Weekly proceedings in Germany's Bundestag

Weekly proceedings in Germany's Bundestag

Germany is making significant strides in various sectors, with notable developments in military strategy, start-up initiatives, and international cooperation.

Military Strategy

In a bid to expand and modernize the Bundeswehr, Germany is aiming to increase its military personnel from approximately 182,000 active troops to a target of 200,000 active and 260,000 reservists by the end of the decade. This ambitious plan necessitates recruitment efforts and potentially reinstating some form of compulsory military service.

The Bundeswehr is also incorporating next-generation technology and partnering with defense contractors like Airbus and Rheinmetall, alongside start-ups, to develop advanced military capabilities such as strike drones. As part of its structural forward presence in NATO’s eastern flank, the 45th Panzer Brigade is being permanently stationed in Lithuania.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is actively engaging internationally to deepen military cooperation, including with the USA on issues such as defense spending, the potential deployment of US intermediate-range missiles on German soil, and arms support to Ukraine.

However, recent developments on Germany’s military engagement in Iraq specifically are not extensively detailed in available reports.

Start-up Initiatives

Germany aims to make Germany a leading start-up hub in Europe and has adopted a start-up strategy. The German government has launched new financing instruments and funding programs for start-ups, including the DeepTech & Climate Fund and High-Tech Gründerfonds.

In the first year, over 40% of the measures in areas such as financing, talent acquisition, founders, diversity, and exits have been fully implemented. The strategy seeks a "de-risking" but rejects a "de-coupling" from the Chinese economy, with companies being encouraged to consider the costs of cluster risks.

International Cooperation

Germany, as the second-largest contributor within and outside the UN, has been committed to fostering peaceful and sustainable coexistence on Earth. Germany was admitted as a full member of the United Nations 50 years ago, on September 18, 1973.

The Federal Government has submitted a further development of the National Data Strategy, which aims to provide more and better data and focuses on a new culture of data use and data sharing. This year, a data institute was established to promote data availability and standardization, establish data trust models, and establish licenses.

The Bundestag will discuss a comprehensive China strategy this week, which aims to cooperate with China without endangering values, sovereignty, prosperity, and security. The ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine has resulted in a blockade in the Security Council and a stronger role for the General Assembly as a more decision-making and representative body.

Regarding late repatriates seeking German citizenship, the draft bill by the coalition factions aims to ease the process of renouncing the "counter-affirmation". The requirement to prove the seriousness of renouncing the "counter-affirmation" will now be abolished, and nationality entries will be reviewed chronologically in the future. A legal basis must be created for the storage of (late) repatriate data held by the resettlement authorities, which can be accessed in case of loss of identification documents.

Germany has been engaged in Iraq since 2015, working alongside international partners to strengthen Iraqi security forces and reduce attacks by the Islamic State (IS). This year, Germany will propose an extension of its military mandate for combating IS terrorism and stabilizing Iraq, with an upper limit of 500 soldiers and a duration until 31 October 2024. Despite the dismantling of the self-proclaimed "caliphate" in 2019, the Islamic State remains a serious threat to Iraq and the region.

A draft bill of the federal government on the determination of the economic plan of the ERP special fund for the year 2024 is being discussed in the Bundestag this week, which provides funds for the promotion of companies in the commercial economy. The National Strategy of the Federal Government for Social Innovations and Companies Oriented Towards the Common Good is also being debated in the Bundestag for the first time this week. This strategy seeks to improve social innovation and promote companies oriented towards the common good.

Lastly, a central poison register will be established at the BfR to improve the overview of the poisoning situation in Germany. The register will collect information on the poisoning risk of chemical products nationwide, excluding poisonings by medicines, narcotics, and alcoholic beverages.

1. The science of military strategy is being advanced in Germany, with plans to increase military personnel and potentially reinstitute compulsory service.
2. Germany is partnering with defense contractors and start-ups to develop strike drones for the Bundeswehr.
3. The 45th Panzer Brigade is being permanently stationed in Lithuania as part of Germany’s structural forward presence in NATO’s eastern flank.
4. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is actively engaging internationally to deepen military cooperation, including with the USA.
5. Recent developments on Germany’s military engagement in Iraq specifically are not extensively detailed in available reports.
6. Germany aims to make Germany a leading start-up hub in Europe and has adopted a start-up strategy.
7. The German government has launched new financing instruments and funding programs for start-ups, including the DeepTech & Climate Fund and High-Tech Gründerfonds.
8. In the first year, over 40% of the measures in areas such as financing, talent acquisition, founders, diversity, and exits have been fully implemented.
9. The strategy seeks a "de-risking" but rejects a "de-coupling" from the Chinese economy.
10. Germany, as the second-largest contributor within and outside the UN, has been committed to fostering peaceful and sustainable coexistence on Earth.
11. Germany has submitted a further development of the National Data Strategy, which aims to provide more and better data and focuses on a new culture of data use and data sharing.
12. A data institute was established to promote data availability and standardization, establish data trust models, and establish licenses.
13. The Bundestag will discuss a comprehensive China strategy this week, which aims to cooperate with China without endangering values, sovereignty, prosperity, and security.
14. The ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine has resulted in a blockade in the Security Council and a stronger role for the General Assembly as a more decision-making and representative body.
15. The draft bill by the coalition factions aims to ease the process of renouncing the "counter-affirmation" for late repatriates seeking German citizenship.
16. Germany has been engaged in Iraq since 2015, working alongside international partners to strengthen Iraqi security forces and reduce attacks by the Islamic State.
17. This year, Germany will propose an extension of its military mandate for combating IS terrorism and stabilizing Iraq, with an upper limit of 500 soldiers and a duration until 31 October 2024.
18. Despite the dismantling of the self-proclaimed "caliphate" in 2019, the Islamic State remains a serious threat to Iraq and the region.
19. A draft bill of the federal government on the determination of the economic plan of the ERP special fund for the year 2024 is being discussed in the Bundestag this week.
20. The National Strategy of the Federal Government for Social Innovations and Companies Oriented Towards the Common Good is also being debated in the Bundestag for the first time this week.
21. This strategy seeks to improve social innovation and promote companies oriented towards the common good.
22. Lastly, a central poison register will be established at the BfR to improve the overview of the poisoning situation in Germany.
23. The register will collect information on the poisoning risk of chemical products nationwide, excluding poisonings by medicines, narcotics, and alcoholic beverages.
24. Workplace wellness is gaining importance, with a focus on addressing medical conditions like chronic kidney disease, COPD, type-2 diabetes, cancer, and respiratory conditions.
25. Moreover, healthcare initiatives cover various aspects like digestive health, eye health, hearing, mental health, mens’ health, skin care, sexual health, and family health.
26. Therapies and treatments for neurological disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, migraine, and psoriasis are actively being researched and developed.
27. In addition, climate change has become a significant topic in environmental science, with emphasis on its impact on health, finance, energy, and general news, including war and conflicts, policy and legislation, car accidents, fires, crime and justice, and accidents.

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