logo
Inside Germany: Biergarten rules, open-air pools and mixed messages on migration

Inside Germany: Biergarten rules, open-air pools and mixed messages on migration

Local Germany03-05-2025
Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might've missed. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
Is this still the Germany that needs immigration?
Germany is getting a new government next week, and though a fresh start always tends to feel like a positive thing, foreigners in the country would be forgiven for feeling a little disheartened.
The AfD, who were
handed an official "right-wing extremist" label
by the German intelligence agency on Friday, are currently polling at around 26 percent, having come second in the federal elections. Meanwhile, Friedrich Merz - who campaigned on a hard-right, anti-migration platform - is being sworn in as Chancellor on Tuesday.
This week, both Merz and his chief of staff Thorsten Frei both declared that the government would initiate its
crackdown on migration "from day one"
, echoing US President Donald Trump's election pledge to "seal the border on day one". Incoming Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has
previously expressed admiration for Trump
: back in January, he praised the President's habit of governing by decree and said Germany needs to do the same when it comes to immigration.
Scanning recent headlines, it's hard not to see other small echoes of the US President's stance on immigration - including the targeting of student activists from abroad. In April, four international students - three of them EU citizens - were facing deportation for taking part in a pro-Palestinian protest at Berlin's Free University.
The incoming government also says it wants to
explore stripping dual nationality
from people it deems to be "extremist" or "antisemitic", which experts fear is the thin edge of a far more authoritarian wedge.
Amid all this tough talk and Trumpian echoes, the coalition pact gushes warmly about the role that skilled workers will play in shoring up the German economy. In a desperate push to get these workers into the country, the parties want to create a new 'Work and Stay' agency and speed up the process of recognising qualifications.
Advertisement
As columnist Brian Melican
points out in his recent op-ed
, however, Germany isn't looking particularly welcoming right now. "As a result of the poor economy and the increasingly xenophobic vibes we're giving off, immigration to Germany – both illicit and wholly legal – is already falling," he writes.
Though it may come as a surprise to the incoming government, vibes do matter when people decide whether to move to a country. And while the CDU and CSU may dream of a world where only those migrants with a PhD in Astrophysics move in, to get the best and brightest, they may have to speak with less distain whenever they use the word "migration".
Picture of the week
Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Reichwein
This joyful picture, snapped by DPA's Christoph Reichwein, shows a boy springing off a three-metre high diving board into the pool at the Grugabad in Essen.
As temperatures soared across the country, the start of May saw several open-air swimming pools around the country finally reopen their doors for the season. The
Freibäder
are now set to stay open for a number of months, providing a brief cool refuge on the most sweltering days of summer, before closing again sometime in September - or even October.
Advertisement
How to impress the locals in a German
Biergarten
April 23rd was National Beer Day in Germany, marking the unofficial opening of the beer garden season. During the light, balmy evenings, one of the great pleasures of life is sitting in a leafy
Biergarten
with friends, with a cool beer or a glass of wine in hand.
As writer Tom Pugh
explains in his recent article
, however, the German beer garden comes with its own special set of rules and customs. So before you can truly let you hair down, though, it's good to get familiar with some etiquette and vocab.
As a warm-up act, you'll need to start with a
'Muntermacher'
- a refreshing drink that roughly translates as 'the energiser'. What you pick is mostly up to you, but beware: it will need to set you up for an afternoon of drinking.
While spending time in the
Biergarten
, you will also need to navigate the culturally sensitive terrain of picking a
Helles
over a
Pils
(or vice versa), and be sure not to neglect the important roles of both the
Pfandmünzen
and the
Bierdeckel.
Even the act of leaving the beer garden can come with its own set of tough decisions. Was the last beer you had truly an
Absacker
(night cap), or do you still have room for 'one for the road', which in German is known as a
Wegebier
?
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU goods as trade talks stall – DW – 07/12/2025
Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU goods as trade talks stall – DW – 07/12/2025

DW

time2 hours ago

  • DW

Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU goods as trade talks stall – DW – 07/12/2025

The announcement follows failed attempts in recent weeks to strike a trade deal between the US and EU. Top EU leaders said negotiations would continue but have vowed to protect the bloc's interests. The United States is set to impose a 30% tariff on all goods from the European Union from August 1, US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform Saturday. The EU had been prepared for such a move, which comes a day after Trump told Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney that he would impose a 35% tariffs on Canadian imports. The 27-member bloc and the US failed to reach an agreement to strike a comprehensive trade deal, including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods. In addition to the tariffs on EU goods, Trump posted another letter to his platform, declaring a 30% tariff rate on goods from Mexico beginning August 1 as well. Follow our live blog for the latest EU reactions to Trump's announcement. The US president said the trade relationship with the EU has been "unfortunately, far from Reciprocal." As such, "we will charge the European Uniona Tariff of only 30%," he said. Trump has frequently described tariffs as charges on other countries. However, the burden falls on consumers within the US, as tariffs make imported goods more expensive and thus less competitive. "Please understand that the 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with the EU," he added, referring to the difference in goods imported from the EU and goods exported to the EU. Trump invited the bloc to negotiate further, writing in his letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that high tariff rates would be dropped if "the European Union, or countries within the EU, decide to build or manufacture within the United States." Trump has spent the week sending letters to trading partners, announcing new rates for a number of countries like Japan, South Korea, Canada and Brazil. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Trump imposed a 20% import tax on all EU-made products in early April as part of a set of tariffs targeting countries with which the US has a trade imbalance. Hours after the nation-specific duties took effect, Trump put them on hold until July 9 at a standard rate of 10% in a bid to calm turbulent financial markets and allow time for negotiations. But the president expressed frustration at talks with the EU. In May, he threatened to impose a tariff rate of 50% on EU goods into the US. That would cause a price hike on everything from Italian leather goods to French cheese to German electronics in the US. Then Trump announced that universal tariffs that were due to kick in July 9 would be delayed until at least the beginning of August. The EU currently faces 50% US tariffs on its steel and aluminium exports, 25% on cars and car parts and 10% on most other products. Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is prepared to take the necessary steps to safeguard its economic interests if the US proceeds with the 30% tariff rate. In a statement, Von der Leyen said that the bloc remained ready "to continue working towards an agreement by August 1." "We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required," she added. French President Emmanuel Macron said his government shares the European Commission's "very strong disapproval" of Trump's announcement, which came despite "weeks of intense engagement." "France fully supports the European Commission in the negotiations, which will now intensify," Macron posted on X, adding that he still hopes "a mutually acceptable agreement" will be reached before August 1. The French president added that the bloc would need to speed up "the preparation of credible countermeasures" if no agreement is reached before the new tariffs take effect. The EU has the ability to enact the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) which allows it to retaliate against countries seeking to pressure its members. It has been repeatedly brought up as a possible response to Trump's threats. The ACI can limit access to companies from those countries to public procurement tenders and target services trade or investment. Germany's Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, meanwhile, warned that the US tariffs "would hit European exporting companies hard." She also said that they would have a "strong impact" on the US economy and consumers, as she urged for a "pragmatic outcome" to be reached "quickly." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Trump Calls For MAGA Base To End 'Epstein Files' Obsession
Trump Calls For MAGA Base To End 'Epstein Files' Obsession

Int'l Business Times

time2 hours ago

  • Int'l Business Times

Trump Calls For MAGA Base To End 'Epstein Files' Obsession

President Donald Trump urged his political base on Saturday to stop attacking his administration over files related to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a case that has become an obsession for conspiracy theorists. Trump's Department of Justice and the FBI said in a memo made public last week there was no evidence that the disgraced financier kept a "client list" or was blackmailing powerful figures. They also dismissed the claim that Epstein was murdered in jail, confirming his death by suicide at a New York prison in 2019, and said they would not be releasing any more information on the probe. The move was met with incredulity by some on the US far-right -- many of whom have backed Trump for years -- and strident criticism of Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. "What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?' They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" Trump said Saturday in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform. "We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein," he added, referring to his "Make America Great Again" movement. Many among the MAGA faithful have long contended that so-called "Deep State" actors were hiding information on Epstein's elite associates. "Next the DOJ will say 'Actually, Jeffrey Epstein never even existed,'" furious pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Alex Jones tweeted after last week's move. "This is over the top sickening." Far-right influencer Laura Loomer called for Trump to fire Bondi over the issue, labeling her "an embarrassment." But on Saturday, Trump came to the defense of his attorney general, suggesting that the so-called "Epstein Files" were a hoax perpetrated by the Democratic Party for political gain, without specifying what benefits they hoped to attain. On Saturday, Trump struck an exasperated tone in his admonishment of his supporters. "For years, it's Epstein, over and over again," he said. "Let' waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about." The US president called for Patel and Bondi to instead focus on what he terms "The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020," which Trump lost to Joe Biden. The Republican has repeatedly perpetuated unfounded conspiracy theories about his loss being due to fraud. He called for the FBI to be allowed to focus on that investigation "instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein. LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB -- SHE'S GREAT!" Trump, who appears in at least one decades-old video alongside Epstein at a party, has denied allegations that he was named in the files or had any direct connection to the financier. "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been," said FBI Director Patel on Saturday, hours before Trump's social media post. Not everyone, however, seemed to be on the same page. US media reported that Dan Bongino -- an influential right-wing podcast host whom Trump appointed FBI deputy director -- had threatened to resign over the administration's handling of the issue.

Impact Of US Tariffs Varies Across European Union
Impact Of US Tariffs Varies Across European Union

Int'l Business Times

time4 hours ago

  • Int'l Business Times

Impact Of US Tariffs Varies Across European Union

European countries are not all equally exposed to the US market and so will not suffer the same consequences should President Donald Trump go ahead with his threats to impose 30-percent tariffs on the European Union. Ireland, with a major pharmaceutical industry, is in the front line along with Germany, for whom the United States is a major outlet for its cars, steel and machine tools. France is less exposed, even if it does have aeronautics, food, wine and luxury goods companies that risk losing markets. The EU as a whole has an annual trade surplus with the United States of $235.6 billion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which reports to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Only China has a higher amount. Ireland has the largest surplus among EU members, at $86.7 billion. That is largely due to the presence of major American pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson. They all set up in Ireland to benefit from a 15 percent corporate tax, compared to 21 percent in the United States. These companies can thus host their patents in Ireland and sell on the American market, where drug prices are traditionally higher than in the rest of the world. Ireland also hosts most of the European headquarters of American tech giants, such as Apple, Google and Meta, also attracted by the attractive Irish tax system. Overall, pharmaceuticals account for 22.5 percent of EU exports to the United States, according to Eurostat, with many major players having announced major investments in the United States. Germany, the EU's largest economy, is under particular pressure due to its dependence on exports: it has a surplus of $84.8 billion with the United States, thanks to its large automobile, chemical, steel and machine industries. The United States accounts for 23 percent of the revenue of Mercedes Benz. While some of that is accounted for by SUVs manufactured in the United States and exported, they risk being hit by any tariff reprisals from the EU. The Federation of German Industries (BDI) reacted promptly to Donald Trump's announcements on Saturday, calling on the EU and the United States to "quickly find solutions and to avoid an escalation". Italy and France, with surpluses of $44 billion and $16.4 billion respectively, according to US statistics (French data says the surplus is much smaller), would appear to be less affected. But some sectors are heavily exposed. The food and wine industries would be particularly affected in both countries, as is also the case for Spain. A 30-percent tariff would be a "catastrophe" for the French wine and spirits sector, Jerome Despey, head of the viticulture branch of the FNSEA union, said Saturday. Coldiretti, Italy's main agricultural organisation, said Saturday that tariffs of 30 percent would cost US consumers and Italian food producers some $2.3 billion. Like Germany, Italy is also concerned about its automotive sector. Franco-Italian manufacturer Stellantis (particularly Fiat and Peugeot) has suspended its forecasts for the year due to these uncertainties. Exposed French sectors also include aeronautics and luxury goods. LVMH, the world's largest luxury conglomerate, makes a quarter of its sales in the United States. About a fifth of France's exports to the United States come from the aerospace industry, much of it from Airbus. Austria and Sweden also have surpluses with the United States, $13.1 billion and $9.8 billion respectively. US trade deficits AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store