Weekly highlights from the German Parliament (Bundestag)

News Article: Germany's Foreign Cultural and Education Policy in 2021

The German government has presented its report on foreign cultural and education policy for 2021, which is set to be discussed in the Bundestag this week. The report focuses on enhancing Germany's international cultural and educational exchange, particularly its engagement with international students and researchers.

The report outlines efforts to make Germany an attractive destination for international students. Initiatives such as the Federal and Länder Strategy for Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions (2024-2034) aim to improve recruitment, study conditions, and labor market integration. Funding for programs by the DAAD and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will support these efforts.

Cultural and educational policies are integral to Germany’s foreign cultural agenda, fostering international academic exchange and bilateral goodwill. The Foreign Office's budget, which supports foundational structures like the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and cultural institutes abroad (like Goethe-Institut), enables the implementation of these policies.

The budget also funds initiatives designed to promote Germany’s cultural presence and soft power. These efforts are part of Germany’s integrated foreign policy approach to education, culture, and research cooperation.

However, specific budget figures for the Foreign Office’s expenditure on cultural and educational policy could not be found in the search results. The close link between the policy priorities outlined and funding through the Foreign Office and associated ministries is clear.

The report also addresses the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing supply chain disruptions, which have significantly clouded the economic outlook. The Council of Experts has concluded that comprehensive measures against energy shortages and targeted relief measures are necessary to overcome the energy crisis.

In another development, the federal government is planning to establish a new foundation under civil law, the Independent Patients' Advice Foundation, to restructure and ensure the long-term funding of the Independent Patients' Advice Germany. The Federal Association of Health Insurers and private health insurance companies will finance the ongoing work of the foundation, ensuring its independence.

The economic report and the Council of Experts' Annual Report on the Overall Economic Development will also be discussed this week. The latter, titled "Mastering the energy crisis solidarity, shaping a new reality", was submitted in mid-November.

Meanwhile, the EU-ETS and the national Fuel Emissions Trading Act (FEHA) continue to play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The FEHA, introduced in 2021, tracks and prices CO2 emissions from transport and heat, while providing financial compensation for operators of facilities that fall under both the EU-ETS and the FEHA. The EU Commission has approved the planned financial compensations.

The report relies on the "Innovation Policy Germany" report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from October 2022, which names digitalization and climate protection as priority challenges. Private-sector research and development expenditure increased in 2021 due to increased demand from innovative SMEs for funds from the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM). Approximately 3,500 research projects are funded annually through the ZIM, with about a third of these having a clear connection to ecological innovations.

The report also acknowledges the heavy burden Russia's attack on Ukraine and its consequences are placing on private households and companies. To avoid financial double burden, facilities that participate in both the national and European ETS can be exempted from fees in the national ETS, or the resulting costs will be fully refunded under the regulation.

In conclusion, Germany's foreign cultural and education policy for 2021 aims to enhance its international cultural and educational exchange, particularly its engagement with international students and researchers. These policy aims are operationalized through programs funded within the Foreign Office's budget, ensuring Germany’s diplomatic outreach leverages cultural and educational tools for international cooperation and soft power.

[1] Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) - https://www.bmbf.de/en/index.html [4] Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) - https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en