Parliamentary Assembly of Germany this week
German Government Advances Multiple Bills in Various Sectors
The German government is pushing forward with several legislative bills aimed at enhancing transparency, promoting democracy, and improving social welfare. Here's a summary of the current status of some key bills:
Enhancing Tax Transparency
A revised draft bill, focusing on reporting obligations for cryptoassets and related transparency measures, has been presented by the Federal Ministry of Finance. The bill, which includes the new Crypto Asset Tax Transparency Act and amendments to several tax and administrative laws, is under public consultation until July 14, 2025, and is planned to enter into force on January 1, 2026.
Reforming the Criminal Code's Sanctions
No specific updates or bill statuses have been found regarding the reform of the Criminal Code's sanctions.
Germany Ticket
The Germany ticket, a digital, nationwide valid ticket for buses and trains, will be available at an introductory price of 49 euros per month from May 1. The ticket will be evaluated in 2023 and 2024.
Electoral System Reform
No updates or the status of electoral reform bills have been found in the provided results.
Substitute Imprisonment
The reform will significantly reduce substitute imprisonment, with one day of imprisonment imposed for every two days of imprisonment imposed, instead of the current one-to-one ratio.
Democracy Promotion
The federal government is deliberating in the first reading a Democracy Promotion Act this week. The aim of the act is to reliably and needs-based promote projects for democracy promotion, strengthening societal diversity, and preventing extremism locally.
Whistleblower Protection
Two bill drafts are being introduced in the Bundestag this week to improve the protection of whistleblowers. The draft for the amendment of the regulations on the Whistleblower Protection Act further stipulates that the regulations should also apply to civil servants at the state level, requiring the consent of the Bundesrat.
Increased Governmental Leeway in Trustee Administrations
No details regarding legislative changes on trustee administration leeway have been included in the results.
Price Brake Relief
No direct information on bills or legislative changes about price brake relief have been found in the search results.
Extended Deadlines for Kita (childcare) Expansion
No recent bill statuses or legislative updates relating to Kita expansion deadlines have been found in the results.
Reforming the Energy Security Act and the Act against Restraints of Competition
The bill submitted by the coalition factions aims to strengthen the federal government's ability to act in current and future trustee administrations in crisis situations by amending the Energy Security Act (EnSiG) and the Act against Restraints of Competition.
Corporate Tax Rate Reduction
The Federal Council has approved a gradual corporate tax rate reduction from 15% to 10% between 2028 and 2032, and reintroduced investment incentives as part of an Immediate Investment Program, which has already been passed by parliament.
Clarifications on Anti-Hybrid Rules and Interest Deduction Limitations
Other tax-related updates involve clarifications on anti-hybrid rules and interest deduction limitations to align with EU directives.
Funding for Democracy Promotion Projects
Currently, the federal government is funding numerous projects with increasing financial resources, with 182 million euros available for the year 2023. Projects funded range from educational formats against hate online, projects for more political education and participation, offers against exclusion in training and employment, counseling services for Islamic extremism, to preventive educational offers for incarcerated juvenile offenders.
Funding for the Germany Ticket
No information found within the provided results regarding funding or legislative updates related to the Germany Ticket.
Reforms in the StromPBG
The regulations in the StromPBG have been clarified for the absorption of excess profits, allowing hedging transactions outside the European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) to also be reported and taken into account in the determination of profits, provided their effect corresponds to a hedging transaction on the EEX.
Reforms in the Commercial Code
Changes to the commercial code include expanding the disclosure requirement and amending the administrative fine and penalty provisions.
Reforms in the Criminal Code
The conditions under which the commitment of addicted offenders to a detoxification clinic can be ordered will be narrowed.
Reforms in the Whistleblower Protection Act
The draft bill aims to allow the financial assistance to be fully invested in the expansion of child daycare by amending the Law on Federal Financial Assistance for the Expansion of Child Daycare (KitaFinHG) and the Childcare Financing Act (KBFG). The draft bill also proposes extending deadlines for completing funded measures in the 5th Investment Program for Childcare Financing until December 31, 2023, and for states to call up funds until June 30, 2024.
Reforms in the Childcare Expansion
The reform will reduce the regular size of the Bundestag from 736 to 630 seats, eliminate overhang and leveling mandates, and increase the number of directly elected candidates. The aim is to make projects more sustainable and better planned, as they can be funded in the long term.
Reforms in the Criminal Code's Penalties
The bill makes it clear that "gender-specific" and "targeted at sexual orientation" motives will lead to higher penalties.
Reforms in the Mobile Therapy Services
Mobile therapies can reduce relapses, and the reform opens the possibility of therapy assignment, for example, for probation.
- The German government is currently discussing the first reading of a Democracy Promotion Act this week, with the aim of reliably promoting projects that strengthen societal diversity, democracy, and prevent extremism locally.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the federal government is funding numerous projects with increasing financial resources for the year 2023, including ones for democracy promotion, as part of general-news updates.
