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Local Germany
21-07-2025
- Local Germany
Everything that changes in Germany in August 2025
Berlin-Hamburg railway line shuts for major upgrade Starting August 1st, the main railway link between Berlin and Hamburg will close for extensive renovations. The closure is expected to last until the end of April 2026 and will have a significant impact on travellers, commuters and freight operators. High speed trains between the two cities are being diverted around the closure, and it's estimated that this will add 45 minutes to journey times in most cases. Some regional connections will be suspended altogether, while many others will be wholly or partially replaced with replacement buses. The buses in question are currently being fitted with internet and USB charging ports. Replacement buses on longer stretches of the route will also have toilets on board. Construction workers are working on the tracks on the railway line between Hamburg and Berlin. picture alliance/dpa / Marcus Brandt READ ALSO: Why Germany's nationwide rail upgrade faces a four-year delay Berlin to Hamburg train line to get upgrade to 5G mobile coverage Digital passport photos now compulsory From August 1st, paper photos for ID cards and passports are to no longer be accepted in Germany's citizens' and immigration offices ( Bürgeramt / Ausländerbehörde ). Instead authorities should collect digital photos, which can be taken at 'PointID' terminals in the citizens' and immigration offices, or also taken at certified photo studios, or drugstores such as DM, and submitted digitally with a QR code. The price of a digital photo ranges from €10 – €15. Look out for any notices from your local office before counting on taking a digital photo in the office, however, as there have been some hiccups with the roll-out of the digital photo machines during the test period. When The Local reached out to various authorities in May, offices in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf were still waiting on software updates, and the the immigration office in Munich said that for children up to the age of six it was recommended to bring biometric photos from an outside studio. READ ALSO: 'Machines don't work!' - The problem of getting digital ID photos in Germany Advertisement Solar power feed-in tariffs drop again Solar modules for a 'balcony power plant' in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Stefan Sauer From August 1st, anyone installing a new photovoltaic (solan panel) system will receive slightly less money for solar power they feed into the grid. The owners of smaller systems of up to 10 kW will now receive 7.87 cents/kWh (down from 7.94). The tariff drops to 6.81 cents/kWh for systems up to 40 kW and 5.56 cents/kWh for systems up to 100 kW. READ ALSO: Germans turn to balcony solar panels to save money The changes only effect newly installed systems, with contracts signed before August 1st set to remain unchanged. New rules for smartphones and other wireless devices From August 1st, smart devices can only be sold with the CE mark if manufacturers and retailers can show they're adequately protected against data misuse, fraud, and unauthorized access. The CE mark shows that a product meets EU standards for safety, health and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements. Based on the revised EU Radio Equipment Directive, this means that secure passwords, encrypted connections and a reliable update mechanism must be in place for all devices with a wireless connection, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile communications. Advertisement The updated directive is eant to protect against hacker attacks and data misuse on products including cell phones, laptops, smart watches, smart vacuum cleaners, doorbells, headphones and printers. New transparency rules for AI models From August 2nd, large AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and others will face stricter EU transparency requirements. Providers will be required to publicly document how their systems work, as well as what data they're trained on, in an attempt to make the new technology more understandable, secure, and less prone to abuse. EXPLAINED: How German schools are including more and more AI Labelling of AI generated content and deepfakes will also become mandatory. While the new law comes into effect on August 2nd, it will only be enforced on new AI models from 2026 and on existing models from 2027. Improved and mandatory battery recycling From August, all batteries can be disposed of free of charge at municipal recycling centres in Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Paul Zinken A new EU battery regulation comes into force on August 18th, when all batteries – from button cells to e-bike batteries – can be disposed of at municipal recycling centres free of charge. Advertisement From August 18th, new batteries will also have to carry a quality seal and, over time, include QR codes with environmental information and details on recyclability. READ ALSO: Where can I dispose my old electronic devices in Germany? The new rules also introduce stricter requirements for importers and manufacturers. Pension payments return to 'normal' after July's special arrangement In July 2025, pension payments in Germany were temporarily lower than expected for many retirees because of changes to how much retirees have to contribute to long-term care insurance. As a result, even though pensions officially went up by 3.74 percent, many people saw a smaller increase or even a one-time deduction in their July payment. From August, retirees will now see the full 3.74 percent increase in their pensions, with only the usual deductions for health insurance and long-term care insurance. READ ALSO: Where people in Germany receive the highest pensions August also marks the final step in equalizing pension rules between the former East and West Germany, meaning that people who worked in either region will now have their pensions calculated using exactly the same rules. New school year for first graders Every schoolchild will be on holiday simultaneously for at least a few days in August. The school holidays officially begin on August 1st in Bavaria, and come to an end on August 11th in Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia. An empty primary school classroom. Photo: picture alliance/dpa / Arne Dedert EXPLAINED: Why German states are clashing over the school holiday schedule Regardless of when the school holidays fall in individual states, August 1st still marks the official start of the new school year in most of Germany. Children who turn six before this date are set to start school for the first time in August (or early September). Advertisement Cologne's Lanxess Arena goes cashless Cologne's Lanxess Arena - the most visited arena in continental Europe which is set to host back-to-back performances by Canadian hip-hop artist Drake in August - has announced that payment inside the arena will be mostly cashless from August 1st. Payments at food stalls, banquet and club rooms, in the interior restaurants and coat checks are all to be limited to card and electronic payments going forward. A press release by the arena explains that the move to cashless payments is intended to cut down on waiting times and reduce logistical efforts for the affected businesses. Did we miss anything important? Let us know in the comments section below.
Local Germany
08-04-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Have we seen the last of the major strikes in Germany this year?
Industrial disputes can be like buses: you might not see one for a very long time, and then several turn up at once. That's exactly what happened in Germany this year. Back in January, a number of collective agreements expired, so trade unions like Verdi had to simultaneously negotiate a set of new contracts in the public sector. In the postal service, on Berlin public transport, in regional media outlets and in the wider public sector, workers all faced uncertainty about their future pay and conditions. For residents, this meant uncertainty about whether the buses would run, whether Kitas would open, and whether rubbish would start piling up in the Hinterhof . Luckily, two major conflicts that had dragged on for months ended amicably this week: on Sunday, a deal was reached for 2.6 million workers in the public sector, and on Monday, for the 16,600 employees of Berlin transport operator BVG . Here's a look the latest deals and the prospect of future strikes in Germany. Public sector employees The biggest deal negotiated this year concerned millions of local and federal government employees. As well as those in administrative offices, this includes workers in daycare centres, care homes, hospitals, schools, leisure centres and on local public transport, as well as in services like waste and sewage disposal. After an intense battle lasting more than two months, civil servants' union DBB and services union Verdi struck a deal with the government based on the recommendations of an arbitration committee. Advertisement The deal included a 5.8 percent pay rise over two years and increased bonuses for shift work, as well as either an increased Christmas bonus or three extra days of holiday per year. READ ALSO: Five things to know about Germany's public sector pay deal With the new contract running for 27 months from January 2025, we can now look forward to around two full years of calm: the next set of negotiations won't begin until March 2027. That said, there are a few workers - including state-employed teachers - who aren't covered by the agreement. This group are due to negotiate their next set of wage increases in autumn. Public sector strikes in Hamburg on February 13th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Marcus Brandt Local transport in Berlin It took several rounds of negotiations and five sets of warning strikes, but Verdi scored a coup in its BVG negotiations. On Monday, the union and transport operator announced that they had reached a new pay deal, with BVG workers set to get an average of 15 percent more pay over two years. As well as €430 extra pay per month by June next year, the transport employees will also see a steep rise in bonus for shift work and their end-of-year bonus. By 2027, the two sides are also tasked with putting together proposals for a 35-hour working week. Advertisement With Berliners previously staring down the barrel of unlimited strikes, the deal is welcome news for commuters. The two-year term runs until December 31st, 2026, giving residents of the capital around 21 months of respite. READ ALSO: Berlin averts unlimited transport strikes as BVG cuts deal with union Deutsche Bahn Remember the Deutsche Bahn negotiations a few months back? No, us neither. That's probably because the rail operator reached a deal with union EVG within record time, and without a single warning strike. Back in February, the two sides struck an agreement for 6.5 percent more pay for some 192,000 rail workers employed by DB and its subsidiaries. Starting in April with a €200 one-off payment, employees are set to get a two-percent pay rise in June, followed by 2.5 percent the following year and a further 2 percent the year after. Rail passengers walk or wait at the main train station in Frankfurt am Main, Germany on March 12th, 2024, during a strike called by GDL train drivers' union. Photo: Kirill Kudrayavtsev / AFP This contract covers an unusually long time span of 33 months, meaning EVG won't be able to reopen negotiations until 2028. However, the train drivers' union GDL - known to be a far harder nut to crack - will be reopening talks on their collective agreement next year. A so-called peace obligation is in place until February 2026, meaning there's a guaranteed hiatus on strikes until then. After that, don't be surprised if you start to see the words " Warnstreik! " (warning strike) and " Zug fällt aus " (train cancelled) a lot more at train stations around Germany. READ ALSO: Deutsche Bahn pays out compensation to millions of rail passengers in Germany Postal service At the start of the year, Verdi was tasked with thrashing out a deal on behalf of around 170,000 postal and parcel delivery workers in Germany. Upping the pressure on DHL and Deutsche Post, the union called a series of warning strikes in January and February, leading to delays and disruption in mail delivery. READ ALSO: German postal service to cut 8,000 jobs At the start of March, however, the two sides announced that they had reached a deal for a five percent pay increase for workers and an extra day of holiday per year. This agreement runs until 2027, when a new set of negotiations - and possible strikes - will begin. Advertisement What conflicts are still ongoing? While most of the major industrial disputes appear to be out of the way for now, there is one ongoing battle that could affect life in Germany. Metalworkers' union IG Metall - the largest in Germany - is currently fighting on behalf of workers in the automotive industry. As part of its push a 6.5 percent pay rise, the union has called strikes at car dealerships and garages this week. From Tuesday through Thursday, it may be hard for motorists to find a spot for maintenance or repairs of their vehicle. Though the IG Metall dispute seems relatively small next to the BVG and public sector talks, it could well turn into a bitter conflict. Car owners could well be advised to sort out their maintenance check-ups quickly when garages reopen, because the next strike could come around sooner than you think.
Local Germany
25-03-2025
- Health
- Local Germany
What's the penalty if you're caught with cocaine in Germany?
The number of adults in Germany who consume cocaine has more than doubled in the past ten years, according to the Centre for Addiction Research (ZIS). Wastewater analyses also reveal new record levels of cocaine residues each year. An evaluation by the health insurance group BARMER found that, within the same time, the number of patients who needed medical treatment for cocaine abuse has more than tripled. A recent report by Tagesschau highlights the scale of the issue: the drug can be ordered on Telegram as easily as take-out food , and around one in four users may develop a psychological dependence, which comes with increasingly severe health risks. And then there are the legal consequences. Most everyone is aware that recreational cocaine use is illegal, and can come with serious penalties including jail time. But the the legal status of cocaine does vary between countries, and foreigners in Germany may not be clear on the legal penalties for possessing or using the drug. Seized cocaine packets lie on a pallet during a press conference at police headquarters. The Hamburg police had seized more than 2 tons of cocaine last year. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Marcus Brandt How does German law deal with cocaine? In brief, unauthorised possession or purchase of drugs are criminal offences in Germany and can be punishable by up to five years in prison. Cocaine is specifically listed among several narcotics categorised as a "prohibited substance" under German law. However, especially for first-time offenders caught with small amounts of the drug, German law doesn't always require prosecution. Advertisement According to information shared by the legal firm Schlun & Elseven , when considering whether or not to prosecute a cocaine offender, German authorities consider if the suspect is a repeat offender, if the suspect was selling the drug, if the offence was related to organised crime and also the quantity of the drug that was found. The German Narcotics Act generally differentiates between offences involving a "small quantity for personal use", a "normal quantity" and larger quantities. The exact amount that can be considered a "small quantity" is not specifically defined, and limits can vary from state to state. For example, in Hamburg the limit is one gram of cocaine, whereas in North Rhine-Westphalia it's 0.5 grams. This is not to say that having cocaine in an amount that is less than one gram is allowed in Hamburg, but first time offenders caught with this amount have a better chance of seeing their penalty waived if there are no other aggravating circumstances. FACT CHECK: Are German police really advising football fans to smoke cannabis? Use versus possession Interestingly, cocaine use is not named as a punishable act in the German Narcotics Act. Rather possession and certainly sale, transport or cultivation are the strictly punishable offences. However, the difference between using the drug and possessing it can be tricky to differentiate legally. Carrying any amount of the drug on your person, or having it at your house or on your property would be considered possession. Advertisement Driving under the influence Anyone driving a vehicle under the influence of intoxicating substances is liable to prosecution under the German Criminal Code. Especially in the case of cocaine use, being caught driving under the influence can lead to a criminal conviction. Generally, in cases where no one was harmed, offenders can face a fine or a prison sentence up to one year, as well as their driving licence being revoked. If the offence causes an accident where another person's personal safety was endangered, the penalty could increase up to a five year prison sentence. Impact on immigration status It's worth remembering that any criminal offence can have a direct impact on your immigration status, including your ability to stay in the country or renew your residence permit. Charges that carry a sentence of more than 90 days of prison time can also bar you from applying for citizenship. And though you may get away with a warning if you're caught with a small amount of cocaine, authorities do have leeway to bar some types of offenders regardless of whether they serve time - including for crimes such as drug possession. READ ALSO: Which criminal offences could get you barred from German citizenship?
