France, warn of potential damage to consumer trust and market credibility.

In Merz’s long shadow, Germany’s new foreign minister tries to stand tall

Alexandra Brzozowski, Nick Alipour — Mon, 19 May 2025 04:00:50 +0000

Johann Wadephul caught Berlin off-guard when he endorsed a higher NATO spending target of 5%. Will he be more than just Merz's messenger?

Germany’s new agriculture minister pivots on food policy

Jeremias Lin — Fri, 16 May 2025 12:47:35 +0000

Germany’s new agriculture minister signals a break from Green food policy, backing farmers and defending meat in his first Bundestag speech.

Berlin lowers Western Balkans engagement as envoy role is axed

Nick Alipour — Fri, 16 May 2025 04:00:23 +0000

Germany was the only EU state to appoint a special representative for the region, but will now abolish it, Euractiv has learned.

Germany’s Merz embraces ambiguity on EU defence

Kjeld Neubert — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:15:19 +0000

Friedrich Merz's election victory raised expectations of a German U-turn on defence. His first week in office has left people wondering what he'll deliver.

Germany refuses to rule out violating EU budget limit

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Mon, 12 May 2025 14:37:20 +0000

Whether Germany will flout the EU's fiscal rules to boost defence spending will "be clarified in the next few weeks," said new finance minister Lars Klingbeil.

Germany’s domestic intel agency backtracks on ‘extremist’ label for AfD

Kjeld Neubert — Thu, 08 May 2025 13:15:30 +0000

Just six days ago the intelligence service labelled the AfD as a right-wing extremist case, as the party was alleged to undermine the country’s free democratic basic order.

Germany’s Merz only offers Poland train talk, after France gets defence pledge

Alexandra Brzozowski — Wed, 07 May 2025 20:20:09 +0000

A new chancellor in Berlin won't easily herald a breakthrough in Polish-German relations.

German interior minister orders migrants to be turned away at border

Kjeld Neubert — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:30:23 +0000

3,000 additional federal police officers are planned to support border controls, German media reported.

Merz’s first order of business: reset Berlin’s ties with Warsaw

Alexandra Brzozowski — Wed, 07 May 2025 04:00:29 +0000

Germany's relationship with Poland remains beset by grievances linked to the war.

Germany’s Social Democrats unveil majority-female ministerial team

Nick Alipour — Tue, 06 May 2025 04:30:59 +0000

The centre-left party will send four women and three men to the cabinet of incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz.

EU must address ‘internal’ divisions to avoid tariffs, top US official says

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:38:29 +0000

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the EU has "some internal matters to decide before they can engage in an external negotiation" with Washington.

Germany’s new electronic patient file: a win with shortcomings

Magdalena Kensy — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:58:54 +0000

Despite improved cross-border data sharing, differences persist in how patients can access treatment and pursue claims for redress.

Drought fears for grains growing season mount in Central Europe

Jasper Steinlein, Jeremias Lin — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:53:33 +0000

Concerns stretch across Germany, Eastern France, Czechia and Poland.

LIVE: The Capitals

Euractiv Network — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 10:30:40 +0000

The latest news from across Europe, all in one place

Meet Merz’s top minister picks

Kjeld Neubert, Victoria Becker — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:43:49 +0000

By the looks of it, Merz has honoured party seniority, experience, and loyalty.

New German health minister appointed despite limited healthcare experience

Magdalena Kensy — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:14:47 +0000

Warken's announcement came as a surprise, as she has no background in health.

Germany requests EU budget exemption to boost defence spending

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 09:11:49 +0000

Only a handful of EU countries have signalled interest in activating the 'escape clause' to free up more cash for defence.

German pharmacists want stronger say in patient care

Magdalena Kensy — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:45:11 +0000

The 'death of pharmacies' is not exclusive to Germany.

Germans are slowly warming up to heat pumps again

Jasper Steinlein — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:05:10 +0000

There's “a long way to go” before they become the standard way of heating in Germany, the industry acknowledges.

Right-wing populism is fuelling climate change scepticism in Germany

Jasper Steinlein — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:46:25 +0000

The think tank Bruegel interprets the German attitude as “an expression of their disillusionment with decision-makers.”

Medical malpractice reports in Germany remain persistently high

Magdalena Kensy — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 04:00:58 +0000

Germany's biggest insurer reported malpractice complaints at just below record levels in 2024.

European dairy merger leaves farmers sour

Jeremias Lin — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 04:00:06 +0000

The prospect of tying together two of Europe's milk majors risks creating a market where just a few dominate.

Germany regains foot-and-mouth free status

Jeremias Lin — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 11:08:53 +0000

Restoring FMD-free status involved a complex and detailed verification process between regional and federal authorities with the WOAH.

LIVE: News from the Capitals

Euractiv Network — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 14:02:58 +0000

The latest news from across Europe, all in one place

Germany opposes French push to tax US big tech in tariff war

Théophane Hartmann — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:56:39 +0000

In explaining its stance, Germany says the EU had not alternatives to US data centres, cloud, and artificial intelligence services.

European brewers left bitter as US tariffs stay on tap

Jeremias Lin — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:40:02 +0000

The United States ranks as the second most significant export market for European brewers, both in terms of value and volume.

Germany’s obsession with ‘white gold’ is getting a lot more expensive

Jeremias Lin — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 04:00:20 +0000

White or green? Asparagus-loving Germans face a cost dilemma amid springtime euphoria.

Cheap electricity alone won’t revive Germany’s struggling industries

Jasper Steinlein — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:13:36 +0000

Even with subsidies, Germany is unlikely to rank among the countries with the cheapest electricity prices, experts say.

Merz’s moon mission? Not so fast

Claudie Moreau, Joshua Posaner — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:52:30 +0000

Germany's new government has pledged to put a European on the moon – which might prove too giant a leap.

How Germany could derail a global pandemic deal

Emma Pirnay — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 04:00:19 +0000

Germany and a handful of countries, such as Denmark and Switzerland, have taken a strict stance on what boils down to a footnote in the agreement's text.

European industry big win: Germany, France both support sovereign EU-based tech infrastructure

Théophane Hartmann — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 03:00:35 +0000

That was the easy part, now the real difficulties unfold.

Car-loving Germans lured to public transport by cheap ticket

Jasper Steinlein — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 14:07:14 +0000

An affordable public transport ticket may be encouraging car-loving Germans to shift their travel habits.

INTERVIEW: Luxembourg minister dismisses ‘absurd’ German border checks

Nick Alipour — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 04:00:45 +0000

As Germany prepares to tighten its border regime, its existing controls have not done much good for Europe, the interior minister of neighbouring Luxembourg told Euractiv in an interview.

EU announces ‘zero-for-zero’ US tariff deal as reciprocal duties loom

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:34:40 +0000

The “zero-for-zero” offer extended to cars, pharmaceuticals, rubber, plastic, machinery, and other industrial products.

As EU pushes for digitised medical records, Germany’s e-patient files fall behind

Magdalena Kensy — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 04:13:18 +0000

The EU wants digitised patient medical files to be accessible by doctors across the bloc. Germany's delayed e-record rollout shows some of the challenges ahead.

Poland fails to appoint digital democracy watchdog ahead of election

Anupriya Datta — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 04:00:18 +0000

The Polish presidential elections will be held on 18 May and if necessary, a second round will take place on 1 June.

‘Keep calm and carry on’: EU braces for Trump’s ‘reciprocal tariff’ storm

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 04:30:14 +0000

The new duties are likely to have a seismic global impact and inflict significant harm on the EU and US economies.

Splitting up Germany’s electricity bidding zone gains ground

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 14:47:00 +0000

In Berlin, the prevailing sentiment that “BMW should not pay more for power than Volkswagen” saw the government resist fiercely – until recently.

GDPR, EDPS negotiations, and UK interview on CSAM and encryption

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 06:00:39 +0000

Meanwhile, the EU is weighing measures against US service exports, including Big Tech, in response to Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on the car industry and his pledge for further measures next week.

Everything you always wanted to know about Eurobonds but were afraid to ask

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 05:03:15 +0000

The issue of 'joint borrowing' is one of the most controversial currently being discussed by EU leaders. This article will tell you everything you need to know.

German coalition disagrees on AI, tech sovereignty, and notes from the Amsterdam fibre conference

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 06:33:39 +0000

And Commissioner McGrath comments ahead of plans to simplify GDPR.

German coalition disagrees on AI regulation, digital sovereignty

Jacob Wulff Wold — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 05:00:47 +0000

"The AI Act should be revised, or at least further developed in the course of technical and legal specifications to reduce burdens on the economy," reads a CDU/CSU amendment.

Berlin bureaucrats grapple with growing isolation in Brussels

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:43:25 +0000

Germany's federal economy and climate ministry fears its waning influence in Brussels and Europe, a 600-page internal document obtained by Euractiv reveals.

Politico parent quietly bids ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to board member amid Gaza spat

Magnus Lund Nielsen, Matthew Karnitschnig — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 05:05:57 +0000

A spokesman confirmed Martín Varsavsky’s departure, but denied any correlation with last week's public squabble

Future German government coalition would stick with 2038 coal exit, emphasise bioenergy

Jasper Steinlein, Nikolaus J. Kurmayer, Valentin Friedl — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:48:39 +0000

Instead of a reimbursement scheme to compensate lower-income households for carbon pricing expenses, the coalition partners plan to use the EU's future Social Climate Fund.

Paragon scandal: Denmark and Cyprus potential spyware customers alongside Italy

Vas Panagiotopoulos — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:00:26 +0000

A new report from Canada’s Citizen Lab identifies several potential EU customers of the Israeli spyware vendor Paragon Solutions, including Denmark and Cyprus, as well as the use of digital infrastructure in Germany during victims’ infections.

German parliament passes historic debt-backed defence and infrastructure package

Victoria Becker — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:33:26 +0000

For conservative Friedrich Merz, the vote was a first stress test before his potential chancellorship has even started.

Commission proposal to extend firm EU gas storage mandates faces pressure

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:43:01 +0000

There are now five member states that vocally oppose the Commission's proposal.

Belgium to test European-first method to restore North Sea oyster reefs offshore

Alice Bergoënd — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 05:00:33 +0000

The project aimed at restoring marine biodiversity could also be beneficial to fishermen in the long term.

German growth forecast cut in half despite imminent budget boost

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 11:16:47 +0000

Germany's GDP will expand by just 0.2% this year, the Munich-based Ifo Institute predicted today, below the 0.4% growth forecast in January.

Nutri-score needs correction, says French agriculture minister

Alice Bergoënd — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:06:32 +0000

“Too often, our local products, which bear a quality label, are unfairly penalised," said French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard.

Germany’s outgoing government says country ‘en route’ to hit 2030 climate goal

Jasper Steinlein — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:59:53 +0000

"It will be the future federal government's job to continue investing in the transformation", said Germany's outgoing Green vice-chancellor, Robert Habeck.

Four the win: Germany’s potential health ministers under the microscope

Magdalena Kensy — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 05:30:43 +0000

Who will become Germany's next health minister remains up in the air, but four names are being floated.

The stockpiling temptation

Alice Bergoënd, Angelo Di Mambro — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:11 +0000

Trade disruptions, climate change, conflicts, are bringing renewed interest in Europe to be ready for emergencies

Volkswagen sets its mind to the US after profit slump

Jasper Steinlein — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 15:08:48 +0000

To be profitable on the US market amidst tariff tensions and business challenges, an expert suggests the company should "let go of the reins a little."

Eurozone countries to cut public spending despite defence investment boost

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:00:46 +0000

Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe told reporters that the eurozone's “overall fiscal stance” this year is still expected to be “slightly contractionary” despite steep increases in defence investments.

Germany counts on back-up coal power plants to drive down prices

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:55:39 +0000

Coal power plants could produce power twice as cheaply as gas-fired plants.

Germany’s coalition partners secure trade-off on agricultural diesel and minimum wage

Valentin Friedl — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:30:38 +0000

But the Greens have criticised the agreement, saying the CDU and SPD "have nothing more to say about agriculture."

Cannabis to give German future coalition a headache

Magdalena Kensy — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:00:49 +0000

Rollback or compromise?

German stocks, borrowing costs surge after historic budget announcement

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:22:33 +0000

Markets are still digesting a "seismic shift in German fiscal policy".

EU restaurants snagged by new meat hook: origin labelling

Alice Bergoënd — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:23 +0000

More and more EU countries are making it mandatory for restaurants to say where their meat comes from.

A healthy German coalition? Two scenarios that impact the health sector

Magdalena Kensy — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:03:46 +0000

Whatever the outcome of the coalition-building process, the new government will "not neglect the European level when it comes to driving healthcare priorities forward".

German conservatives take aim at NGOs over political stances after election win

Jonathan Packroff — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:05:20 +0000

After years of large influence, NGOs will face headwinds under a new CDU/CSU-led government.

EU food safety watchdog confirms pest causing Pierce’s disease in Italian grapevines

Alice Bergoënd, Maria Simon Arboleas — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:19:05 +0000

Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most threatening plant pathogens in the world.

Pressure grows on 8 EU countries to slash ‘paradoxical’ power taxes

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:00:45 +0000

A leaked draft of the European Commission's Affordable Energy Action Plan says EU countries “can lower electricity bills already today.”

Not US ‘vassals’: Merz will back a strong Europe, says Klaus Welle

Sarantis Michalopoulos — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:55:10 +0000

In an interview with Euractiv, long-time Brussels insider Klaus Welle says German Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz will push for strong EU-US relations but with “fairness”.

German drug makers high on hopes for Germany’s next government

Magdalena Kensy — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:00:24 +0000

If the predictions come true, Merz and his party are likely to play a key role in the negotiations to form a government, with the coalition agreement set to decide the fate of the pharmaceutical sector.

‘We haven’t heard anything’: Von der Leyen’s defence spending scheme bewilders diplomats

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:23:01 +0000

The Commission chief's proposal to trigger "the escape clause" in the bloc's fiscal rules has created confusion – given the rules include two different such clauses.

Berlin gives the nod for slimming down of EU CO2 tariff

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:01:10 +0000

Reporting requirements "must be reduced to the minimum that is absolutely necessary."

EU proposes clampdown on green tech subsidies

Nicoletta Ionta, Nikolaus J. Kurmayer, Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:13:09 +0000

A draft document seen by Euractiv reveals Brussels wants to halve the generous subsidy limits imposed during the pandemic.