Germany Newspaperhttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/News from Germany in English: politics, the economy, business and everyday life, reported from official sources and checked before we publish.en-GB German states seek changes to the 2027 income tax reformhttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/politics/bundesrat-income-tax-reform-2027-opinion/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/politics/bundesrat-income-tax-reform-2027-opinion/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000PoliticsIn an opinion of 16 October 2026 the Bundesrat criticised the plan for tax-free Sunday and holiday supplements and welcomed a trade tax change for data centres. Bundesrat files subsidiarity objection to EU Affordable Housing Acthttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/europe/bundesrat-objects-eu-affordable-housing-act/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/europe/bundesrat-objects-eu-affordable-housing-act/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Germany and EuropeGermany's chamber of the states told the European Commission on 16 October that the EU lacks the power to set the planned rules on housing measures. Bundestag approves early-start pension of €10 a month per childhttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/living/bundestag-approves-early-start-pension-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/living/bundestag-approves-early-start-pension-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Living in GermanyFrom 2027 the state is to pay €10 a month into a pension savings account for children aged 6 to 18, backdated to January 2026 for children born in 2020. Federal government rejects the states’ call for permanent funding of its planned childcare lawhttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/politics/childcare-quality-law-states-funding-dispute-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/politics/childcare-quality-law-states-funding-dispute-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000PoliticsGermany’s states want lasting federal money for a planned law to improve childcare quality. The government has now rejected this in writing. EU Commission proposes a 30,000-strong Frontex with a central role in returnshttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/europe/commission-proposes-stronger-frontex-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/europe/commission-proposes-stronger-frontex-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Germany and EuropeA new mandate would give Frontex a 17,000-strong reserve of border guards, a quick reaction force and a centre to coordinate returns. Deutschlandticket rises to €66.80 in January, and subscribers must agree to the new pricehttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/living/deutschlandticket-2027-price-consent-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/living/deutschlandticket-2027-price-consent-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Living in GermanySubscribers must actively accept the price rise. At Deutsche Bahn the deadline is 30 November; anyone who does not respond loses their subscription. ESM issues €1bn digital bond, settled via Pontes with the Bundesbank and Clearstreamhttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/business/esm-digital-bond-pontes-clearstream-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/business/esm-digital-bond-pontes-clearstream-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000BusinessThe ESM is issuing its first bond based on distributed ledger technology. The Bundesbank is paying agent and Clearstream provides the infrastructure. Germany's new Federal Police Act takes effect, with drone defence and phone surveillance powershttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/politics/federal-police-act-in-force-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/politics/federal-police-act-in-force-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000PoliticsSince 28 October 2026 Germany's Federal Police may defend against drones, intercept communications preventively and apply for detention pending deportation. German banks tighten lending to companies again as loan demand falls for the first time in over two yearshttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/economy/german-banks-tighten-business-lending-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/economy/german-banks-tighten-business-lending-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000EconomyGerman banks made business loans harder to get in the third quarter of 2026, the Bundesbank's lending survey shows, while demand for credit fell. Germany’s new design law protects animated designs and targets copies made by 3D printinghttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/business/german-design-law-overhaul-published-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/business/german-design-law-overhaul-published-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000BusinessThe Act to modernise German design law has been published. From 9 December 2027 new rules cover digital designs, 3D-printing files and spare parts. German municipal debt rose 9.9% in 2025 to €378.9 billionhttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/economy/german-municipal-debt-2025-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/economy/german-municipal-debt-2025-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000EconomyTowns, municipalities and districts, with their funds and companies, owed an average of €4,907 per resident at the end of 2025. Hesse had the highest level. German producer prices rose 6.7% in September, the most since March 2023https://germanynewspaper.com/en/economy/german-producer-prices-september-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/economy/german-producer-prices-september-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000EconomyIndustrial producer prices were 6.7% higher than a year earlier, driven by energy costs linked to the conflict in Iran and the Middle East, Destatis said. How Anmeldung, Germany's address registration, workshttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/living/how-anmeldung-address-registration-works/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/living/how-anmeldung-address-registration-works/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Living in GermanyAnyone who moves into a home in Germany must register within two weeks. What the law requires, what you need to bring and what registration sets in motion. How co-determination gives German employees a say in their companieshttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/business/how-co-determination-works-in-german-companies/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/business/how-co-determination-works-in-german-companies/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000BusinessWorks councils from five employees, a third of supervisory board seats above 500 and half above 2,000: how Mitbestimmung works under German law. How Kurzarbeit works, and why the maximum falls to 12 months in 2027https://germanynewspaper.com/en/economy/how-kurzarbeit-short-time-work-works/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/economy/how-kurzarbeit-short-time-work-works/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000EconomyGermany's short-time work allowance replaces 60% or 67% of lost net pay. From 1 January 2027 it can again be paid for 12 months at most, not 24. How qualified majority voting works in the EU Council, and Germany's weight in ithttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/europe/how-qualified-majority-voting-works-eu-council/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/europe/how-qualified-majority-voting-works-eu-council/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Germany and EuropeMost EU decisions need 55% of member states representing 65% of the population. Germany, with 18.5% of EU residents, weighs most but cannot block alone. How the Bundesrat, Germany's chamber of the states, workshttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/politics/how-the-bundesrat-works/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/politics/how-the-bundesrat-works/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000PoliticsThe Bundesrat gives Germany's 16 state governments a say in federal laws and EU affairs. Who sits in it, how its 69 votes work and when it can block a law. ECB President Christine Lagarde to step down on 7 February 2027, months before her term endshttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/europe/lagarde-to-step-down-ecb-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/europe/lagarde-to-step-down-ecb-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Germany and EuropeChristine Lagarde will leave the European Central Bank almost nine months before her term was due to end. The European Council will appoint her successor. SAP tops €10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first timehttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/business/sap-third-quarter-2026-results/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/business/sap-third-quarter-2026-results/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000BusinessSAP's total revenue rose 13% in the third quarter of 2026 and cloud revenue 26%, the company said on 21 October. It also updated its outlook for 2026. Recruitment agreement at 65: 2.6 million people in Germany have a history of immigration from Turkeyhttps://germanynewspaper.com/en/living/turkey-recruitment-agreement-65-years-october-2026/https://germanynewspaper.com/en/living/turkey-recruitment-agreement-65-years-october-2026/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +0000Living in GermanyAhead of the anniversary on 30 October, Destatis says 2.6 million people in Germany have a history of immigration from Turkey; 48% of them are German citizens.