Weekly developments in Germany's federal parliament
The German Bundestag is currently engaged in discussions on several significant draft bills that aim to shape various aspects of the country's economy, security, and governance. Here's a summary of the key draft bills being debated:
Space Strategy
Germany's 2025 federal budget allocates approximately €2.3 billion for aerospace, with a significant portion earmarked for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and European Space Agency (ESA) programs. Key focuses include promoting technological sovereignty through investments in AI, robotics, quantum communication, and reusability. The strategy also supports the development of the North Sea spaceport and a spaceplane with take-off and landing capability. Details
Creating Tax Fairness - Implementing Global Minimum Taxation
Germany and the EU are actively working to implement global minimum taxation standards agreed under OECD frameworks to reduce tax avoidance. This aligns with wider reforms called "Creating Tax Fairness." Details
SPRIND Freedom Act
There is no direct information on the "SPRIND Freedom Act" in the current search results. SPRIND (Agency for Space Research and Innovation) is a German agency linked to space innovation, so a related act might aim to increase its operational freedom or funding, possibly alongside the broader space strategy initiatives, but no precise details are available.
Strengthening the Risk-Based Approach of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
No specific data found on draft legislation regarding the FIU risk-based approach in the current search results. Typically, such reforms aim to enhance anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing by improving risk assessment frameworks.
Reforming Assistance in Tax Matters
No details on reforms to tax assistance were found in the search excerpts. Likely these relate to administrative cooperation and data exchange reforms between tax authorities domestically and internationally.
Establishing Commercial Courts
No recent draft bill information was found about establishing dedicated commercial courts in Germany from the search results. This would typically aim at streamlining business dispute resolution.
The Growth Opportunities Act
No direct references to a bill named the "Growth Opportunities Act" are in the search results. Such an act would usually focus on regulatory easing, innovation promotion, and economic growth stimulation.
Enabling Comprehensive Heat Planning
No specific information was found about comprehensive heat planning legislation in Germany in the search results. This would typically involve energy transition and climate provisions related to heating infrastructure.
Regulating Foundation Funding in the German Bundestag
No details on recent draft legislation regulating foundation funding are present. Laws in this area typically govern nonprofit foundation operations and transparency.
Self-managed funds for SPRIND
Self-managed funds will ensure more flexible economic management of SPRIND beyond annual budgets.
Foundation Funding Act
The German Bundestag is discussing a draft bill for a Foundation Funding Act this week. The aim is to particularly support the obligated parties in identifying reportable cases and handling so-called deadline cases, as well as providing them with stronger assistance on when and with what information to submit suspicious reports.
For the latest details, one should consult official Bundestag legislative trackers or government ministry announcements. If you need detailed status (e.g., bill numbers, committee reviews, voting outcomes) for any specific draft bill beyond the space-related documents, additional targeted official sources from the German Bundestag or government portals would be required.
Space Strategy
Germany's 2025 federal budget allocates around €2.3 billion for aerospace, with significant funding for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and European Space Agency (ESA) programs. Key focuses include promoting technological sovereignty through investments in AI, robotics, quantum communication, and reusability (ESA GSTP, ARTES programs). Development of the North Sea spaceport and a spaceplane with take-off and landing capability is being promoted. Support is extended to lunar exploration efforts with Bavaria's "moon control center," DLR expansion, and lunar mining research at TU Freiberg, alongside cooperation with ESA and NASA (Lunar Gateway participation). Tax incentives include a proposed 10-year corporate tax exemption for companies engaged in space exploration and targeted support for startups (e.g., Isar Aerospace). The government aims to act as an anchor customer to foster commercialization of new space business models.
Creating Tax Fairness - Implementing Global Minimum Taxation
While not detailed in the search results, Germany and the EU are actively working to implement global minimum taxation standards agreed under OECD frameworks to reduce tax avoidance. This aligns with wider reforms called "Creating Tax Fairness." No updated draft bill text was found in the search results relevant to the Bundestag specifically.
- The space strategy draft bill, currently under discussion in the German Bundestag, allocates around €2.3 billion for aerospace, with a focus on promoting technological sovereignty through investments in AI, robotics, quantum communication, and reusability.
- The growth and development of the space sector is further supported by the proposed 10-year corporate tax exemption for companies engaged in space exploration and targeted support for startups, such as Isar Aerospace.
