Latest news with #Bundestag
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukrainian Embassy denies that Zelenskyy's visit to Germany was shortened
The Ukrainian Embassy in Germany has called reports in the German media that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cancelled his participation in the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony in Aachen due to the threat of a new Russian offensive "not true". Source: European Pravda with reference to a statement by the embassy Quote: "Reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cancelled his participation in tomorrow's Charlemagne Prize award ceremony in Aachen due to the threat of a Russian offensive are not true." Background: Earlier, Spiegel reported that President Zelenskyy supposedly would not be able to attend the event in Aachen on 29 May due to the escalation of the situation on the front lines and the threat of a large-scale Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast. On 28 May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held meetings in Berlin with Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Julia Klöckner. During the visit, Germany promised new military aid to Ukraine worth €5 billion. Among other things, a contract was signed with Diehl Defence for the production of IRIS-T systems and missiles for them. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov said that the total value of the contract is €2.2 billion. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Local Germany
3 days ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
Who will be most affected by move to end fast-track German citizenship?
Germany's Federal Cabinet in Berlin passed two bills that aim to tighten the country's migration policies around family reunification and citizenship requirements on Wednesday. The bills, which still need to be passed by the Bundestag before becoming law, were put forward by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). One would end the possibility that highly integrated foreigners can naturalise as German after just three years - instead of the standard five. The conservative Christian Union parties (CDU/CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) had already agreed the reform in their coalition deal. So who will be affected if the bill become law? Then CDU leader, and now Chancellor, Friedrich Merz had announced at the beginning of April that his conservative-led government intended to end the fast track to German citizenship. "The so-called 'turbo naturalisation' after three years won't be taking place anymore," Merz said. "Naturalisation will only be possible after five years," he said. The three-year track for well-integrated immigrants was introduced in mid-2024 as part of a sweeping reform of Germany's citizenship rules. Those reforms also introduced the possibility for non-EU nationals to get German citizenship and become dual nationals - previously this was only available to those with an EU nationality. It also reduced the standard residence requirement for citizenship for non-EU nationals from eight years to five. READ ALSO: Who qualifies for 'special integration' status under Germany's citizenship law? Under those 2024 rules immigrants who had achieved 'special integration status' could apply for German citizenship after living in the country for three years. Essentially to qualify for the fast track process, applicants needed to prove C1 level German language skills, a high level of performance in their studies or work, and that they have contributed to German society with volunteer work. In a previous explainer The Local looked at what was meant by "special integration status" and what applicants needed to do to achieve it. Advertisement We wrote: "In addition to language proficiency, applicants may need to complete German integration courses to qualify. Demonstrating certain work achievements, such as holding full time employment in Germany for some time, may also help. "Ultimately, whether or not you qualify for a fast-tracked citizenship application will likely come down to a decision by Germany's Immigration Office ( Landesamt für Einwanderung). But completing an integration course or education program, achieving a higher German language proficiency level, and securing stable employment will all improve your chances. "Regular volunteering with German charity organisations or exceptional professional achievements will also help your case." 'Reduces the incentive for high skilled migrants to come to Germany' READ ALSO: Who is the new German minister in charge of immigration? Advertisement Critics of the coalition government's move to scrap the turbo naturalisation process say it will only affect the most qualified applicants – in other words a group of immigrants that German politicians claim to want to attract to the country. Herbert Brücker from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) told The Rheinische Post that the scrapping of the fast track process would "r educe the incentive for highly qualified people to come to Germany." "Naturalisation after three years mainly applies to highly qualified migrants with high incomes," he said. The black-red coalition has said that it wants to continue to encourage skilled labour immigration, which is seen by most political parties as a necessity given Germany's severe and growing shortage of skilled workers . But much of the conservative leaders' rhetoric on immigration has focused on tightening immigration policies in general rather than encouraging new workers to move to, or integrate in, the country. "The withdrawal of accelerated naturalisation negatively affects precisely the group of people we want in Germany," Brücker added. However, Winfried Kluth, the chairman of the Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) believes the withdrawal of the fast track to naturalisation was a sensible move. "It corrects the impression of too easy access to German citizenship," Kluth said. He said that with the three-year path in place some people qualified for citizenship before they qualified for permanent residence.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
German Cabinet backs clampdown on family reunification for refugees
The German Cabinet on Wednesday approved restrictions on family reunification for certain groups of refugees and a tightening of citizenship laws. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government, which took office earlier this month, has promised a crackdown on migration and has already introduced tougher checks on the country's borders. The two draft bills, proposed by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, must still be passed in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. The family restrictions target immigrants in Germany with so-called "subsidiary protection status," who are allowed to remain in the country due to the threat of political persecution in their homelands, despite lacking formal refugee status. The bill, seen by dpa, says that almost 400,000 residents have subsidiary protection. Around three-quarters are reportedly Syrian nationals, many of whom fled the country's devastating civil war. The residents will no longer be allowed to bring their family members to Germany for an initial period of two years, restoring a policy which previously applied from 2016 to 2018. Since then, a total of 12,000 family members of residents with subsidiary protection status have been able to move to Germany each year. As a measure of comparison, 229,751 first-time asylum applications were filed in Germany last year, which indicates that the government's move targets only a small group of migrants. Dobrindt has argued that the policy sends a signal that Germany's new government is changing course on migration, seeking to reduce "pull factors." Unlike other proposals to clamp down further on the numbers of migrants settling in Germany, the measure is unlikely to face legal obstacles. But critics argue that the move closes legal, safe pathways for refugees to enter Germany. "This is a catastrophe for affected families," said Tareq Alaows from refugee group Pro Asyl. Migration expert Herbert Brücker said studies show that "separation from one's own family is psychologically very stressful for refugees, and thereby also hinders their integration." Citizenship laws tightened The second bill passed by Merz's Cabinet on Wednesday aims to row back on a reform introduced by the previous government to encourage residents to gain German citizenship faster. The reform's main changes will not be reversed: most immigrants will still be able to apply for German nationality after five years of residence - down from eight years previously - and dual citizenship is still allowed. However, a special path for "particularly well integrated" residents to become German nationals after just three years, termed "turbo-naturalization" by critics, is to be closed. Brücker said the measure had been aimed at "top migrants, highly qualified and with a high income." "The withdrawal of accelerated naturalization therefore has a negative impact on the very group of people we want to have in Germany," he argued. However, the Expert Council on Integration and Migration has welcomed the move, arguing that it corrects the impression that access to German citizenship is too easy.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany extends measure to slow rising rent prices in popular areas
A German measure to slow rising rent prices in popular residential areas is set to be extended until 2030. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Cabinet on Wednesday submitted a draft for an extension of the statutory "rent price brake" until December 31, 2029. The regulation, introduced in 2015, was set to expire at the end of the year. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig said "housing must not become a luxury good." Tenants will get the protection they need, she argued. "This is a question of justice." Under the measure, which applies in areas designated as having an "overstretched" housing market, rent prices at the start of a new tenancy cannot be more than 10% above the local average. New apartments first rented out after October 2014 are exempt from the regulation. The extension of the rent price brake had been agreed in the coalition agreement between Merz's conservative bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats. The bill must still be passed in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
German Cabinet backs clampdown on migrants, tighter citizenship law
The German Cabinet on Wednesday approved restrictions on family reunification for certain groups of refugees and a tightening of citizenship laws. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government, which took office earlier this month, has promised a crackdown on migration and has already introduced tougher checks on the country's borders. The family restrictions target immigrants in Germany with so-called "subsidiary protection status," who are allowed to remain in the country due to the threat of political persecution in their homelands, despite lacking refugee status. The two draft bills, proposed by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, must still be passed in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament.
