by Thorsten Koch The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea is intended to transport natural gas from Russia to Europe, mainly to Germany. There are only 150 kilometres (93 miles) before the Baltic Sea pipeline is completed. Despite warnings from German politicians…

by Thorsten Koch The proportion of people in employment in Germany has stabilized and, in June 2020, was only 1.3 percent lower than during the same period in the previous year – despite the Corona pandemic. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 44.7 million…

by Thorsten Koch Federal Minister of Economics Altmaier would like to implement targeted measures against the Corona pandemic instead of implementing comprehensive, all-round measures. Altmaier wants to prevent a second lockdown, he pointed out in an interview. Employer President Kramer also spoke out against another…

Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) has suggested that the bureaucracy and liberalization in certain areas will help to overcome the recession more quickly. “We should react more flexibly to certain bureaucratic requirements in order to give companies the opportunity to make up for…

Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble has campaigned to expand the monetary union of the Euro states into a fully-fledged economic union. It took courage to integrate, Schäuble wrote. Discussing aspects of financing falls short of a constructive stance, he criticized. The Corona pandemic could be seen…

The Grand Coalition agreed on a solution concerning a lobby register, which is to be established later this year. The register is intended to allow transparency in dealing with stakeholders, without making necessary contacts between parliamentarians difficult. An obligation to register should apply. A fine…

Federal Transport Minister Scheuer (CSU) has asked the automotive industry to “speed up” electromobility. Electric cars should be available faster and in large quantities on the market. Long delivery times are a stumbling block for electromobility.

The Federal Ministry of Economics has launched an improved state subsidy for the purchase of electric cars in Germany. The directive stipulates that the amount of funding depends on the purchase price of the vehicle. This means that there is less funding for models from…

The Federal Audit Office has appealed for more success monitoring and targeted control in the German government’s three-year sustainability strategy. So far, not all the good conditions have been created to implement the program with which the government wants to implement the UN 2030 Agenda…

One of the industries that have been negatively impacted by the Corona pandemic is the tourism industry. The number of overnight stays fell by almost 75 percent in May compared to April. However, this is due to the initial restrictions to contain the pandemic, not…

The German industry has reported significantly more orders in May. The Federal Statistical Office reported an order intake 10.4 percent above the level of April 2020. In comparison to the previous year, orders to German industry have so far decreased by 29.3 percent.

After the corona crisis initially led to less pleasing economic effects, companies in Germany have again become more confident. The Ifo institute’s business climate index rose 6.5 points to 86.2 points in June. This is the second consecutive rise in the economic indicator after March…

The credit reporting agency Creditreform expects more insolvencies in the second half of 2020 after the insolvency application will no longer be subject to the moratorium currently in force. The number of bankruptcies declined by 8.2 percent in the first half of the year, thanks,…

Although the Expert Council for the Assessment of Macroeconomic Development has revised their forecast downwards for the current year, growth is expected to be 4.9 percent in 2021 and gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to return to the pre-Corona pandmic level in 2022.The Expert…

According to the Munich Ifo Institute for Economic Research, an ascent from the “Corona valley” is to be expected. Unlike in the first and second quarters, growth of 6.9 percent in the third quarter and 3.8 percent in the quarter is forecast. An Ifo scientist…

The monthly labor market barometer published by the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB) has improved, once again, in June, rising to 94.6 points compared to May. The leading indicator climbed 0.8 points. “The expectations of the employment agencies are slowly brightening again,…

The Corona pandemic has an impact on people’s incomes. According to a survey by the union-related Hans Böckler Foundation, 26 percent of those questioned stated negative effects. In April it was 20 percent. Nevertheless, the proportion of those who are concerned about their economic future…

The construction industry in Germany, unlike many other economic sectors, has seen further growth in sales. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, revenues rose by 2.4 percent in April, compared to the same period last year. The number of employees grew slightly. The main…

The Federal Government has launched an aid program to help companies during the Corona crisis and to get the economy going. For three months up to and including August, it will be possible for companies and the self-employed to receive grants at their fixed costs….

The Bundestag has passed a ban on tobacco advertising, which prohibits advertising of tobacco products in cinemas and the distribution of free samples outside the specialist trade from 2021. From 2022, a ban on advertising for cigarettes should apply to billboards, for tobacco heaters beginning…

German companies will offer at least 7 percent fewer apprenticeships than in 2019. The construction industry, on the other hand, will offer 2 percent more jobs for trainees. The prospects for trained specialists to be taken over by the companies where they underwent training are…

The number of passengers at Frankfurt Airport has increased slightly, albeit at a low level. The operator Fraport counted about 250,000 passengers in the previous week. This is 83.3 percent less than in the same period last year, but compared to two weeks ago the…

by Thorsten Koch Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized in the face of the EU Council Presidency that fundamental rights in the European Union (EU) come first. The Corona pandemic is a challenge for the EU, she said. Maintaining fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, equality…

Federal Minister of Agriculture Julia Klöckner (CDU) has strongly advocated that those responsible in the meat industry should remedy possible maladministration in production. After an industry meeting in Düsseldorf with animal owners, meat processing companies, the meat trade, animal and consumer protection groups, Klöckner said…

Following a meeting with trade unions, Lufthansa has identified 22,000 full-time surplus jobs. Even before the extraordinary general meeting on June 25, it should be agreed with the unions how part-time solutions can reduce personnel costs, in order to avoid layoffs during the Corona crisis….