Weekly affairs in Germany's Bundestag
Germany is currently involved in multinational military exercises, notably the NATO-linked exercise "Immediate Response 25," which includes troops from several countries, including the United States, Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Slovenia [1]. However, no clear standalone German deployment details in Bosnia and Kosovo have been explicitly mentioned in the latest sources.
In the realm of domestic policy, the federal government is proposing a significant amendment to the Financial Equalization Act 2024 and the Stabilization Fund Act, aiming to adapt the vertical VAT distribution for the years 2024 to 2028. This adjustment will provide the states with additional VAT shares totaling 100 million euros per year to cover financial additional burdens in connection with the creation of municipal heat plans.
Another key proposal is the amendment of the Road Traffic Act, which aims to introduce a THC limit (the active substance in cannabis) in road traffic, as well as an alcohol ban for cannabis consumers. Since April 2024, the possession and consumption of cannabis has been partially legal for adults.
The federal government has also committed to implementing recommendations for better implementability for the partial legalization of cannabis, given by the federal states in March 2024. The draft bill provides for more leeway in granting permits for cannabis cultivation associations.
In the area of refugee policies, the federal government has agreed to develop the existing fixed refugee allowance of 1.25 billion euros per year into a "breathing system" from 2024. This new system will provide an annual allowance of 7,500 euros per asylum applicant. From 2025, the actual number of refugees will serve as the basis. The federal government is now supporting the states with a total of 500 million euros for this.
Regarding the protection of minors in overseas marriages, the federal government is adopting a draft bill this week. The regulation must establish a new system by June 30, 2024, to better protect minors whose marriage concluded abroad has become invalid in Germany. It must also provide the option of continuing the marriage as a valid marriage under German law after reaching the age of majority.
On the legislative front, the German Parliament will debate the "report on German engagement in the deployment of police officers in international police missions in 2022" this week. The deployment of individual police officers in international peace missions is based on a voluntary basis. In 2022, a total of 90 police officers were deployed, with a female participation rate of 30%. Of these officers, 67 were deployed in nine EU missions within the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), with a female participation rate of 17.9%.
Lastly, the court has confirmed the possibility of a blanket invalidity of marriages of minors, but a new regulation must be established to address this issue. The German Parliament and the federal government are yet to provide further details on this matter.
[1] Source: https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/2973463/us-army-awards-contract-for-nato-immediate-response-25/
- The federal government is planning to adapt the vertical VAT distribution for the years 2024 to 2028, amidst ongoing war-and-conflicts and political changes, as part of their policy-and-legislation concerning the Financial Equalization Act 2024 and the Stabilization Fund Act.
- In the arena of crime-and-justice, an amendment to the Road Traffic Act aims to introduce a THC limit and an alcohol ban for cannabis consumers, following the partial legalization of cannabis possession and consumption for adults, as part of general-news stories in April 2024.
- The German Parliament will discuss the "report on German engagement in the deployment of police officers in international police missions in 2022," highlighting the importance of politics and policy in managing crime-and-justice and international relations.
