Weekly happenings at the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
In a series of recent developments, the German government has taken various steps to address multiple challenges, including climate change, inflation, and education access.
Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
The federal government is discussing a draft bill to ensure a fair distribution of CO2 costs in heating to tenants and landlords, based on the energy efficiency of buildings. This initiative aims to promote energy efficiency and combat climate change.
Education and Access
The lack of education access is exacerbated by the climate crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and rising food prices due to Russia's violation of international law in Ukraine. The focus in addressing this issue is on girls and women, with plans to support their prospects and rights through gender-specific awareness campaigns, promotion of female teachers, and violence prevention and protective structures.
Tax Transparency and Crypto Assets
Germany has fully implemented the DAC 7 directive through legislation effective from January 2023. This law creates new transparency and reporting duties for digital platform income, including modernized rules and electronic filing requirements. The draft bill for DAC 8 implementation, which focuses on reporting obligations for crypto-asset service providers and digital payments, is planned for entry into force in 2026.
Inflation Compensation
To counterbalance persistent price increases, the Inflation Compensation Act aims to adjust the income tax tariff for 2023 and 2024. Families are specifically supported through increases in the basic allowance and child allowance, as well as an increase in child benefit for the first, second, and third child.
Energy Sector Support
The reduced VAT rate of 7 percent for restaurant and catering services, excluding the sale of beverages, will be extended until December 31, 2023. Additionally, a temporarily introduced beer tax threshold will be permanently retained to help small and medium-sized brewery businesses.
Digital Infrastructure
The federal government's Gigabit Strategy focuses on powerful digital infrastructures, aiming to have half of all households and businesses in Germany with access to a fiber optic connection for fast internet by 2025. The goal is to achieve nationwide, uninterrupted wireless voice and data services for all end users by 2026.
EU Developments
The European Union is simplifying the implementation procedure for European Citizens' Initiatives and creating a responsible contact point for organizers. The European Union has also approved a draft bill to lower the minimum voting age for European elections to 16 years. The EU is issuing an EU directive to align various sanctions regimes across member states.
Legislation and Transparency
The German government has introduced a draft bill to electronically publish laws in the Federal Law Gazette. The draft bill for the DAC 8 implementation, which will require operators of digital platforms to provide German tax authorities with all information on incomes generated by providers in Germany, was recently introduced. The Amendment of the Law on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) will support a European Citizens' Initiative from the age of 16.
Financial Stability
The German government is introducing a bill for the financial stabilization of the GKV, providing additional funding and using reserves to cover a deficit. The Economic Stabilization Fund will be authorized to provide KfW loans of up to 100 billion euros for its support measures for companies in the energy sector.
Sanctions Violations
The European Union is expanding the catalog of serious criminal areas where minimum penalties can be set to include sanctions violations.
Short-Time Work Allowance
A draft bill by the coalition factions is adjusting the regulations for short-time work allowance to ensure special regulations can be introduced at short notice.
Providing School Meals and Sustainable Electrification of Educational Institutions
Provision of school meals and sustainable electrification of educational institutions is also planned.
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Education-and-Self-Development and Policy-and-LegislationThe German government's focus on girls and women's education access also extends to policy-making, with plans to support their prospects and rights through gender-specific awareness campaigns, promotion of female teachers, and violence prevention and protective structures, as part of general news discussions on the challenges exacerbated by the climate crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and rising food prices.
Politics and General-NewsGiven the ongoing European Union developments, such as simplifying the implementation procedure for European Citizens' Initiatives, lowering the minimum voting age for European elections to 16 years, and issuing a directive to align various sanctions regimes across member states, the German government's decisions and future legislation will continue to be shaped by and contribute to political discussions and general news at the national and EU levels.
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