Latest news with #Tagesspiegel
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
German refugee authority says 464 Syrians have returned voluntarily
At least 464 Syrian refugees have returned home from Germany this month, a spokesman for the office for migration and refugees told dpa on Wednesday. Confirming a report in the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel, the spokesman said the returnees had accepted state assistance that has been available to Syrians since January 13. The option had not been available until the end of the civil war in Syria. The assistance is for travel costs and setting up in Syria, with setting-up costs set at a maximum of €1,000 ($1,130) per person. The number of Syrian refugees in Germany is around 1 million.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trade union: Germany must encourage fairer distribution of care work
The German government must offer incentives for parents to ensure care work is more fairly distributed between women and men, a top trade union official has demanded. Yasmin Fahimi, head of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), told the Tagesspiegel newspaper in comments released on Monday that fathers in Germany should receive more paid parental leave, including 10 days off following the birth of a child. In Germany, two partners can in total receive up to 14 months of parental allowance while taking parental leave. One partner can receive the parental allowance for up to 12 months. If the other partner also takes time off work for childcare, this only extends the total amount of time that parents can receive the allowance by two months - often referred to in Germany as the "father months." Fahimi's proposal came after new Labour Minister Bärbel Bas told the Sunday edition of the Bild newspaper that better working conditions must be created for women to raise employment levels. "Employers must organize the world of work in such a way that more mothers can work full-time," Bas said. The trade union leader praised Bas' suggestion but warned that women still carry out a far higher proportion of unpaid care work. "Ultimately, it remains the case that the organization of working hours is a highly individual decision, and that more incentives are needed for a better division between the sexes," said Fahimi.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany ends 100-year legal dispute over imperial art treasures
Thousands of cultural treasures from Germany's former Hohenzollern imperial family will remain on permanent display in museums in Berlin and Brandenburg, the country's new Culture Commssioner Wolfram Weimer announced on Monday. After a dispute lasting almost 100 years, the descendants of the last German emperor have reached a landmark agreement with the federal government and with states of Berlin and Brandenburg, he added. "This agreement is a tremendous success for Germany as a cultural location and for the art-loving public," Weimer said in Berlin. "For a hundred years, there has been ongoing uncertainty about objects that are central to the art and collection history of Prussia and thus to German history as a whole." The treasures include a portrait of Elector Joachim I of Brandenburg by painter Lucas Cranach the Elder and a table service for the Breslau City Palace acquired by Emperor Frederick II in 1750. According to the Tagesspiegel newspaper, the agreement covers a total of 27,000 items. Ownership rights and claims have been disputed since 1926. With the proclamation of the Weimar Republic and the abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II, the monarchy in Germany came to an end in 1918. The Hohenzollern family's assets were confiscated. In 1926, a contract was signed between the then state of Prussia and the Hohenzollerns to settle who owned what. Nevertheless, ambiguity over ownership and restitution claims persisted for decades. The House of Hohenzollern – currently headed by Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia, great-great-grandson of the last German emperor, Wilhelm II – had asserted claims to thousands of works of art that are now in museums. The prince had been negotiating with federal and state authorities since 2014, seeking the return of thousands of artworks and financial compensation for expropriated palaces and property. Litigation stalled talks for several years, but in 2023, the lawsuits were resloved, clearing the way for fresh negotiations in autumn 2024. The objects will remain physically housed in their current locations, including the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg (SPSG), the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK), and the German Historical Museum (DHM) in Berlin. Public access to the artworks will continue.
Local Germany
17-04-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
What's first on the new German government's to-do list ahead of summer?
Following the announcement of a finalised coalition agreement last week - drafted by the conservative CDU/CSU parties and the centre-left SPD - Germany looks set to see its new black-red government coalesce in the coming days and weeks . Pending formal approval by both the CDU/CSU and the SPD parties, conservative leader Friedrich Merz would then be sworn into his next role as German chancellor in early May. But while members of the leading parties have made some big promises, the general sentiment in Germany isn't yet heading towards the drastic change it needs. In fact, being built on considerable concessions from both the Social Democrats and the conservatives, the coalition agreement has been slammed on both sides of the political spectrum. With that in back of mind, Merz addressed the German media and laid out his plan to hit the ground running as soon as the next government is put in place. From an immediate tightening of Germany's immigration policy to economic incentives and tax relief, here's how the chancellor-to-be envisions his first few weeks in office. Turnaround in asylum policy 'immediately' "The first issues we will tackle are tightened border controls," Merz has pledged, according to a report in Tagesspiegel . Promises to crack down asylum seekers entering Germany was a major focal point of Merz' recent election campaign. Last month he spoke of massively expanding Germany's border controls and working together with European neighbours to reject asylum seekers before they enter the country. Merz has reiterated his promises to begin his turnaround in asylum policy from day one. "The new Federal Minister of the Interior will start immediately," he said. EXPLAINED: What Germany's new coalition pact means for foreign residents Tax relief and economic stimulus dependent on conditions Other measures that Merz wants to get rolling right away include efforts to reduce bureaucracy, and the introduction of the active pension (effectively a bonus paid to workers of retirement age that keep working). In contrast to his ambitious tone on immigration issues, Merz appears to be dampening expectations on previously announced plans for tax cuts and an increase of the minimum wage. He suggested that planned tax relief for small and medium-sized incomes was tied to economic conditions: "If the companies are doing better, we will ultimately gain more leeway for income tax cuts, but we need growth for this to happen." Merz added that his government will do everything possible "to achieve the leeway for this through economic growth and frugal budget management." KEY POINTS: How Germany's new coalition will affect your bank balance He struck a similar tone regarding a proposed increased in the minimum wage to €15 per hour. Referring to the careful wording of the coalition pact, Merz said the minimum wage would not be increased by law but would ultimately be decided by the Minimum Wage Commission. His comments have angered the SPD, who insisted that the commission were moving in this direction. Advertisement New military service model Another major change that Merz' government wants to bring in rapidly is introducing a new military service model. Specifically, Merz has previously said that he will 'strengthen military service in Germany," but at least initially, only on a voluntary basis. Taking a tip from the 'Swedish model', soon 18-year-old German men can expect expect to receive a questionnaire from the German army assessing their physical health, skills and willingness to defend the country. Of an estimated 400,000 young people who take the questionnaire each year, up to 40,000 would be recruited to be trained and serve in the military. However, the new government's bold ambitions here may be dampened, or at least temporarily held back, while the Bundeswehr builds up enough resources to be able to manage that many recruits. Still, it's expected that a bill about the new conscription model could be put to parliament almost immediately when the new government steps in. If so, German citizens who turn 18 this year could feasibly find the corresponding questionnaire in their mailboxes later this year. READ ALSO: What will Germany's new military service look like - and who will it include? Advertisement Change the mood 'by summer' Whether in a bid to boost his own party's popularity or for other reasons, Germany's incoming chancellor sees importance in hitting the ground running and rapidly changing the mood in German politics. "It is important that we improve the mood in the country by the summer," Merz said, adding, "There is still a lot of convincing to be done." To that end, he has proposed that the working hours of the Bundestag be extended into the summer this year, with parliamentarians meeting well into July. Merz says that he wants his government's programme to be adopted in the first half of the year, and to be adopted by parliament shortly thereafter. Of course, before any further steps are taken both the SPD and conservative parties need to formally approve the coalition agreement in its current form. The CSU has already done so but the CDU plans to vote on the matter on April 28th, and the SPD is expected to announce the result of its own vote by the 30th. READ ALSO: How soon will Germany's new government take office? Merz assumes that all parties are on board with moving forward. Advertisement "I cannot and do not want to imagine a different result," Merz said. He added that, from his view, a sense of agreement is now palpable: "At the bakery, on the street and wherever I meet people."
Local Germany
20-03-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Which German cities are the most in need of new housing?
Around 2.56 million apartments need to be newly built or otherwise added to the German rental market by 2030 to meet growing demand, according to a study by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). For years the number of new apartments built has not kept pace with rising demand. In 2023, around 294,400 new apartments were built across the country, whereas BBSR suggests that at least 320,000 new apartments were needed. It's no surprise that in terms of apartments needed, Germany's major cities rank highest, with Berlin expected to need the most new flat built every year until 2030 to keep demand from growing even higher. READ ALSO: 'Tense housing situation' - Why a Berlin renter can't be evicted for two years But when you look at per-capita figures, it's actually a number of smaller cities in Bavaria that need the most housing relative to the number of current residents. Which cities need the most new homes built? In terms of real numbers, Berlin - notorious for it's extremely tight housing market - needs the most apartments built or vacated and added to the rental market. BBSR estimates that it needs about 23,000 more per year until 2030 to keep pace with the cities growing demand. Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Cologne and Düsseldorf also need significant numbers of apartments built. READ ALSO: 13,000 unused flats in Frankfurt - Why Hesse plans to crack down on empty housing Tagesspiegel reported that these cities combined will need another 37,000 apartments built each year as well. Advertisement Where has the highest housing need per-capita? But its actually Bavarian cities outside of Munich that need the most apartments built relative to their numbers of inhabitants. According to BBSR forecasts, for every 10,000 inhabitants in the Bavarian city of Landshut, 87 apartments are needed. Regensburg Clock Tower and multicoloured townhouses with tiled roofs. Regensburg needs a significant amount of new apartments. Photo: Pexels/Damir In fact the top five cities with the highest housing need per capita are all found in the Free state of Bavaria. READ ALSO: Why Bavaria is one the world's top travel destinations for 2025 Regensburg is in second place, needing 83 new apartments for every 10,000 residents, followed by Kempten im Allgäu (77) and Memmingen (75). Finally, the Bavarian capital of Munich ranks fifth with 74 apartments needed per 10,000 residents. In comparison, Berlin needs about 66 new apartments per 10,000 residents, Frankfurt needs 55 and Hamburg needs 54. Which regions have an adequate supply of housing? Outside of Bavaria, Germany's rural regions tend to have a low to moderate need for new housing - with just a few exceptions, including in the districts around Frankfurt or Hamburg. Many districts in the former East German states have the lowest need for new housing. BBSR analyst Anna Maria Müther told Tagesspiegel, "Especially in districts with a declining population, it is important not to boost the vacancy rate of tomorrow [by building too many homes] and, instead to develop the existing stock." Based on current population trends in these areas, its expected that one in five of the households in these regions may be gone by 2045. Advertisement Why is housing demand soaring in Germany? Germany's population has largely stabilised and is not expected to grow too much in the coming decade. In fact, if current trends continue the country's population could peak in 2028 and then begin to decline slowly in the following years. However, experts don't think that the slight decline in population will relieve the housing market. The BBSR predicts that the number of households in Germany will continue to tick steadily upward, growing by 1.3 percent to 42.6 million by 2030. The study's authors suggest a contributing factor is the "continuing trend of singularization and aging". In other words, Germany is seeing an increase in one-person households that is adding to the growing demand for housing. READ ALSO: How much do you need to earn in Germany to buy a million euro home?
