Weekly happenings in the German federal parliament, Bundestag
In the realm of public policy, a series of significant developments have been unfolding across various sectors in Germany. Here's a snapshot of the latest updates:
Detoxification Facility Reform Focuses on Treatment-Needy Offenders
The accommodation of addicted offenders in a detoxification facility is undergoing reform, with a stronger emphasis on treatment-needy and -willing offenders. This shift is expected to provide more targeted support for those who genuinely seek recovery.
Expediting LNG Infrastructure Construction
The federal government has proposed an amendment to the LNG Acceleration Act, aiming to speed up the construction of necessary infrastructure for distributing landed gas volumes. This move is part of a larger strategy to bolster Germany's energy infrastructure.
Early Warning System for Drug Shortages
The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has been granted additional information rights, enabling the installation of an early warning system to detect impending supply shortages. This system is intended to ensure the continuous availability of essential medicines.
German Forces Active in EU and UN Missions
German forces have been actively deployed in EU missions, with 30 personnel serving in four UN missions. The majority of these personnel were deployed in international peace missions in 2021, although the number decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Petition Trends in Germany
The majority of petitions submitted to the German Bundestag in 2022 focused on health and social issues. Approximately a third of these petitions were submitted online via the petition portal on the internet. However, there is currently no up-to-date public summary or detailed status for 2022 petitions to Germany’s Bundestag Petitions Committee, as this data does not appear to be widely published or indexed in the searched international sources as of August 2025.
Training and Further Education Act Under Discussion
The Training and Further Education Act is being discussed, aimed at improving training and further education to address skills shortages, climate protection, and digitalization.
Amendments to the Wine Act Proposed
The federal government has proposed amendments to the Wine Act, aiming to address financial aid for the wine sector, focusing on application, payment, and control procedures for Union aid for promotional measures by the federal government and the states in the wine sector.
Qualification Allowance and Further Training Promotion Reform
The qualification allowance and the reform of further training promotion will come into effect on 1 April 2024.
PSSSIA Discussion in the Bundestag
The Pharmaceuticals Supply Security and Supply Improvement Act (PSSSIA) is being discussed in the Bundestag, aiming to address drug shortages by relaxing pricing rules for children's medicines, increasing the supply security of supply-critical drugs, and allowing pharmaceutical companies to raise their delivery prices by up to 50 percent once.
Tobacco Products Law Amendment Proposed
The German Bundestag is deliberating on a bill of the federal government to amend the tobacco products law, aimed at implementing EU law and strengthening health, youth, and consumer protection.
Immigration Law Reform
The Act on the Further Development of Skilled Worker Immigration is being passed, creating one of the most modern immigration laws worldwide, offering a future in Germany to people who are sufficiently professionally qualified or experienced, or who bring other valuable potential.
Lobby Register Amendment Proposed
The draft bill of the federal government to amend the Lobby Register is being introduced, tightening the Lobby Register and closing gaps to further strengthen the public's trust in the democratic system.
Ban on Characteristic Flavors in Heated Tobacco Products
A ban on characteristic flavors in heated tobacco products is being considered, with the aim of reducing their appeal to younger generations and promoting public health.
Memorial to Jehovah's Witnesses Persecuted in National Socialism
The coalition factions are submitting a motion for a memorial to the Jehovah's Witnesses persecuted and murdered in National Socialism in Europe.
Popularity of the Petition Portal
The petition portal, with approximately 4.6 million users, is one of the most popular internet offerings of the German Bundestag.
Renovation of Older Bridges and Gas Pipeline Construction
The renovation of older bridges can play an important role in resolving traffic bottlenecks and congestion, with the entire planning and approval period being halved. Additionally, a draft bill includes provisions to expedite the construction of individual gas pipelines required for offloading gas from floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs).
Variety of Petition Topics
The petitions covered a wide range of topics, including the corona vaccination mandate, medical care, ME/CFS patients, genocide of the Yazidis, maternity protection, operation of German nuclear power plants, and supporting the freedom movement in Iran.
Policy-and-legislation developments in Germany continue to shape various sectors, with reforms focusing on crucial aspects such as addiction treatment, energy infrastructure, drug supply, and immigration. Politics also plays a significant role in debates surrounding health and social issues, as demonstrated by the discussion around the Training and Further Education Act, the PSSSIA, and the amendments to the Tobacco Products Law and the Wine Act. General-news topics, such as the proposed ban on characteristic flavors in heated tobacco products and the memorial to Jehovah's Witnesses persecuted in National Socialism, also generate widespread public interest.
