US and German GDP show consumers are central to recovery, and other economy stories you need to read this week

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum./ Author: Gabi Thesing, Senior Writer, Forum Agenda 1. Revised US and German growth data shows consumers hold key to recovery The US economy grew more than previously reported in the first quarter thanks to stronger consumer spending, while revised estimates […]

California’s economy may surpass Germany’s, but what’s beneath the numbers?

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: John Letzing, Digital Editor, Strategic Intelligence, World Economic Forum “The future always looks good in a golden land,” one of California’s most clear-eyed chroniclers wrote, “because no one remembers the past.” I lived a large chunk of my […]

EU Cohesion Policy: €2.5 billion for a just climate transition in Germany

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today the German Länder North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, Saxony and Saxony Anhalt launch the Just Transition Fund (JTF) programming to support their fair transition to a green economy. Germany committed to 65% less CO2 emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2045. The country’s commitment […]

Germany’s €9 transit ticket cuts 1.8 million tonnes of CO2

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Spencer Feingold, Digital Editor, Public Engagement, World Economic Forum For three months, Germany has been offering ultracheap monthly tickets for all local trains, metros, trams and buses. The scheme was introduced in an effort to encourage the use […]

Statement from the Commission on clarifications discussed with Germany regarding investment protection in the context of the CETA agreement

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU and Canada are trusted and like-minded partners that share the same goals when it comes to promoting open, sustainable and fair trade. Our EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) aims to support our common objective of climate protection. In this context, […]

EU cohesion policy: Commission adopts €20 billion Partnership Agreement with Germany for 2021-2027 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission adopted today its Partnership Agreement with Germany, laying down Germany’s investment strategy for more than €20 billion in cohesion funding for the period 2021-2027. The cohesion funds will continue to support German regions in promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion, supporting key […]

Antitrust: Commission confirms unannounced inspections in the natural gas sector in Germany

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On 29 March 2022, the European Commission carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies in Germany active in the supply, transmission and storage of natural gas. The Commission has concerns that the inspected companies may have violated EU competition rules that […]

NextGenerationEU: European Commission disburses €2.25 billion in pre-financing to Germany

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today disbursed €2.25 billion to Germany in pre-financing, equivalent to 9% of the country’s financial allocation under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This corresponds to the pre-financing amount requested by Germany in its recovery and resilience plan. The pre-financing […]

State aid: Commission approves €550 million German support to compensate Deutsche Bahn for damages suffered by its subsidiary DB Fernverkehr due to the coronavirus outbreak

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has found a €550 million German support measure in favor of Deutsche Bahn AG (“Deutsche Bahn”) to be in line with EU State aid rules. The measure, which will take the form of an equity injection, aims at compensating Deutsche Bahn […]

State aid: Commission approves €10 billion German scheme to compensate companies for damages suffered due to coronavirus outbreak

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has found a €10 billion German scheme to compensate companies for damages related to the coronavirus outbreak to be in line with EU State aid rules. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This €10 billion scheme enables […]

State aid: Commission approves prolongation and modification of German scheme to support electricity production from renewable energy sources

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, the prolongation and modification of a German scheme to support the production of electricity from renewable energy sources and from mine gas, as well as reductions of charges to fund support for electricity from […]

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into compensation for early closure of lignite-fired power plants in Germany

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether German plans to compensate lignite-fired power plants for phasing out earlier than foreseen are in line with EU State aid rules. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “The phase-out […]

Team Europe: EU and Germany join forces with the Government of Bangladesh to safeguard the livelihoods of workers in export-oriented industries

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Union and Germany are joining forces with the Government of Bangladesh and will provide €113 million to safeguard the livelihoods of vulnerable workers in the garment and leather export-oriented industries. Due to the unprecedented socio-economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, these workers […]

State aid: Commission approves €840 million German guarantee scheme to protect consumers and support the travel industry in the context of the coronavirus outbreak

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a German State guarantee scheme worth €840 million to cover vouchers issued by travel operators for cancelled travel packages booked prior to 8 March 2020. This scheme is in line with the objectives pursued […]

German Presidency outlines priorities to EP committees

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Ministers are outlining the priorities of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings. Germany holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of 2020. The first series of hearings is taking place from […]

This is Germany’s $45 billion, 18-year plan to move away from coal

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Johnny Wood, Senior Writer, Formative Content Germany has said it will phase out coal by 2038 as it looks to renewable energy sources for its power generation. A $45 billion compensation fund will assist the closure of lignite […]

More Germans are swapping planes for trains because of climate worries

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Katharine Rooney, Senior Writer, Formative Content Domestic flights in Germany have dropped by 12% compared to last year. Train companies in the country are seeing record passenger numbers. Analysts say consumer awareness of the climate crisis is a […]

State aid: Commission approves €380 million German rescue aid to Condor

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Germany’s plans to grant a temporary €380 million loan to charter airline Condor. The measure will contribute to ensuring the orderly continuation of air transport services and avoid disruptions for passengers, without unduly distorting […]

UN Climate Action Summit concludes with insufficient EU and global pledges

The UN Climate Action Summit took place last Monday in New York but the commitments announced were not enough to counterbalance the devastating effects of climate change which is damaging our planet with high temperatures and tremendous natural phenomena. Although the EU is an ambitious contributor to the global efforts to fight climate change and […]

EU-Turkey relations: Erdogan plays the refugee card while beefing up gas operations in the Eastern Mediterranean sea

EU accession talks with Turkey have been suspended as Turkey is showing poor results in upholding human rights, the rule of law, media freedom and the fight against corruption. Turkey is attempting though to change this situation and enhance its relations with the EU discussing current matters with the EU officials and especially with Germany […]

G7: A serious setback hardly avoided in iconic Biarritz

The G7 yearly summits are supposed to strengthen the unity of the world’s wealthiest democracies vis-à-vis the rest of the world. Not anymore, many say, but this time there is one important exception: Iran. The leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and of course the US, met during the weekend in the coastal […]

Canada has created an Arctic conservation zone almost as big as Germany

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Johnny Wood, Writer, Formative Content Canada’s Inuit people, whose lands occupy the remote northeastern region of Nunavut, live in an Arctic wilderness of raw natural beauty that is now under threat from climate change. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau […]

Taxation: Commission refers Germany to the Court for its failure to apply EU rules on VAT for farmers

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today the Commission has decided to refer Germany to the Court of Justice of the EU for not applying the EU Value Added Tax (VAT) scheme for farmers correctly. Under current EU rules, Member States can apply a flat-rate VAT scheme (Council Directive 2006/112/EC) […]

The end of Spitzenkandidat: EU leaders concluded unexpectedly on EU top jobs

The EU leaders finally came to a conclusion after three long days of tough negotiations where German Chancellor’s suggestion to appoint Frans Timmermans as next European Commission president has been turned down by Italy and eastern countries. The solution was given with the nomination of a woman and particularly German Defence Minister Ursula von der […]

France and Germany can’t reach consensus regarding EU’s top jobs

The EU leaders are expected to meet again on Sunday to discuss about who will be taking over the EU top jobs, while France and Germany seem unable to agree who will be the successor of Jean-Claude Juncker. Last week’s EU summit didn’t conclude on the matter, something that exerts extra pressure onto the bloc’s […]

Germany is turning its old mines into tourist hotspots

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Charlotte Edmond, Formative Content Set in the foothills of mountains, surrounded by greenery and dotted with buzzing cafés, visitors to Germany’s Lusatian Lake District may have little idea of the scarred landscape beneath the peaceful waters. Thirty years […]

Draghi’s negative interest rates help Eurozone’s cohesion

Super Mario did it again. Only months before leaving the helm of the European Central Bank he made sure his accommodative monetary policy will hold well, even after he leaves Frankfurt am Main. Last Thursday, he pushed interest rates below the zero level for at least another year. Even if his successor will be a […]

Trump’s America divides the world, bullies China and Europe

The American administration in concerted action at the end of last week told everybody, how they want the world to function, singling out foes and friends. Leading members of the Trump executives attacked China, Germany and the EU. Washington, probably, senses that those global entities are able to withstand and effectively counter the wider American […]

EU elections 2019: Rise of nationalist trends and populism in Europe challenges the EU edifice

The European elections are going to be held in just two weeks’ time and far-right propaganda is gaining momentum creating concerns to everyone regarding the future of the EU, which is at stake. Populism and nationalism have dramatically risen in the EU during the last years menacing democratic institutions within a number of European member […]

Brexit: Six more months of political paralysis or a May-Corbyn compromise?

      Last Thursday in Brussels the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May felt it was necessary to tell the 27 EU leaders, who had gathered there to meet her, that “Britain is a serious country”. Until some months ago such an observation from a British PM would have been unimaginable. Until very recently nobody […]

The financial world upside-down: debt failure closer

A round $10 trillion worth of bonds are currently being traded in world markets on negative interest rates. At the same time, the European Central Bank prepares to flood the Eurozone and the banking world with hundreds of billions of zero interest rate euros, in an abrupt change of monetary policy course from restrictive to […]

EU Copyright Directive: Will US tech giants comply or ditch the EU market?

The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved yesterday the new Copyright Directive by 348 votes in favour, 274 against and 36 abstentions. Should the member states accept this vote, the reforms will be effective immediately and EU countries will have two years to implement them. The copyright changes will affect mainly big online platforms […]

The EU might as well go down the drain if foreign meddling corrupts May’s elections

The EU elections will take place in about two months’ time but anti-European together with foreign parties are most likely going to try to exert influence on the upcoming outcome. Anti-establishment parties are expected to change the current balance and status quo if the two mainstream parties, the conservative EPP (European People’s Party) and the […]