Bundestag Updates for the Current Week
The German federal government has unveiled a series of proposals aimed at reshaping key policies in the country. Here's a breakdown of the significant changes being considered:
- Lowering the Voting Age for European Elections The government has proposed lowering the minimum voting age for active voting rights in European elections from 18 to 16. This move is part of a broader effort to encourage youth participation in political decisions.
- Permanent Promotion for the Social Labor Market The promotion for the social labor market will be made permanent, a move that is expected to provide long-term support for those seeking employment.
- Suspension of Capacity Limit for Biogas Plants The amendment aims to suspend the existing capacity limit for biogas plants in the open area until the end of 2024, a move that could accelerate the expansion of renewable energy sources.
- Implementing the EU Directive on Water Quality The draft bill for Amending the Water Resources Act implements the EU directive on the quality of water for human consumption into German law, creating a comprehensive risk management system.
- Reform of Housing Allowance The new Citizen's Allowance will replace the current basic security, i.e., Hartz IV, from 2023. Around 1.4 million households will receive housing allowance for the first time or again through the reform, bringing the total to approximately 2 million households by 2023. The monthly housing allowance will increase by an average of 190 euros in 2023, doubling from 180 to around 370 euros.
- Decision-making Criteria The current and short-term probability of survival is set as the decisive criterion for decision-making. Other criteria, such as age, disability, religion, or gender, must not play a role in the assessment.
- Relief for Consumers To relieve consumers of the costs for pipeline-bound natural gas and heat for the month of December 2022, the obligation to make agreed-upon advance or installment payments is waived in December.
- Sustainable Integration into the Labor Market A monthly training allowance of 150 euros is planned for beneficiaries participating in a measure that is particularly important for sustainable integration into the labor market.
- Improving Framework Conditions for Renewable Energy The federal government wants to improve the framework conditions for renewable energies in urban planning law, aiming to accelerate the expansion of wind and photovoltaic plants, support the production of hydrogen from renewable energies, and improve the use of wind power and biomass.
- Sanctions Enforcement Law II The draft bill for a sanctions enforcement law II aims to structurally overhaul the enforcement of sanctions and combat money laundering. A central authority for sanctions enforcement will be established, where the powers of asset tracing and seizure will be concentrated at the federal level.
- Extension of Approval Period for Pensioners An extension of the period of approval for constant conditions, such as for pensioners, from 18 to 24 months has been achieved.
- Evaluation and Review Processes Decisions must be made according to the principle of multiple reviewers. The triage regulation is to be evaluated by external experts by the end of 2025. The regulations are intended to be indefinite and will be evaluated by December 31, 2025.
- Addressing Rule of Law Issues in Hungary The European Commission should proceed with particular caution and insist on sustainable and actual remedies by Hungary, citing systematic irregularities in public procurement procedures, a lack of willingness for effective anti-corruption, and other issues.
These proposed changes reflect the German government's commitment to addressing various societal challenges, from energy independence to social welfare, and from corruption to the promotion of renewable energy sources. The details of some proposals, such as the distribution of CO2 costs for heating in relation to housing allowance reform, are still under discussion and await further developments.
- The German government, in their proposals, aims to reshape the education-and-self-development sector by evaluating and reviewing processes, with the intention of continuous improvement by December 31, 2025.
- In the industry sector, the federal government plans to improve the framework conditions for renewable energy, ultimately accelerating the expansion of wind and photovoltaic plants.
- The finance and personal-finance sectors may see changes with the new Citizen's Allowance replacing the current basic security (Hartz IV), providing housing allowance for 1.4 million households from 2023, with an average increase of 190 euros in 2023.
- The sports and lifestyle sectors may benefit from the German government's commitment to encouraging youth participation in political decisions, as they plan to lower the minimum voting age for active voting rights in European elections from 18 to 16.
- The technology and business sectors might be impacted by the proposed sanctions enforcement law II, which aims to overhaul the enforcement of sanctions and combat money laundering, establishing a central authority for sanctions enforcement at the federal level.
