Germany

slash millions of euros from the cultural budget.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Whilst several theatres are sounding the alarm, one of the city's opera houses has narrowly escaped a price explosion, after the cuts threatened to suspend the renovations of the Komische Oper.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, the Komische Oper closed its doors and moved temporarily to the nearby Schiller Theatre, as it was in dire need of renovation for 60 years.<\/p>\n<p>Opera house co-director Philip Br\u00f6king told Euronews that \"the electrical systems were failing, there was no proper ventilation and the stage technology was borderline dangerous. There was a pressing need for renovation, recognised as early as 1998.\" <\/p>\n<p>However the Schiller Theatre has 20% fewer seats and the storage for set designs is drastically smaller meaning the opera is unable to stage several of its ambitious operas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1713510313151066435\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\"Berlin is set to face a subsidy reduction of \u20ac130 million from a total budget of around \u20ac1 billion. That is disproportionately high. Berlin needs to save money\u2014that much is clear, and everyone knows it. But when I see that \u20ac3 billion in total savings are required for 2025 and that the cultural budget accounts for 2.5% of the state's overall expenditures, logically, \u20ac75 million should be the amount saved from the cultural budget. In reality, however, \u20ac130 million is being cut, which is disproportionately high. For us, this means about 10% of our budget\u2014around \u20ac4 million. This is very difficult to manage within a single year that is already fully planned,\" Br\u00f6king says.<\/p>\n<p>Part of the funding for the opera house comes from the construction budget for renovations.<\/p>\n<p>\"If that budget is cut, we face a double blow: fewer subsidies and less funding to cover extra costs. This makes us very sceptical about the future of our institution,\" Br\u00f6king adds.<\/p>\n<p>Berlin is regarded as extremely progressive and unique because of its generous art funding.\u00a0But even if the renovation of the Komische Oper, that is due to take six years, continues, the budget cuts still affect Germany's image.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"If renovations take longer than planned\u2014say, 10 years instead of six\u2014it will also increase costs by \u20ac40 million per year due to inflation in construction costs. The cheapest option is to finish renovations as quickly as possible. We can manage temporarily at the Schiller Theatre, but we must return to Behrenstrasse to ensure our financial sustainability,\" Br\u00f6king says. <\/p>\n<p>However, the likelihood of freezing the renovation is off the table, according to German media.<\/p>\n<p>Culture is expensive, but part of what makes Berlin so unique is the subsidies of the arts. Br\u00f6king says 80% of tourists that visit Berlin per year visit the city's cultural offerings, so it brings a lot in return.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//92//21//94//808x454_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg/" alt=\"The Komische Oper at the Schiller Theatre, 18 December, 2024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/384x216_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/640x360_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/750x422_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/828x466_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/1080x608_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/1200x675_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/1920x1080_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The Komische Oper at the Schiller Theatre, 18 December, 2024<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Berlin has already faced international criticism with its <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2020//10//31//berlin-airport-opens-10-years-late-and-three-times-over-budget/">airport <\/a>being completed 10 years late and being three times over budget. Berlin's Staatsoper was also 40 million euros over budget and four years late.<\/p>\n<p>But \"what is culture worth to Berlin?\" Br\u00f6king asks. <\/p>\n<p>\"German history is a very difficult, complex history. And Berlin\u2019s history, even more so. But what unites us is this immense cultural heritage, of which we can rightly be proud. We have so many venues here\u2014playhouses, opera houses\u2014where the conditions of human existence can be explored. These are spaces where people gather, engage in dialogue, and communicate with and about each other. There aren\u2019t many such places. And especially in times when democracy is threatened by extreme fringes, it is incredibly important to reaffirm who we are and where we come from. And that is what we can provide,\" Br\u00f6king concludes.<\/p>\n<p>But it's not just the culture that will be affected by the cuts. The German economy, which continues to splutter, could use a little bit of acceleration from the arts and culture, which brings in tens of millions of euros worth of revenue per year.<\/p>\n<p>Komische Oper has come up with creative ways to take advantage of the renovations at its home, including a <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.komische-oper-berlin.de//spielplan//a-z//opera-dolmus///">multicultural touring bus.<\/a><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734629953,"updatedAt":1734659465,"publishedAt":1734659078,"firstPublishedAt":1734659078,"lastPublishedAt":1734659078,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a9138dc2-441a-5f9c-9c05-d80500d0797b-8922194.jpg","altText":"Komische Oper at Schiller Theatre in Berlin, 18 December, 2024","caption":"Komische Oper at Schiller Theatre in Berlin, 18 December, 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Donogh McCabe","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1079},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/21\/94\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0fffdf6a-4f57-5859-ab0c-66f313e161eb-8922194.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2904,"urlSafeValue":"stroud","title":"Liv Stroud","twitter":"@livstroud"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":1734,"slug":"berlin","urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin","titleRaw":"Berlin"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":4163,"slug":"opera","urlSafeValue":"opera","title":"Opera","titleRaw":"Opera"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"twitter","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2710766}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x9b2w0m"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/12\/19\/en\/241219_NWSU_57321371_57323017_150680_220934_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":150680,"filesizeBytes":19421201,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/12\/19\/en\/241219_NWSU_57321371_57323017_150680_220934_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":150680,"filesizeBytes":29266449,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-news\/culture-news"},"vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news","url":"\/culture\/culture-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":53,"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84011001","84012006","84031001","84032006","84101001","84102010","84251001","84252015"],"slugs":["a_and_e_music","arts_and_entertainment","business","business_construction","home_and_garden","home_and_garden_remodeling_and_construction","travel","travel_europe"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/culture\/2024\/12\/20\/berlins-komische-oper-to-continue-renovations-despite-cuts-to-culture-budget","lastModified":1734659078},{"id":2707272,"cid":8921950,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241219_BZSU_57320419","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NEXT WORLD BIOMETRICS GERMAN RULING","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German watchdog orders Sam Altman\u2019s biometric ID project World to delete data ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German watchdog orders biometric ID project World to delete data ","titleListing2":"German watchdog orders Sam Altman\u2019s biometric ID project World to delete data ","leadin":"The iris-scanning identity technology World has already been banned in some European countries over privacy concerns.","summary":"The iris-scanning identity technology World has already been banned in some European countries over privacy concerns.","keySentence":"","url":"german-watchdog-orders-sam-altmans-biometric-id-project-world-to-delete-data","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/2024\/12\/19\/german-watchdog-orders-sam-altmans-biometric-id-project-world-to-delete-data","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"World, a biometrics identification project cofounded by OpenAI\u2019s Sam Altman, has been told it did not meet European data protection rules and has been issued with a corrective measure.\u00a0\n\nThe company, formerly known as Worldcoin, scans irises and faces and uses this data to create a means of personal identification that can be used for activities online and prove that the user is human and not an artificial intelligence (AI) bot.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nThe San-Francisco-based company Tools for Humanity builds World\u2019s technology, which is a sphere device called an 'Orb' that scans the eyes, but World\u2019s European headquarters and manufacturing facility is in the German state of Bavaria.\u00a0\n\nOn Thursday, the German data protection authority, the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA), concluded a months-long investigation into World and stated that its identification procedure \u201centails a number of fundamental data protection risks for a large number of data subjects\u201d that does not comply with the European Union\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).\n\nThe authority has ordered Word to begin a data deletion procedure that complies with GDPR rules.\n\n\u201cWith today\u2019s decision, we are enforcing European fundamental rights standards in favour of data subjects in a technologically demanding and legally highly complex case,\u201d said BayLDA president Michael Will.\n\n\u201cAll users who have provided \u2018Worldcoin\u2019 with their iris data will in future have the unrestricted opportunity to enforce their right to erasure,\u201d he added in a statement.\u00a0\n\nWorld has appealed the decision and has asked regulators to provide judicial clarity on whether the processes and, in particular, the Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) deployed by World Network meet the legal definition for anonymisation in the EU.\n\nTools for Humanity\u2019s chief privacy officer Damien Kieran told Euronews Next that Michael Will \u201cis stuck between a rock and a hard place\u201d.\n\n\u201cI do not want to put words in his [Will\u2019s] mouth but I think he thinks that we have done something rather good technically, but I think he's under a lot of pressure, because I think it's a complicated environment to be a lead supervisory authority in the EU at the moment,\u201d Kieran said.\u00a0\n\nKieran said that data anonymisation and data deletion are \u201cessential for enabling people to verify themselves as human online while remaining completely private\u201d.\n\n\u201cWithout a clear definition around anonymisation, however, we lose perhaps our most powerful tool in the fight to protect privacy in the age of AI,\u201d he added.\u00a0\n\nHow it works\n\nKieran also said that the period that the BayLDA is referring to, is a time when World was collecting iris codes and storing them in a database, which was not GDPR compliant according to the authority.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re no longer doing that,\u201d he told Euronews Next.\u00a0\n\nKieran said that now World no longer owns the personal data provided by the iris codes and it is deleted from their systems. What happens is a cryptographic protocol is applied so that code is cut up to make three new pieces of code.\u00a0\n\nThose three codes, which are extremely difficult to break are then stored in databases that are owned by third parties, which include the University of Berkeley, Zurich, Friedrich-Alexander-Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg (FAU) university and NeverMind.\u00a0\n\nWorld is currently available in Argentina, Austria, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland Singapore, South Korea, and the US.\n\nKieran said that it plans to roll out the technology later on in Ireland, the UK, France, and Italy.\u00a0\n\nThe company also hopes to reach Spain and Portugal, however, both countries issued temporary bans on World earlier this year in response to complaints over data privacy.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>World, a biometrics identification project cofounded by OpenAI\u2019s Sam Altman, has been told it did not meet European data protection rules and has been issued with a corrective measure.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The company, formerly known as Worldcoin, scans irises and faces and uses this data to create a means of personal identification that can be used for activities online and prove that the user is human and not an artificial intelligence (AI) bot.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The San-Francisco-based company Tools for Humanity builds World\u2019s technology, which is a sphere device called an 'Orb' that scans the eyes, but World\u2019s European headquarters and manufacturing facility is in the German state of Bavaria.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, the German data protection authority, the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA), concluded a months-long investigation into World and stated that its identification procedure \u201centails a number of fundamental data protection risks for a large number of data subjects\u201d that does not comply with the European Union\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).<\/p>\n<p>The authority has ordered Word to begin a data deletion procedure that complies with GDPR rules.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith today\u2019s decision, we are enforcing European fundamental rights standards in favour of data subjects in a technologically demanding and legally highly complex case,\u201d said BayLDA president Michael Will.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll users who have provided \u2018Worldcoin\u2019 with their iris data will in future have the unrestricted opportunity to enforce their right to erasure,\u201d he added in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>World has appealed the decision and has asked regulators to provide judicial clarity on whether the processes and, in particular, the Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) deployed by World Network meet the legal definition for anonymisation in the EU.<\/p>\n<p>Tools for Humanity\u2019s chief privacy officer Damien Kieran told Euronews Next that Michael Will \u201cis stuck between a rock and a hard place\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do not want to put words in his [Will\u2019s] mouth but I think he thinks that we have done something rather good technically, but I think he's under a lot of pressure, because I think it's a complicated environment to be a lead supervisory authority in the EU at the moment,\u201d Kieran said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Kieran said that data anonymisation and data deletion are \u201cessential for enabling people to verify themselves as human online while remaining completely private\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout a clear definition around anonymisation, however, we lose perhaps our most powerful tool in the fight to protect privacy in the age of AI,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How it works<\/strong><\/h2><p>Kieran also said that the period that the BayLDA is referring to, is a time when World was collecting iris codes and storing them in a database, which was not GDPR compliant according to the authority.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re no longer doing that,\u201d he told Euronews Next.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Kieran said that now World no longer owns the personal data provided by the iris codes and it is deleted from their systems. What happens is a cryptographic protocol is applied so that code is cut up to make three new pieces of code.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Those three codes, which are extremely difficult to break are then stored in databases that are owned by third parties, which include the University of Berkeley, Zurich, Friedrich-Alexander-Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg (FAU) university and NeverMind.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>World is currently available in Argentina, Austria, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland Singapore, South Korea, and the US.<\/p>\n<p>Kieran said that it plans to roll out the technology later on in Ireland, the UK, France, and Italy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The company also hopes to reach Spain and Portugal, however, both countries issued temporary bans on World earlier this year in response to complaints over data privacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734624184,"updatedAt":1734630043,"publishedAt":1734627620,"firstPublishedAt":1734627620,"lastPublishedAt":1734627620,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/19\/50\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e0405193-eb42-5312-ae51-05e3adaae590-8921950.jpg","altText":"Orb ","caption":"Orb ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"World","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":1426,"urlSafeValue":"davies-p","title":"Pascale Davies","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":389,"slug":"technology","urlSafeValue":"technology","title":"Technology","titleRaw":"Technology"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":13280,"slug":"data-protection","urlSafeValue":"data-protection","title":"Data protection","titleRaw":"Data protection"},{"id":29302,"slug":"sam-altman","urlSafeValue":"sam-altman","title":"Sam Altman","titleRaw":"Sam Altman"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"tech-news","urlSafeValue":"tech-news","title":"Tech News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/tech-news\/tech-news"},"vertical":"next","verticals":[{"id":9,"slug":"next","urlSafeValue":"next","title":"Next"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":9,"slug":"next","urlSafeValue":"next","title":"Next"},"themes":[{"id":"tech-news","urlSafeValue":"tech-news","title":"Tech News","url":"\/next\/tech-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":40,"urlSafeValue":"tech-news","title":"Tech News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84111001","84112004","84112005","84191001","84192003","84211001","84212001","84241001","84242013","84242030"],"slugs":["law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_issues","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","science","science_biology","society","society_general","tech_and_computing_databases","tech_and_computing_network_security","technology_and_computing"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/next\/2024\/12\/19\/german-watchdog-orders-sam-altmans-biometric-id-project-world-to-delete-data","lastModified":1734627620},{"id":2707028,"cid":8921182,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241219_TRSU_57317261","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Culture - Documenta","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Naomi Beckwith named artistic director of Documenta 16","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Naomi Beckwith named artistic director of Documenta 16","leadin":"The chief curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Naomi Beckwith, will lead Documenta 16 in Kassel in 2027, becoming the first Black woman to helm the event.","summary":"The chief curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Naomi Beckwith, will lead Documenta 16 in Kassel in 2027, becoming the first Black woman to helm the event.","keySentence":"","url":"naomi-beckwith-named-artistic-director-of-documenta-16","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2024\/12\/19\/naomi-beckwith-named-artistic-director-of-documenta-16","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Naomi Beckwith, the deputy director and chief curator of New York City\u2019s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, has been appointed as the artistic director for Documenta 16, the renowned quinquennial exhibition in Kassel, Germany.\u00a0\n\nHer appointment marks a historic milestone as the first Black woman to lead the prestigious exhibition, widely regarded as one of the world\u2019s most significant art events, comparable to the Venice Biennale\u2019s main exhibition in terms of prestige and scale.\n\nBeckwith has previously held key curatorial positions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia.\n\nHer appointment was announced by Andreas Hoffmann, managing director of Documenta and Museum Fridericianum, during a press conference on Wednesday (18 December).\n\nIn a statement, Beckwith called the appointment \u201cthe honour of a lifetime.\u201d\n\n\u201cDocumenta is an institution that belongs to the entire world. As much as it belongs to Kassel, as well as an institution that is in perpetual dialogue with history as much as it is a barometer of art and culture in the immediate present,\u201d she said, \u201cI am humbled by the breadth of this responsibility and equally excited to share my research and ideas with this storied and generous institution: one that affords space and time for focus, deep study, exploration, experimentation, and awakenings for artists, curators, and audiences alike.\u201d\n\nDocumenta, which was founded in the aftermath of World War II and receives up to \u20ac42.2 million in federal funding, was mired in controversy in its last edition. Just days after its June 2022 opening, the exhibition faced allegations of antisemitism, particularly related to a large banner by the Indonesian collective Taring Padi. The artwork, which critiqued Indonesia\u2019s violent dictatorship, featured caricatures deemed by many to be antisemitic. This led to the removal of work and criticism against the directorial team, the artist collective ruangrupa.\n\nThe allegations triggered a series of events, including the resignation of Documenta managing director Sabine Schormann and the departure of the entire Documenta 16 selection committee. In response, a new selection committee was appointed last summer.\n\nIn response to the controversies preceding her appointment, Beckwith told the New York Times that her curatorial approach will differ from those of previous directors. \u201cEvery exhibition is a deep collaborative practice for me with artists,\u201d she told the newspaper, \u201cSo there are no surprises.\u201d\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Naomi Beckwith, the deputy director and chief curator of New York City\u2019s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, has been appointed as the artistic director for <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//video//2022//06//17//german-contemporary-art-festival-documenta-15-opens-its-doors/">Documenta 16, the renowned quinquennial exhibition in Kassel, Germany.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Her appointment marks a historic milestone as the first Black woman to lead the prestigious exhibition, widely regarded as one of the world\u2019s most significant art events, comparable to the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//04//24//venice-biennale-highlights-our-picks-of-the-must-see-pavilions-and-exhibitions/">Venice Biennale\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> main exhibition in terms of prestige and scale.<\/p>\n<p>Beckwith has previously held key curatorial positions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>Her appointment was announced by Andreas Hoffmann, managing director of Documenta and Museum Fridericianum, during a press conference on Wednesday (18 December).<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Beckwith called the appointment \u201cthe honour of a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"1\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//92//11//82//808x808_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg/" alt=\"Documenta is centred around Kassel&#39;s Fridericianum \" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/384x384_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/640x640_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/750x750_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/828x828_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/1080x1080_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/1200x1200_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/1920x1920_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Documenta is centred around Kassel&#39;s Fridericianum <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">documenta fifteen \/ Facebook<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cDocumenta is an institution that belongs to the entire world. As much as it belongs to Kassel, as well as an institution that is in perpetual dialogue with history as much as it is a barometer of art and culture in the immediate present,\u201d she said, \u201cI am humbled by the breadth of this responsibility and equally excited to share my research and ideas with this storied and generous institution: one that affords space and time for focus, deep study, exploration, experimentation, and awakenings for artists, curators, and audiences alike.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Documenta, which was founded in the aftermath of World War II and receives up to \u20ac42.2 million in federal funding, was mired in controversy in its last edition. Just days after its June 2022 opening, the exhibition faced allegations of antisemitism, particularly related to a large banner by the Indonesian collective Taring Padi. The artwork, which critiqued Indonesia\u2019s violent dictatorship, featured caricatures deemed by many to be <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//02//27//antisemitism-accusations-hacks-and-criminal-charges-the-berlinale-controversy-explained/">antisemitic. This led to the removal of work and criticism against the directorial team, the artist collective ruangrupa.<\/p>\n<p>The allegations triggered a series of events, including the resignation of Documenta managing director <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2022//06//21//artistic-freedom-has-its-limits-artwork-with-anti-semitic-imagery-covered-up-at-documenta/">Sabine Schormann<\/strong><\/a> and the departure of the entire Documenta 16 selection committee. In response, a new selection committee was appointed last summer.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the controversies preceding her appointment, Beckwith told the New York Times that her curatorial approach will differ from those of previous directors. \u201cEvery exhibition is a deep collaborative practice for me with artists,\u201d she told the newspaper, \u201cSo there are no surprises.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734608271,"updatedAt":1734610825,"publishedAt":1734610820,"firstPublishedAt":1734610820,"lastPublishedAt":1734610820,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e9f3bc0f-10dd-51ea-8acc-45eeb57e13f9-8921182.jpg","altText":"Naomi Beckwith (photo by Nicolas Wefers, courtesy Documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH)","caption":"Naomi Beckwith (photo by Nicolas Wefers, courtesy Documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Photo by Nicolas Wefers, courtesy Documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1086,"height":730},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/11\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fe50714f-56b2-5e15-b873-de50ae21bfd6-8921182.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1536,"height":1536}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3106,"urlSafeValue":"morton","title":"Elise Morton","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":4160,"slug":"contemporary-art","urlSafeValue":"contemporary-art","title":"Contemporary art","titleRaw":"Contemporary art"},{"id":1893,"slug":"kassel","urlSafeValue":"kassel","title":"Kassel","titleRaw":"Kassel"},{"id":12942,"slug":"antisemitism","urlSafeValue":"antisemitism","title":"antisemitism","titleRaw":"antisemitism"},{"id":4159,"slug":"exhibition","urlSafeValue":"exhibition","title":"Exhibition","titleRaw":"Exhibition"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2693858},{"id":2527192},{"id":2525972}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"art","urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/art\/art"},"vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"art","urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art","url":"\/culture\/art"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":70,"urlSafeValue":"art","title":"Art"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1893,"urlSafeValue":"kassel","title":"Kassel"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84011001","84012003","84031001","84032001","84091001","84092002","84121001","84122001","84181001","84182009"],"slugs":["a_and_e_fine_arts","arts_and_entertainment","business","business_general","hobbies_and_interests","hobbies_and_interests_art_technology","news","news_general","religion_and_spirituality","religion_and_spirituality_judaism"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/culture\/2024\/12\/19\/naomi-beckwith-named-artistic-director-of-documenta-16","lastModified":1734610820},{"id":2706936,"cid":8920936,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241219_BUSU_57316279","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business Germany\u2019s consumer climate still \u2018very low","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's consumer climate still 'very low', DAX eyes fifth straight drop","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany's consumer climate still low, DAX eyes fifth straight drop","titleListing2":"Germany\u2019s consumer climate still \u2018very low,\u2019 DAX eyes fifth straight drop","leadin":"Germany's GfK Consumer Confidence Index rose slightly, but despite beating expectations, sentiment remains fragile amid high inflation and job insecurity. The DAX fell 0.9%, marking its fifth loss, as European markets slid on hawkish Fed signals.","summary":"Germany's GfK Consumer Confidence Index rose slightly, but despite beating expectations, sentiment remains fragile amid high inflation and job insecurity. The DAX fell 0.9%, marking its fifth loss, as European markets slid on hawkish Fed signals.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-consumer-climate-still-very-low-dax-eyes-fifth-straight-drop","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/12\/19\/germanys-consumer-climate-still-very-low-dax-eyes-fifth-straight-drop","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany's consumer climate remains entrenched in pessimism, with the January GfK Consumer Confidence Index showing only a minimal improvement.\n\nThe leading indicator for private consumption in Europe's largest economy edged up by 1.8 points to -21.3, recovering from December's -23.1, the lowest reading since May.\n\nWhile the figure came in slightly better than market expectations of -22.5, it remains deeply below pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the fragile state of consumer sentiment heading into 2025.\n\nGermany's consumer sentiment: Slight recovery, but long road ahead\n\nThe modest uptick was driven by gains in income expectations and a small increase in the willingness to buy. Income expectations rebounded by 4.9 points to 1.4 in December, following a sharp 17-point drop in November. Similarly, the willingness to buy improved by 0.6 points to -5.4, though it continues to hover at subdued levels.\n\nAdditionally, the willingness to save declined sharply, dropping six points to 5.9, reflecting reduced caution among consumers regarding their spending.\n\nHowever, the overall sentiment remains precarious. \"The consumer climate remains at a very low level\", cautioned Rolf B\u00fcrkl, a consumer expert at the N\u00fcrnberg Institute for Market Decisions. \n\n\"A sustained recovery in consumer sentiment is not yet in sight, as consumer uncertainty is still too high. The main reason is high food and energy prices. In addition, concerns about job security are growing in many sectors.\"\n\nEconomic expectations for January remained stagnant, with the indicator reading 0.3, only marginally higher than December's -3.6. Analysts echoed these concerns, pointing to broader macroeconomic challenges.\u00a0\n\nEconomic research institutions, including the ifo Institute, recently forecasted near-stagnant growth for 2025 after a slight contraction expected for 2024.\n\nDAX falls, European equities slide after Fed's hawkish pivot\n\nThe DAX index dropped 0.9% to around 20,000 points during Thursday morning trading, eyeing its fifth consecutive session of losses.\u00a0\n\nInfineon AG led the decline, falling 3.5%, followed by Vonovia AG (-2.4%) and Continental AG (-2%). However, MTU Aero Engines AG and Rheinmetall AG managed to outperform, gaining 0.8% each.\n\nEuropean equities mirrored the DAX's decline, weighed down by hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve.\u00a0\n\nThe Euro STOXX 50 tumbled 1.1%, while France's CAC 40 dropped 1.2%, Italy's FTSE MIB declined 1.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 slid 1.6%.\n\nAmong Europe's largest stocks, Dutch semiconductor giant ASML Holding was the worst performer, tumbling 3.9%. Banco Santander (-2.9%) and Vivendi (-2.7%) also ranked among the day's notable laggards.\n\nWhile the US central bank delivered a widely anticipated 25-basis-point rate cut, it raised inflation expectations for 2025 to 2.5% (from 2.1%) and signalled a slower pace of cuts.\u00a0\n\nWhile the Fed delivered a widely expected 25-basis-point rate cut, it raised inflation expectations for 2025 to 2.5% (up from 2.1%) and indicated a significantly slower pace of rate cuts next year.\n\nFed Chair Jerome Powell emphasised the central bank was entering a \"new phase\" of monetary policy, with interest rates now approaching neutral territory. The Fed's projections now anticipate only two rate cuts in 2025, down from four indicated in September and fewer than the three expected by markets heading into the meeting.\n\n\"The outlook for the Fed's trajectory in 2025 remains vague. Consistent with our base case, a pause in January seems almost certain, but beyond that little is known\", said Rogier Quaedvlieg, economist at ABN Amro.\n\nAccording to Chris Turner, economist at ING Group: \"The Fed is going to be much more cautious next year with sticky inflation and President Trump\u2019s policy mix meaning a higher hurdle is required to justify rate cuts in 2025.\"\n\nThe Fed's cautious tone has reignited concerns over restrictive monetary policy, fuelling investor risk aversion and putting further pressure on European equities, which are grappling with their own set of economic challenges, including sluggish growth and Trump-related tariff fears.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany's consumer climate remains entrenched in pessimism, with the January GfK Consumer Confidence Index showing only a minimal improvement.<\/p>\n<p>The leading indicator for private consumption in Europe's largest economy edged up by 1.8 points to -21.3, recovering from December's -23.1, the lowest reading since May.<\/p>\n<p>While the figure came in slightly better than market expectations of -22.5, it remains deeply below pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the fragile state of consumer sentiment heading into 2025.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Germany's consumer sentiment: Slight recovery, but long road ahead<\/strong><\/h2><p>The modest uptick was driven by gains in income expectations and a small increase in the willingness to buy. Income expectations rebounded by 4.9 points to 1.4 in December, following a sharp 17-point drop in November. Similarly, the willingness to buy improved by 0.6 points to -5.4, though it continues to hover at subdued levels.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8916162,8915526\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//12//17//germanys-business-climate-hits-near-four-year-low-as-2025-outlook-darkens/">Germany's business climate hits near four-year low as 2025 outlook darkens<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//17//european-stock-markets-hit-by-germany-and-frances-political-upheavals/">European stock markets hit by Germany and France's political upheavals <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Additionally, the willingness to save declined sharply, dropping six points to 5.9, reflecting reduced caution among consumers regarding their spending.<\/p>\n<p>However, the overall sentiment remains precarious. \"The consumer climate remains at a very low level\", cautioned Rolf B\u00fcrkl, a consumer expert at the N\u00fcrnberg Institute for Market Decisions. <\/p>\n<p>\"A sustained recovery in consumer sentiment is not yet in sight, as consumer uncertainty is still too high. The main reason is high food and energy prices. In addition, concerns about job security are growing in many sectors.\"<\/p>\n<p>Economic expectations for January remained stagnant, with the indicator reading 0.3, only marginally higher than December's -3.6. Analysts echoed these concerns, pointing to broader macroeconomic challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Economic research institutions, including the ifo Institute, recently forecasted near-stagnant growth for 2025 after a slight contraction expected for 2024.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>DAX falls, European equities slide after Fed's hawkish pivot<\/strong><\/h2><p>The DAX index dropped 0.9% to around 20,000 points during Thursday morning trading, eyeing its fifth consecutive session of losses.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Infineon AG led the decline, falling 3.5%, followed by Vonovia AG (-2.4%) and Continental AG (-2%). However, MTU Aero Engines AG and Rheinmetall AG managed to outperform, gaining 0.8% each.<\/p>\n<p>European equities mirrored the DAX's decline, weighed down by hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Euro STOXX 50 tumbled 1.1%, while France's CAC 40 dropped 1.2%, Italy's FTSE MIB declined 1.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 slid 1.6%.<\/p>\n<p>Among Europe's largest stocks, Dutch semiconductor giant ASML Holding was the worst performer, tumbling 3.9%. Banco Santander (-2.9%) and Vivendi (-2.7%) also ranked among the day's notable laggards.<\/p>\n<p>While the US central bank delivered a widely anticipated 25-basis-point rate cut, it raised inflation expectations for 2025 to 2.5% (from 2.1%) and signalled a slower pace of cuts.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8920436,8920378\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//12//19//euro-tumbles-to-a-two-year-low-following-feds-hawkish-rate-cut/">Euro tumbles to a two-year low following Fed's hawkish rate cut<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//12//19//stocks-tumble-as-federal-reserves-tilt-triggers-black-wednesday/">Stocks plunge as Federal Reserve's tilt triggers \u2018Black Wednesday\u2019<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>While the Fed delivered a widely expected 25-basis-point rate cut, it raised inflation expectations for 2025 to 2.5% (up from 2.1%) and indicated a significantly slower pace of rate cuts next year.<\/p>\n<p>Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasised the central bank was entering a \"new phase\" of monetary policy, with interest rates now approaching neutral territory. The Fed's projections now anticipate only two rate cuts in 2025, down from four indicated in September and fewer than the three expected by markets heading into the meeting.<\/p>\n<p>\"The outlook for the Fed's trajectory in 2025 remains vague. Consistent with our base case, a pause in January seems almost certain, but beyond that little is known\", said Rogier Quaedvlieg, economist at ABN Amro.<\/p>\n<p>According to Chris Turner, economist at ING Group: \"The Fed is going to be much more cautious next year with sticky inflation and President Trump\u2019s policy mix meaning a higher hurdle is required to justify rate cuts in 2025.\"<\/p>\n<p>The Fed's cautious tone has reignited concerns over restrictive monetary policy, fuelling investor risk aversion and putting further pressure on European equities, which are grappling with their own set of economic challenges, including sluggish growth and Trump-related tariff fears.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734602510,"updatedAt":1734605240,"publishedAt":1734605210,"firstPublishedAt":1734605210,"lastPublishedAt":1734605210,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/09\/36\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7fb5ff13-11c5-56a6-a2d3-ad0f2229c84c-8920936.jpg","altText":"Multi-coloured containers seen in Frankfurt harbour","caption":"Multi-coloured containers seen in Frankfurt harbour","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Michael Probst\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1226}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":10677,"slug":"german-economy","urlSafeValue":"german-economy","title":"German economy","titleRaw":"German economy"},{"id":572,"slug":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","titleRaw":"Economy"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2707142}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Piero Cingari","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business\/business"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80022015","80023001","84031001","84032002","84111001","84112005","84131001","84132012"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","business","business_advertising","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","negative_news_financial","personal_finance","personal_finance_stocks"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/business\/2024\/12\/19\/germanys-consumer-climate-still-very-low-dax-eyes-fifth-straight-drop","lastModified":1734605210},{"id":2706902,"cid":8920788,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241219_HLSU_57315794","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"HEALTH SYRIA DOCTORS GERMANY","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany hopes thousands of Syrian doctors will stay after al-Assad\u2019s ouster","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany aims to keep thousands of Syrian doctors after al-Assad's fall","titleListing2":"Germany hopes thousands of Syrian doctors will stay after al-Assad\u2019s ouster","leadin":"Amid workforce shortages in Germany, healthcare leaders hope Syrian doctors will stay put after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.","summary":"Amid workforce shortages in Germany, healthcare leaders hope Syrian doctors will stay put after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.","keySentence":"","url":"germany-hopes-thousands-of-syrian-doctors-will-stay-after-al-assads-ouster","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/health\/2024\/12\/19\/germany-hopes-thousands-of-syrian-doctors-will-stay-after-al-assads-ouster","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The fallout of Bashar al-Assad\u2019s ouster in Syria is raising concerns in Germany, where the health sector could be upended if the thousands of Syrian doctors working there decided to return home.\n\nGermany became a leading destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade, and some politicians were quick to start talking about encouraging the return of at least some after rebels took Damascus earlier this month.\n\nOthers noted that the exiles include many well-qualified people and said their departure would hurt Germany \u2013 particularly that of doctors and other medical staff.\n\n\u201cWhole areas in the health sector would fall away if all the Syrians who work here now were to leave our country,\u201d Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said last week.\n\n\u201cFor us it is important that we make the offer to the Syrians who are here, who have a job, who have integrated, who are crime-free, whose children go to school, to stay here and be there for our economy\u201d.\n\nSyrians have become a factor in a health sector that struggles to fill jobs, part of a wider problem Germany has with an ageing population and a shortage of skilled labor.\n\nThe head of the German Hospital Federation, Gerald Gass, says Syrians now make up the largest single group of foreign doctors, accounting for 2 per cent to 3 per cent.\n\nAn estimated 5,000 Syrian doctors work in hospitals alone. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who puts the total number of Syrian doctors at more than 6,000, says they are \u201cindispensable\u201d to health care.\n\nGass said the picture that hospital operators are getting from Syrian doctors so far is \u201cvery varied\u201d.\n\nSome, particularly those with many relatives still in Syria, are considering a quick return if the situation proves stable, while others feel at ease and well-integrated in Germany and want to stay. But \u201cno looming mass movement toward Syria is recognisable\u201d at present, Gass said.\n\n\u201cIt's certainly not the case that patient care would collapse in Germany if all Syrian doctors returned now,\u201d Gass said. \u201cBut of course, we have the situation that these people often work in smaller groups at individual sites,\u201d and whose quick departure could force temporary local closures.\n\n\u201cWe are well advised to treat these people respectfully,\u201d Gass said. \u201cAnd yes, hospital owners are giving thought to how they could fill these jobs\u201d.\n\nSyrian doctors have made Germany their home\n\nDr Hiba Alnayef, an assistant paediatric doctor at a hospital in Nauen, just outside Berlin, said she has been asked in the last 10 days, \u201cwhat if the Syrians all go back now?\u201d\n\n\u201cI don't know \u2013 some want to, but it's very difficult and uncertain,\u201d said Aleppo-born Alnayef, who has spent much of her life outside Syria and came to Germany from Spain in 2016. She said it's something she thinks about, \"but I have a homeland here too now\u201d.\n\nShe said she and other Syrian doctors and pharmacists would like to build cooperation between Germany and Syria.\n\n\u201cThe Germans need specialists, Syria needs support ... renovation, everything is destroyed now,\u201d she said. \u201cI think we can work well together to help both societies\u201d.\n\nAlnayef said the German health system would have \u201ca big problem\u201d if only part of its Syrian doctors decided to leave \u2013 \u201cwe are understaffed, we are burned out, we are doing the work of several doctors\".\n\nShe said Germany has offered \u201ca safe harbour,\u201d but that discrimination and racism have been issues and integration is a challenge.\n\nDr Ayham Darouich, 40, who came from Aleppo to Germany to study medicine in 2007 and has had his own general practice in Berlin since 2021, said that \u201cas far as I have heard, none of my circle of friends wants to go back\u201d.\n\n\u201cThey have their family or their practices here, they have their society here, they are living in their homeland,\u201d Darouich said. German concerns that many might return are \u201ca bit exaggerated, or unjustified\u201d.\n\nBut he said Germany needs to do more to persuade medical professionals to stay in the country after training, and that it could also do more to make itself attractive to foreigners to fill the workforce gaps.\n\n\u201cWe see that the nurses and medical professionals in hospitals earn relatively little in comparison with the US or Switzerland,\u201d Darouich said, adding that poorly regulated working hours and understaffed hospitals are among factors that \u201cdrive people away\u201d.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The fallout of Bashar al-Assad\u2019s ouster in Syria is raising concerns in Germany, where the health sector could be upended if the thousands of Syrian doctors working there decided to return home.<\/p>\n<p>Germany became a leading destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade, and some politicians were quick to start talking about encouraging the return of at least some after rebels took Damascus earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>Others noted that the exiles include many well-qualified people and said their departure would hurt Germany \u2013 particularly that of <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//health//2024//12//04//the-eu-health-paradox-shortages-with-surging-staff-numbers/">doctors and other medical staff.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhole areas in the health sector would fall away if all the Syrians who work here now were to leave our country,\u201d Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said last week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor us it is important that we make the offer to the Syrians who are here, who have a job, who have integrated, who are crime-free, whose children go to school, to stay here and be there for our economy\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8771890\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//health//2024//10//06//which-european-countries-rely-the-most-on-foreign-doctors-and-nurses/">Which countries in Europe rely the most on foreign doctors and nurses?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Syrians have become a factor in a health sector that struggles to fill jobs, part of a wider problem Germany has with an ageing population and a shortage of skilled labor.<\/p>\n<p>The head of the German Hospital Federation, Gerald Gass, says Syrians now make up the largest single group of foreign doctors, accounting for 2 per cent to 3 per cent.<\/p>\n<p>An estimated 5,000 Syrian doctors work in hospitals alone. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who puts the total number of Syrian doctors at more than 6,000, says they are \u201cindispensable\u201d to health care.<\/p>\n<p>Gass said the picture that hospital operators are getting from Syrian doctors so far is \u201cvery varied\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Some, particularly those with many relatives still in Syria, are considering a quick return if the situation proves stable, while others feel at ease and well-integrated in Germany and want to stay. But \u201cno looming mass movement toward Syria is recognisable\u201d at present, Gass said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8696140\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//health//2024//09//12//doctor-shortages-low-pay-and-overtime-europes-hospitals-are-under-the-weather/">Doctor shortages, low pay and overtime: Europe's hospitals are under the weather<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt's certainly not the case that patient care would collapse in Germany if all Syrian doctors returned now,\u201d Gass said. \u201cBut of course, we have the situation that these people often work in smaller groups at individual sites,\u201d and whose quick departure could force temporary local closures.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are well advised to treat these people respectfully,\u201d Gass said. \u201cAnd yes, hospital owners are giving thought to how they could fill these jobs\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2>Syrian doctors have made Germany their home<\/h2><p>Dr Hiba Alnayef, an assistant paediatric doctor at a hospital in Nauen, just outside Berlin, said she has been asked in the last 10 days, \u201cwhat if the Syrians all go back now?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don't know \u2013 some want to, but it's very difficult and uncertain,\u201d said Aleppo-born Alnayef, who has spent much of her life outside Syria and came to Germany from Spain in 2016. She said it's something she thinks about, \"but I have a homeland here too now\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>She said she and other Syrian doctors and pharmacists would like to build cooperation between Germany and Syria.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Germans need specialists, Syria needs support ... renovation, everything is destroyed now,\u201d she said. \u201cI think we can work well together to help both societies\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Alnayef said the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//health//2024//02//05//germanys-health-crisis-why-europes-biggest-economy-is-fending-off-a-chronic-doctor-shortag/">German health system<\/strong><\/a> would have \u201ca big problem\u201d if only part of its Syrian doctors decided to leave \u2013 \u201cwe are understaffed, we are burned out, we are doing the work of several doctors\".<\/p>\n<p>She said Germany has offered \u201ca safe harbour,\u201d but that discrimination and racism have been issues and integration is a challenge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8899282\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//09//germany-and-austria-freeze-syrian-asylum-applications-local-media-report/">Germany and Austria freeze Syrian asylum applications, local media report<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dr Ayham Darouich, 40, who came from Aleppo to Germany to study medicine in 2007 and has had his own general practice in Berlin since 2021, said that \u201cas far as I have heard, none of my circle of friends wants to go back\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey have their family or their practices here, they have their society here, they are living in their homeland,\u201d Darouich said. German concerns that many might return are \u201ca bit exaggerated, or unjustified\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>But he said Germany needs to do more to persuade medical professionals to stay in the country after training, and that it could also do more to make itself attractive to foreigners to fill the workforce gaps.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe see that the nurses and medical professionals in hospitals <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2023//08//11//doctors-salaries-which-countries-pay-the-most-and-least-in-europe/">earn relatively little<\/strong><\/a> in comparison with the US or Switzerland,\u201d Darouich said, adding that poorly regulated working hours and understaffed hospitals are among factors that \u201cdrive people away\u201d.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734599854,"updatedAt":1734610704,"publishedAt":1734603267,"firstPublishedAt":1734603267,"lastPublishedAt":1734603267,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/07\/88\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0453c92b-1559-599a-b372-c8fdf47bfaa2-8920788.jpg","altText":"Dr Ayham Darouich examines a patient in Berlin, Germany, in December 2024.","caption":"Dr Ayham Darouich examines a patient in Berlin, Germany, in December 2024.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ebrahim Noroozi\/AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":13304,"slug":"doctors","urlSafeValue":"doctors","title":"doctors","titleRaw":"doctors"},{"id":22742,"slug":"health-personnel","urlSafeValue":"health-personnel","title":"Health personnel","titleRaw":"Health personnel"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":11948,"slug":"shortage","urlSafeValue":"shortage","title":"Shortage","titleRaw":"Shortage"},{"id":13346,"slug":"health-care","urlSafeValue":"health-care","title":"healthcare","titleRaw":"healthcare"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":3}],"related":[{"id":2706038}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"AP & Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"health-news","urlSafeValue":"health-news","title":"Health News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/health\/health-news\/health-news"},"vertical":"health","verticals":[{"id":12,"slug":"health","urlSafeValue":"health","title":"Health"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":12,"slug":"health","urlSafeValue":"health","title":"Health"},"themes":[{"id":"health-news","urlSafeValue":"health-news","title":"Health news","url":"\/health\/health-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":43,"urlSafeValue":"health-news","title":"Health news"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84081001","84082001","84111001","84112001","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["health_and_fitness","health_and_fitness_general","law_government_and_politics","law_government_and_politics_general","society","society_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/health\/2024\/12\/19\/germany-hopes-thousands-of-syrian-doctors-will-stay-after-al-assads-ouster","lastModified":1734603267},{"id":2706696,"cid":8920246,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241219_E3SU_57313801","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY EXPANDING ARMY","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German Defence Minister proposes growing armed forces further and faster","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German defence minister says he wants to grow armed forces further","titleListing2":"The German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, wants to expand the size of his country's armed forces further and faster than currently planned.","leadin":"As threats to Western Europe grow more pressing, the German military has been having difficulty attracting enough recruits.","summary":"As threats to Western Europe grow more pressing, the German military has been having difficulty attracting enough recruits.","keySentence":"","url":"german-defense-minister-pistorius-wants-to-increase-size-of-armed-forces","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/19\/german-defense-minister-pistorius-wants-to-increase-size-of-armed-forces","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced an ambitious plan to grow the ranks of his country's armed forces up to 230,000 personnel, a marked increase from the current target of 203,000.\n\nAnswering questions in the Bundestag on Wednesday, Pistorius referred to NATO requirements.\n\n\"There is the Two Plus Four Agreement. It stipulates how many standing forces and how many may be in reserve. Nobody is planning any increase beyond this limit, but it is simply a matter of setting up the armed forces in such a way that we fulfil the Two Plus Four Agreement.\"\n\nHe added that by recruiting more active troops, Germany will ensure it is legally compliant with relevant international and national legislation.\n\nSince Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has demanded that its members increase their defence capacities to boost the alliance\u2019s strength.\n\nHowever, the German armed forces \u2014 the Bundeswehr \u2014 have been struggling to recruit people for years. Germany currently has 180,000 active personnel, approximately 20,000 short of its current target.\n\nThe targets Pistorius proposes are likely to make an already difficult objective all the harder.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced an ambitious plan to grow the ranks of his country's armed forces up to 230,000 personnel, a marked increase from the current target of 203,000.<\/p>\n<p>Answering questions in the Bundestag on Wednesday, Pistorius referred to NATO requirements.<\/p>\n<p>\"There is the Two Plus Four Agreement. It stipulates how many standing forces and how many may be in reserve. Nobody is planning any increase beyond this limit, but it is simply a matter of setting up the armed forces in such a way that we fulfil the Two Plus Four Agreement.\"<\/p>\n<p>He added that by recruiting more active troops, Germany will ensure it is legally compliant with relevant international and national legislation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8860528,8919980\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//12//18//nato-wants-to-put-ukraine-in-a-position-of-strength-for-any-russia-peace-talks/">NATO wants to put Ukraine in a position of strength for any Russia peace talks<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//11//19//damage-to-underwater-cables-was-sabotage-german-defence-minister-says/">Damage to underwater cables was 'sabotage', German defence minister says<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has demanded that its members increase their defence capacities to boost the alliance\u2019s strength.<\/p>\n<p>However, the German armed forces \u2014 the Bundeswehr \u2014 have been struggling to recruit people for years. Germany currently has 180,000 active personnel, approximately 20,000 short of its current target.<\/p>\n<p>The targets Pistorius proposes are likely to make an already difficult objective all the harder.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734578023,"updatedAt":1734603086,"publishedAt":1734599337,"firstPublishedAt":1734599337,"lastPublishedAt":1734603086,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/92\/02\/44\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8b8f1325-6081-59fa-821e-ac106321c33c-8920244.jpg","altText":"Archive: A German air force crew meets the defense minister, Boris Pistorius.","caption":"Archive: A German air force crew meets the defense minister, Boris Pistorius.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":960,"height":540}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3270,"urlSafeValue":"fouda","title":"Malek Fouda","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":1734,"slug":"berlin","urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin","titleRaw":"Berlin"},{"id":10479,"slug":"german-army","urlSafeValue":"german-army","title":"German army","titleRaw":"German army"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":68,"slug":"defence","urlSafeValue":"defence","title":"Defence","titleRaw":"Defence"},{"id":205,"slug":"nato","urlSafeValue":"nato","title":"NATO","titleRaw":"NATO"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2682010},{"id":2701526},{"id":2695038}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"McTV3TeuHoE","dailymotionId":"x9b1ca8"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/12\/19\/en\/241219_E3SU_57313801_57313832_60000_060658_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":7843610,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/12\/19\/en\/241219_E3SU_57313801_57313832_60000_060658_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":11927834,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"EBU","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122009","80222009","84111001","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","human_made_disasters_high_and_medium_risk","human_made_disasters_high_medium_and_low_risk","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","society","society_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/19\/german-defense-minister-pistorius-wants-to-increase-size-of-armed-forces","lastModified":1734603086},{"id":2706272,"cid":8919186,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241218_E3SU_57308398","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY COLOGNE WOMEN TAXIS","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Cologne offers night taxi vouchers to help women get home safely","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Cologne offers night taxi vouchers to help women get home safely","titleListing2":"Cologne offers night taxi vouchers to help women get home safely","leadin":"The German city is providing vouchers worth \u20ac10 for women to use on night-time taxis, following the lead of several other municipalities in Germany.","summary":"The German city is providing vouchers worth \u20ac10 for women to use on night-time taxis, following the lead of several other municipalities in Germany.","keySentence":"","url":"cologne-offers-night-taxi-vouchers-to-help-women-get-home-safely","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/18\/cologne-offers-night-taxi-vouchers-to-help-women-get-home-safely","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The German city of Cologne is offering night taxi vouchers to women to help them get home safely, in a pilot project inspired by similar initiatives in other parts of Germany.\n\nThe Women's Night Taxi scheme is providing a total of 1,500 vouchers worth \u20ac10 each to women and gender-diverse people for taxi journeys between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am, according to Cologne's city council. The vouchers can only be used with one company, Taxi Ruf, and the project will run until August 2025. \n\nThe city of Munich has been offering such night taxi coupons to women since 2020, and this year, the subsidy increased from \u20ac5 to \u20ac10 due to growing demand. Since then, other cities such as Stuttgart, Mannheim and Giessen have adopted the model. \n\nWhile these schemes have been praised by many German news outlets and social media users, some people have questioned the relatively low value of the vouchers given that night-time taxis in major cities tend to cost far more than \u20ac10. \n\nSimilar apps and services promoting women's safety have been launched in recent years in Germany, including a hotline staffed by volunteers who talk to callers during their journeys and take their information to pass on to police in case of an emergency.\n\nMore than two-thirds of German women are afraid to take public transport when it gets dark, according to a 2020 public survey conducted for the country's BKA federal police.\n\nAnd research that same year by NGO Plan International \u2014 based on a survey of 1,000 female residents of Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and Munich \u2014 found that a quarter of women had experienced sexual harassment and a fifth had been followed, insulted or threatened while moving around their cities. \n\nCologne is currently preparing for its New Year festivities, nine years after hundreds of women were attacked and sexually assaulted during celebrations near the city's cathedral. At least 600 women filed complaints to police ranging from sexual molestation to theft in the aftermath of the New Year celebrations in the city on 31 December 2015.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The German city of Cologne is offering night taxi vouchers to women to help them get home safely, in a pilot project inspired by similar initiatives in other parts of Germany.<\/p>\n<p>The Women's Night Taxi scheme is providing a total of 1,500 vouchers worth \u20ac10 each to women and gender-diverse people for taxi journeys between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am, according to Cologne's city council. The vouchers can only be used with one company, Taxi Ruf, and the project will run until August 2025. <\/p>\n<p>The city of Munich has been offering such night taxi coupons to women since 2020, and this year, the subsidy increased from \u20ac5 to \u20ac10 due to growing demand. Since then, other cities such as Stuttgart, Mannheim and Giessen have adopted the model. <\/p>\n<p>While these schemes have been praised by many German news outlets and social media users, some people have questioned the relatively low value of the vouchers given that night-time taxis in major cities tend to cost far more than \u20ac10. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8623118,8270994\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//02//27//athens-taxi-drivers-launch-strike-the-same-day-as-public-transport-stoppage/">Athens taxi drivers launch strike the same day as public transport stoppage<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//08//02//paris-taxi-restrictions-eased-after-drivers-seek-compensation-for-olympic-disruption/">Paris taxi restrictions eased after drivers seek compensation for Olympic disruption<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Similar apps and services promoting women's safety have been launched in recent years in Germany, including a hotline staffed by volunteers who talk to callers during their journeys and take their information to pass on to police in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n<p>More than two-thirds of German women are afraid to take public transport when it gets dark, according to a 2020 public survey conducted for the country's BKA federal police.<\/p>\n<p>And research that same year by NGO Plan International \u2014 based on a survey of 1,000 female residents of Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and Munich \u2014 found that a quarter of women had experienced sexual harassment and a fifth had been followed, insulted or threatened while moving around their cities. <\/p>\n<p>Cologne is currently preparing for its New Year festivities, nine years after hundreds of women were attacked and sexually assaulted during celebrations near the city's cathedral. At least 600 women filed complaints to police ranging from sexual molestation to theft in the aftermath of the New Year celebrations in the city on 31 December 2015.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734526538,"updatedAt":1734539594,"publishedAt":1734530840,"firstPublishedAt":1734530840,"lastPublishedAt":1734530840,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/91\/86\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d111b0ab-1fc3-5e7a-a082-47c184cc8ab6-8919186.jpg","altText":"FILE - In this June 15, 2009 file photo taxi cabs are seen at Tegel Airport in Berlin, Germany","caption":"FILE - In this June 15, 2009 file photo taxi cabs are seen at Tegel Airport in Berlin, Germany","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Gero Breloer\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":952,"height":535}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3238,"urlSafeValue":"guilbert","title":"Kieran Guilbert","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":9547,"slug":"violence-against-women","urlSafeValue":"violence-against-women","title":"Violence against women","titleRaw":"Violence against women"},{"id":4625,"slug":"women-s-rights","urlSafeValue":"women-s-rights","title":"Women's rights","titleRaw":"Women's rights"},{"id":12428,"slug":"taxi","urlSafeValue":"taxi","title":"Taxi","titleRaw":"Taxi"},{"id":4169,"slug":"transport","urlSafeValue":"transport","title":"Transport","titleRaw":"Transport"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2705322},{"id":2705246},{"id":2705062}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":519,"urlSafeValue":"cologne-germany","title":"Cologne, Germany"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122001","80122003","80122006","80222001","80222003","80222006","84031001","84032012","84091001","84092030","84201001","84202001","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["adult_and_sexual_high_and_medium_risk","adult_and_sexual_high_medium_and_low_risk","aggregated_all_moderate_content","business","business_marketing","crime_high_and_medium_risk","crime_high_medium_and_low_risk","hobbies_and_interests","hobbies_and_interests_social_networking","shopping","shopping_general","society","society_general","violence_high_and_medium_risk","violence_high_medium_and_low_risk"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/18\/cologne-offers-night-taxi-vouchers-to-help-women-get-home-safely","lastModified":1734530840},{"id":2705552,"cid":8917132,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241217_E1SU_57300489","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"TRAVEL-Medieval hot tubs and fortune tellers: Esslingen\u2019s Christmas market is more than gifts and gl\u00fchwein","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Medieval hot tubs and fortune tellers: Esslingen\u2019s Christmas market is more than gifts and gl\u00fchwein","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Esslingen Christmas Market has medieval minstrels, crafts and hot tubs","titleListing2":"Medieval hot tubs and fortune tellers: Esslingen\u2019s Christmas market is more than gifts and gl\u00fchwein","leadin":"Escape to Germany\u2019s medieval Esslingen for a festive, fun and foodie experience over Christmas and New Year.","summary":"Escape to Germany\u2019s medieval Esslingen for a festive, fun and foodie experience over Christmas and New Year.","keySentence":"","url":"medieval-hot-tubs-and-fortune-tellers-esslingens-christmas-market-is-more-than-gifts-and-g","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2024\/12\/18\/medieval-hot-tubs-and-fortune-tellers-esslingens-christmas-market-is-more-than-gifts-and-g","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"In a children\u2019s book I have yet to write, Father Christmas flies his drone over Germany\u2019s Christmas markets, hell-bent on finding the most magical for a romantic weekend break with Mrs Christmas.\u00a0\n\nNuremberg? \u201cHmm, quite crowded,\u201d thinks Father Christmas. Berlin? \u201cYowsers, so big!\u201d he eliminates, thinking of his feet. On the verge of calling it a day, he decides to set the drone to one last mission. And there it is\u2026 a vision of cobblestone streets and magnificent timber-framed townhouses floodlit by firelight. \u201cAaaah\u2026\u201d sighs Father Christmas, before punching the air victoriously. \u201cEsslingen. Bingo!\u201d\n\nUnlike many of Europe\u2019s festive events \u2013 so often characterised by Mariah on a loop \u2013 there\u2019s something special about medieval Esslingen, just 15km from Stuttgart in south-west Germany. It\u2019s transporting me back to a simpler time of rousing folk music, agile acrobats, and exotic spice in the air.\n\nTime-travel experiences at Esslingen Christmas market\n\nExperiential rather than purely commercial, Esslingen Christmas market is in fact two markets rolled into one. Alongside a traditional market with all the festive gifts and foods you\u2019d expect, there\u2019s also a medieval market, where every spellbinding detail recalls life 600 years ago. \n\nI can see fire-lit stages for minstrels, musicians and storytellers. A juggler mischievously named \u2018Master Fleapit\u2019. A performer on stilts meeting and greeting the crowd. \n\nAnd that\u2019s not all. I\u2019m watching old-school craftsmen at work \u2013 from blacksmiths, basket makers and bakers, to potters, glassblowers and weavers \u2013 many inviting passers-by to have a go.\n\nOn one standout evening that promises to be captivating, there\u2019s even going to be a lantern parade on 19 December from the marketplace up the hill to the castle which overlooks town.\n\nUnique festive experiences\n\nFor now, my personal dilemma is whether to opt for a dip in the medieval market\u2019s hot tub or hold out my hands for a palmreading by Athena, the market\u2019s resident fortune teller. \n\nTempting as it is to sit starkers in the middle of the marketplace, I take the mystic option and emerge from the tent 20 minutes later, encouraged by her optimistic predictions. \n\nMy favourite is that I\u2019m going to live until I\u2019m 98. \n\nAnd if that\u2019s not a cue to head over to the traditional Christmas market to gorge on more cheese, I don\u2019t know what is.\n\n\u00a0A taste of Germany\u2019s foodie traditions at the Christmas Market\n\nI love weaving in and out amongst the locals indulging in all manner of winter-warmer goodies.. There\u2019s \u2018Stockbrot\u2019 -dough twisted around a stick. Alongside the traditional hot chestnuts, doughy \u2018Apfelkringel\u2019 rings, and every conceivable variety of \u2018Wurst\u2019 (sausage). \n\nThere\u2019s plenty of foodie delights to take home or buy as gifts, too - . \u2018stollen\u2019 - traditional Christmas bread with dried fruits and sometimes marzipan, lots of cheeses, and cured sausages hung up like candy sticks.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nGifts to buy at Esslingen Christmas Market\n\nI also have my eye on some wonderful Christmas gifts to elevate this year\u2019s stockings. \n\nThere are the ubiquitous gifts you see all over \u2013 from delicate wooden tree decorations to gingerbread love hearts announcing \u2018ich liebe dich\u2019 (I love you), \u2018Fr\u00f6hliche Weihnachten\u2019, (Happy Christmas), or something cheekier. But there are also handmade gifts I haven\u2019t seen before, from cute ceramic houses and glowing paper stars to biscuits from a dog bakery.\n\nSince the German Christmas market experience isn\u2019t complete without a warm mug of Gl\u00fchwein (mulled red or white wine), I get one of these too. The taste is impressive, as is the fact there isn\u2019t a plastic cup in sight, only reusable ones that you return to the vendor.\n\nCold hands wrapped around a warm mug is a moment to stand still and take it all in.\u00a0\n\nTwinkling light is festooned from building to building. Each stall\u2019s rooftop snow scene vies to outdo the next. The belltower\u2019s Glockenspiel is chiming out its melody. \n\nAmong all the festive faces, one white-bearded visitor looks the most satisfied of all. \u201cBingo\u201d, I\u2019m pretty sure I heard him chuckle.\n\nCome in January for Germany\u2019s quieter winter charms\n\nAll is not lost if you (or Father Christmas) don\u2019t get here in time for the Christmas market. There are plenty of ways to enjoy south-west Germany after the throngs have gone.\n\nIn the afterglow of the Christmas market, Esslingen whispers the quieter side of winter. \n\nThere are churches to admire inside and out in this former place of pilgrimage, as well as a distinctly Italian tone: enough canals to merit the nickname Little Venice and Germany\u2019s second oldest stone bridge \u2013 Esslingen\u2019s answer to Florence\u2019s Ponte Vecchio.\u00a0\n\nWarm up at a Kessler tasting to try the wine said to be Germany\u2019s first sparkling variety. Inspired by the Veuve Clicquot champagne house in France, Georg Christian von Kessler returned to Germany and made his own exceptional bubbles.\u00a0\n\nFor a solid restaurant, try out Mattis. Its speciality is Maultaschen, flavoursome parcels a little like ravioli filled with sage pesto and roasted walnuts.\n\nIf you want to explore the region, Stuttgart is only 10 minutes by train from Esslingen. \n\nDon\u2019t miss the \u2018Christmas Garden\u2019 lights trail at Wilhelma Botanical Gardens and post-Christmas relaxation and 1950s charm at the Mineralbad Berg thermal waters spa.\u00a0\n\nEsslingen Christmas Market runs until 22 December.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>In a children\u2019s book I have yet to write, Father Christmas flies his drone over Germany\u2019s Christmas markets, hell-bent on finding the most magical for a romantic weekend break with Mrs Christmas.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Nuremberg? \u201cHmm, quite crowded,\u201d thinks Father Christmas. Berlin? \u201cYowsers, so big!\u201d he eliminates, thinking of his feet. On the verge of calling it a day, he decides to set the drone to one last mission. And there it is\u2026 a vision of cobblestone streets and magnificent timber-framed townhouses floodlit by firelight. \u201cAaaah\u2026\u201d sighs Father Christmas, before punching the air victoriously. \u201cEsslingen. Bingo!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Unlike many of Europe\u2019s festive events \u2013 so often characterised by Mariah on a loop \u2013 there\u2019s something special about medieval Esslingen, just 15km from Stuttgart in south-west Germany. It\u2019s transporting me back to a simpler time of rousing folk music, agile acrobats, and exotic spice in the air.<\/p>\n<h2>Time-travel experiences at Esslingen Christmas market<\/h2><p>Experiential rather than purely commercial, Esslingen Christmas market is in fact two markets rolled into one. Alongside a traditional market with all the festive gifts and foods you\u2019d expect, there\u2019s also a medieval market, where every spellbinding detail recalls life 600 years ago. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//91//71//32//808x454_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg/" alt=\"Esslingen Christmas Market\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/384x216_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/640x360_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/750x422_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/828x466_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1080x608_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1200x675_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1920x1080_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Esslingen Christmas Market<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Maximilian Schwarz\/Esslinger Stadtmarketing &amp; Tourismus GmbH<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>I can see fire-lit stages for minstrels, musicians and storytellers. A juggler mischievously named \u2018Master Fleapit\u2019. A performer on stilts meeting and greeting the crowd. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">There\u2019s old-school fun all around with visitors having a go at archery, dragon hunting, rope-ladder balancing and more.<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s not all. I\u2019m watching old-school craftsmen at work \u2013 from blacksmiths, basket makers and bakers, to potters, glassblowers and weavers \u2013 many inviting passers-by to have a go.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8891714,8906772\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//12//05//christmas-lapland-cancelled-lack-of-snow/">/u2018Devastating/u2019: Christmas in Lapland is cancelled after trips called off due to lack of snow<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//12//12//no-room-at-the-inn-locals-say-holiday-rentals-are-overtaking-santa-claus-hometown/">No room at the inn? Locals say holiday rentals are overtaking Santa Claus\u2019 hometown<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>On one standout evening that promises to be captivating, there\u2019s even going to be a lantern <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//10//16//northern-lights-penguin-parades-and-glowing-oceans-where-to-chase-natural-wonders-in-2025/">parade on 19 December from the marketplace up the hill to the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2021//06//28//14-castles-in-europe-that-are-straight-out-of-a-fairy-tale/">castle which overlooks town.<\/p>\n<h2>Unique festive experiences<\/h2><p>For now, my personal dilemma is whether to opt for a dip in the medieval market\u2019s hot tub or hold out my hands for a palmreading by Athena, the market\u2019s resident fortune teller. <\/p>\n<p>Tempting as it is to sit starkers in the middle of the marketplace, I take the mystic option and emerge from the tent 20 minutes later, encouraged by her optimistic predictions. <\/p>\n<p>My favourite is that I\u2019m going to live until I\u2019m 98. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//91//71//32//808x454_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg/" alt=\"Fortune teller at Esslingen Christmas Market\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/384x216_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/640x360_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/750x422_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/828x466_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1080x608_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1200x675_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1920x1080_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Fortune teller at Esslingen Christmas Market<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Petra Nordin<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>And if that\u2019s not a cue to head over to the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//12//02//candles-to-kimchi-kick-off-the-festive-season-with-europes-eight-best-artisan-christmas-ma/">traditional Christmas market<\/strong><\/a> to gorge on more cheese, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n<h2>A taste of Germany\u2019s foodie traditions at the Christmas Market<\/h2><p>I love weaving in and out amongst the locals indulging in all manner of winter-warmer goodies.. There\u2019s \u2018Stockbrot\u2019 -dough twisted around a stick. Alongside the traditional hot chestnuts, doughy \u2018Apfelkringel\u2019 rings, and every conceivable variety of \u2018Wurst\u2019 (sausage). <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">I round it all off with deliciously herby raclette toasts, the molten cheese too good to ignore.<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s plenty of foodie delights to take home or buy as gifts, too - . \u2018stollen\u2019 - traditional Christmas bread with dried fruits and sometimes marzipan, lots of cheeses, and cured sausages hung up like candy sticks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Gifts to buy at Esslingen Christmas Market<\/h2><p>I also have my eye on some wonderful <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//12//15//into-the-canadian-arctic-we-brought-christmas-gifts-to-nunavut-and-wildlife-returned-the-f/">Christmas gifts<\/strong><\/a> to elevate this year\u2019s stockings. <\/p>\n<p>There are the ubiquitous gifts you see all over \u2013 from delicate wooden tree decorations to gingerbread love hearts announcing \u2018ich liebe dich\u2019 (I love you), \u2018Fr\u00f6hliche Weihnachten\u2019, (Happy Christmas), or something cheekier. But there are also handmade gifts I haven\u2019t seen before, from cute ceramic houses and glowing paper stars to biscuits from a dog bakery.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8904194,8900234\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//12//12//starlight-star-bright-the-rise-of-astrotourism-is-drawing-travellers-to-the-dark-skies-of-/">Starlight, star bright: The rise of astrotourism is drawing travellers to the dark skies of Africa<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//12//09//back-to-slug-life-why-is-travel-so-tiring-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/">/u2018Back to slug life\u2019: Why is travel so tiring, and what can we do about it?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Since the German Christmas market experience isn\u2019t complete without a warm mug of <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2023//12//14//21-bratwurst-and-10-gluhwein-locals-say-they-have-been-priced-out-of-christmas-markets/">Gl/u00fchwein (mulled red or white wine), I get one of these too. The taste is impressive, as is the fact there isn\u2019t a plastic cup in sight, only reusable ones that you return to the vendor.<\/p>\n<p>Cold hands wrapped around a warm mug is a moment to stand still and take it all in.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Twinkling light is festooned from building to building. Each stall\u2019s rooftop snow scene vies to outdo the next. The belltower\u2019s Glockenspiel is chiming out its melody. <\/p>\n<p>Among all the festive faces, one white-bearded visitor looks the most satisfied of all. \u201cBingo\u201d, I\u2019m pretty sure I heard him chuckle.<\/p>\n<h2>Come in January for Germany\u2019s quieter winter charms<\/h2><p>All is not lost if you (or Father Christmas) don\u2019t get here in time for the Christmas market. There are plenty of ways to enjoy south-west Germany after the throngs have gone.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//91//71//32//808x454_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg/" alt=\"The indoor market is a delight to visit in January\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/384x216_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/640x360_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/750x422_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/828x466_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1080x608_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1200x675_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1920x1080_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The indoor market is a delight to visit in January<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH\/Sarah Schmid<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In the afterglow of the Christmas market, Esslingen whispers the quieter side of winter. <\/p>\n<p>There are churches to admire inside and out in this former place of pilgrimage, as well as a distinctly Italian tone: enough canals to merit the nickname Little <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//10//25//venice-day-trippers-will-face-steep-fines-if-they-dont-pay-fee-designed-to-combat-overtour/">Venice and Germany\u2019s second oldest stone bridge \u2013 Esslingen\u2019s answer to <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2022//03//28//italy-travel-guide-how-to-experience-the-world-s-most-beautiful-country-like-a-local/">Florence/u2019s Ponte Vecchio<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Warm up at a Kessler tasting to try the wine said to be Germany\u2019s first sparkling variety. Inspired by the Veuve Clicquot champagne house in France, Georg Christian von Kessler returned to <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//09//10//germany-tightens-border-checks-what-will-change-for-travellers/">Germany and made his own exceptional bubbles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8895216,8914494\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//12//16//switzerland-unveils-the-worlds-steepest-cable-car-leading-up-to-james-bond-revolving-resta/">Switzerland unveils the world\u2019s steepest cable car leading up to James Bond revolving restaurant<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//12//08//non-skiers-can-enjoy-the-alps-too-five-top-choices-for-foodies-party-animals-and-spa-lover/">Non-skiers can enjoy the Alps too: Five top choices for foodies, party animals and spa lovers<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>For a solid restaurant, try out Mattis. Its speciality is Maultaschen, flavoursome parcels a little like ravioli filled with sage pesto and roasted walnuts.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to explore the region, <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2023//08//16//flight-free-travel-europes-new-long-distance-train-routes-for-2022/">Stuttgart is only 10 minutes by train from Esslingen. <\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t miss the \u2018Christmas Garden\u2019 lights trail at Wilhelma Botanical <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//03//21//tulips-from-just-outside-amsterdam-add-keukenhof-to-your-spring-travel-bucket-list/">Gardens and post-Christmas relaxation and 1950s charm at the Mineralbad Berg thermal waters spa.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//91//71//32//808x454_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg/" alt=\"The Christmas lights trail at Wilhelma Botanical Gardens\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/384x216_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/640x360_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/750x422_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/828x466_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1080x608_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1200x675_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/1920x1080_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The Christmas lights trail at Wilhelma Botanical Gardens<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH\/Sarah Schmid<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Esslingen Christmas Market runs until 22 December.<\/em><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734447671,"updatedAt":1734501702,"publishedAt":1734501663,"firstPublishedAt":1734501663,"lastPublishedAt":1734501702,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a5b41aa9-d516-57b7-85d1-237291b6934e-8917132.jpg","altText":"A family buy roasted chestnuts at Esslingen Christmas Market","caption":"A family buy roasted chestnuts at Esslingen Christmas Market","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Maximilian Schwarz \/ Esslinger Stadtmarketing & Tourismus GmbH","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_648448dc-bbcc-5420-ae86-a19690253c26-8917132.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_cecf5452-74d0-51ef-b124-2ed8f84a6849-8917132.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_418b6144-8c70-5af5-b040-8a6847d258fb-8917132.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a5938737-8035-5805-be7b-632b44a358a3-8917132.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/71\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ee4958f4-4618-5629-a3c8-c0cf80cf90ad-8917132.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":5312,"slug":"christmas","urlSafeValue":"christmas","title":"Christmas","titleRaw":"Christmas"},{"id":25946,"slug":"market","urlSafeValue":"market","title":"Market","titleRaw":"Market"},{"id":8261,"slug":"new-year-celebrations","urlSafeValue":"new-year-celebrations","title":"New Year celebrations","titleRaw":"New Year celebrations"},{"id":18570,"slug":"restaurant","urlSafeValue":"restaurant","title":"restaurant","titleRaw":"restaurant"},{"id":24464,"slug":"gift-guide","urlSafeValue":"gift-guide","title":"gift guide","titleRaw":"gift guide"},{"id":13534,"slug":"medieval","urlSafeValue":"medieval","title":"medieval","titleRaw":"medieval"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":4},{"slug":"quotation","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":3}],"related":[{"id":2694758},{"id":2701792},{"id":2705184}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Lucy Shrimpton","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"experiences","urlSafeValue":"experiences","title":"Experiences","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/experiences\/experiences"},"vertical":"travel","verticals":[{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"},"themes":[{"id":"experiences","urlSafeValue":"experiences","title":"Experiences","url":"\/travel\/experiences"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":29,"urlSafeValue":"experiences","title":"Experiences"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":2141,"urlSafeValue":"stuttgart","title":"Stuttgart"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122013","84011001","84012006","84071001","84072008","84091001","84092003","84201001","84202001","84251001","84252015","84252016","84252020"],"slugs":["a_and_e_music","aggregated_all_moderate_content","alcohol_high_medium_and_low_risk","arts_and_entertainment","food_and_drink","food_and_drink_desserts_and_baking","hobbies_and_interests","hobbies_and_interests_arts_and_crafts","shopping","shopping_general","travel","travel_europe","travel_france","travel_italy"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/travel\/2024\/12\/18\/medieval-hot-tubs-and-fortune-tellers-esslingens-christmas-market-is-more-than-gifts-and-g","lastModified":1734501702},{"id":2705656,"cid":8917504,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241217_NCSU_57301985","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC4 GERMANY ROBOT TEACHER","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Watch: AI-powered robot teaches German students","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Watch: AI-powered robot teaches German students","titleListing2":"A secondary school in northern Germany became the first to trial a humanoid robot teacher on Tuesday. The robot, named Captcha, was developed by Hong Kong start-up Hidoba Research and introduced to students in Delmenhorst to discuss artificial intelligence.","leadin":"A secondary school in northern Germany became the first to trial a humanoid robot teacher on Tuesday. The robot, named Captcha, was developed by Hong Kong start-up Hidoba Research and introduced to students in Lower Saxony to discuss artificial intelligence.","summary":"A secondary school in northern Germany became the first to trial a humanoid robot teacher on Tuesday. The robot, named Captcha, was developed by Hong Kong start-up Hidoba Research and introduced to students in Lower Saxony to discuss artificial intelligence.","keySentence":"","url":"watch-ai-powered-robot-teaches-german-students","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/12\/17\/watch-ai-powered-robot-teaches-german-students","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Unlike standard teaching aids, Captcha uses advanced AI to interact dynamically with the class, answering questions and responding to discussions in real-time. Students actively engaged with the robot, exploring the potential and challenges of AI.\n\nThis marks the first use of Captcha in a classroom setting, showcasing a new frontier for technology in education since Hidoba Research\u2019s founding in 2020.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Unlike standard teaching aids, <em>Captcha<\/em> uses advanced AI to interact dynamically with the class, answering questions and responding to discussions in real-time. Students actively engaged with the robot, exploring the potential and challenges of AI.<\/p>\n<p>This marks the first use of <em>Captcha<\/em> in a classroom setting, showcasing a new frontier for technology in education since <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////hidoba.com///">Hidoba Research<\/a>\u2019s founding in 2020.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734455708,"updatedAt":1734474784,"publishedAt":1734474428,"firstPublishedAt":1734474428,"lastPublishedAt":1734474428,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/75\/04\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_717fe2b4-ea4f-534d-9045-57b9b1fe6b99-8917504.jpg","altText":"Robot in classroom","caption":"Robot in classroom","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"ARD","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}]},"keywords":[{"id":387,"slug":"education","urlSafeValue":"education","title":"Education","titleRaw":"Education"},{"id":7949,"slug":"robot","urlSafeValue":"robot","title":"Robot","titleRaw":"Robot"},{"id":12661,"slug":"artificial-intelligence","urlSafeValue":"artificial-intelligence","title":"Artificial intelligence","titleRaw":"Artificial 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KICKSTART CAMPAIGN","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German election: CDU manifesto proposes rightward shift on migration and strong support for Ukraine","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"CDU plans to move Germany to the right on immigration, manifesto says","titleListing2":"The CDU's manifesto for next year's German election proposes rightward shift on immigration and strong military support for Ukraine.","leadin":"Germany\u2019s largest opposition party is heavily favoured to form a government after snap elections slated for February 2025.","summary":"Germany\u2019s largest opposition party is heavily favoured to form a government after snap elections slated for February 2025.","keySentence":"","url":"german-election-cdu-manifesto-proposes-rightward-shift-on-migration-and-strong-support-for","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/12\/17\/german-election-cdu-manifesto-proposes-rightward-shift-on-migration-and-strong-support-for","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have released their manifesto for next year's snap election, are pushing for a hardline stance on migration, spending money on defence and security and tax cuts in their newly released manifesto.\n\nThe party, led by former investment banker Friedrich Merz, looks well-positioned for a return to power, leading Germany's other parties in recent polls with around 30% of the vote. \n\nAccording to its manifesto, the CDU intends to move Germany further to the right \u2014 particularly on migration, where it proposes a break not just with the current government but with Angela Merkel, the party's own former leader, who governed Germany for 16 years. \n\nAmong other measures, the CDU is now calling for a tighter asylum policy and a de facto freeze on asylum admissions at the border. These policies may be difficult to implement, as European-wide rules imposed under the Geneva Convention say that EU countries have an obligation to examine asylum applications once an applicant is on European soil. \n\nBorder officials are allowed to refuse entry to applicants if they pose a danger to the general public, but the EU Commission has the prerogative to intervene. However, countries such as Greece and Poland have been pushing back migrants for several years without interference from Brussels.\n\nThe CDU manifesto also proposes abolishing subsidiary protection for asylum seekers, which is also enshrined in European law under the Geneva Convention.\n\nThe party says it wants the law changed at the European level, a move that would see Germany join a rightward shift on migration and asylum policy that has swept across the EU's member states. \n\nAlongside these plans, the CDU says it wants to designate more countries as \"safe\" in order to more efficiently deport migrants; look into outsourcing asylum procedures to third countries; and reduce cash benefits for asylum seekers who have been told to leave Germany.\n\nThe party argues that its policies are \"urgently needed\" to curb immigration, saying the \"influx\" of people to Germany is \"too much\". At the same time, it proposes to speed up visa processing for foreign skilled workers, more of whom Germany urgently needs. \n\nElsewhere, the manifesto promises to reverse a popular dual citizenship policy introduced by the former government, uner which citizens can hold more than one passport for the first time in German history.\n\nThe party argues it will mandate integration courses instead of providing citizens with nationality, calling a German passport \"the end of integration, not the beginning\".\n\nDefence and security\n\nThe CDU is promising to inject the military with \"at least\" 2% of the country's gross domestic product, thus keeping Germany in line with NATO's defence spending obligation, while improving defence procurement cooperation with the rest of Europe. \n\n\"We are equipping the Bundeswehr to become fully capable of defence again,\" the manifesto proclaims.\n\nThe now-collapsed government led by Olaf Scholz has already achieved the 2% threshold. Yet despite a push to modernise its military after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany's armed forces were described as outdated and shrinking in an annual assessment released at the start of this year February.\n\nThe CDU has hammered home its support for Ukraine, including continued arms deliveries, and Merz is promoting himself as even more hawkish on Russia than Scholz, saying he would potentially allow the embattled country to use Taurus missiles to strike targets within Russia \u2014 something the outgoing chancellor has flatly refused. \n\nHowever, Merz said on Tuesday at a press conference introducing the manifesto that a country at war could not become a NATO member \u2014 implying he might be more pragmatic in his support for Ukraine should he become chancellor. \n\nDomestically, Merz has proposed to ramp up security by equipping \"hot spots and danger spots\" with video cameras and facial recognition software, clearing mosques where \"hatred and antisemitism\" are practiced, and combating extremism on both the left and the right. \n\nTax cuts and welfare\n\nOn Germany's faltering economy, which has seen two years of poor growth, the CDU's manifesto blames the former government for bringing the country \"into recession\". \n\nThe party proposes reducing corporation tax to 25%, abolishing Germany's solidarity tax, increasing the top tax rate to \u20ac80,000, and reducing VAT in the catering industry. \n\nThe manifesto also says the party would retain Germany's constitutionally-enshrined \"debt brake\", which restricts structural budget deficits in order to limit government debt. Scholz's calls to reform the brake drove open deep divisions in his coalition government, and ultimately helped speed its collapse. \n\nTo finance changes, Merz has proposed sweeping changes to Germany's benefits system, arguing for a new \"basic security\" system to replace the current arrangement, under which unemployed adults receive a minimum \u20ac402 a month at its minimum.\n\nThe party says it will be withdrawing benefits from adults who are \"unwilling to work\", but the manifesto is vague as to how that determination will be made.\n\nThe CDU says it would instead provide more support to those looking for work, including language courses and more efficient job centres.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have released their manifesto for next year's snap election, are pushing for a hardline stance on migration, spending money on defence and security and tax cuts in their newly released manifesto.<\/p>\n<p>The party, led by former investment banker Friedrich Merz, looks well-positioned for a return to power, leading Germany's other parties in recent polls with around 30% of the vote. <\/p>\n<p>According to its manifesto, the CDU intends to move Germany further to the right \u2014 particularly on migration, where it proposes a break not just with the current government but with Angela Merkel, the party's own former leader, who governed Germany for 16 years. <\/p>\n<p>Among other measures, the CDU is now calling for a tighter asylum policy and a de facto freeze on asylum admissions at the border. These policies may be difficult to implement, as European-wide rules imposed under the Geneva Convention say that EU countries have an obligation to examine asylum applications once an applicant is on European soil. <\/p>\n<p>Border officials are allowed to refuse entry to applicants if they pose a danger to the general public, but the EU Commission has the prerogative to intervene. However, countries such as Greece and Poland have been pushing back migrants for several years without interference from Brussels.<\/p>\n<p>The CDU manifesto also proposes abolishing subsidiary protection for asylum seekers, which is also enshrined in European law under the Geneva Convention.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8910010,8898488\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//12//16//are-conservatives-set-to-take-back-power-in-germany-radio-schuman/">Are conservatives set to take back power in Germany? | Radio Schuman<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//09//germanys-cdu-leader-friedrich-merz-visits-kyiv-to-reaffirm-support/">Germany's CDU leader Friedrich Merz visits Kyiv to reaffirm support<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The party says it wants the law changed at the European level, a move that would see Germany join a rightward shift on migration and asylum policy that has swept across<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//11//brussels-green-lights-polands-plan-to-temporarily-suspend-right-to-asylum/"> <\/a>the EU's member states. <\/p>\n<p>Alongside these plans, the CDU says it wants to designate more countries as \"safe\" in order to more efficiently deport migrants; look into outsourcing asylum procedures to third countries; and reduce cash benefits for asylum seekers who have been told to leave Germany.<\/p>\n<p>The party argues that its policies are \"urgently needed\" to curb immigration, saying the \"influx\" of people to Germany is \"too much\". At the same time, it proposes to speed up visa processing for foreign skilled workers, more of whom Germany <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.google.co.uk//search?q=euronews+germany+foreign+workers&sca_esv=a70c56ff7b649c8e&biw=1912&bih=964&tbm=nws&ei=6XlhZ4efMJORi-gPibuYuQM&ved=0ahUKEwjHt_7z8a6KAxWTyAIHHYkdJjcQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=euronews+germany+foreign+workers&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LW5ld3MiIGV1cm9uZXdzIGdlcm1hbnkgZm9yZWlnbiB3b3JrZXJzMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAFIxCdQ-gNYlydwAHgAkAEAmAGPAaAB_Q-qAQQyMy4yuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIZoALOEMICBRAhGJ8FwgIFEAAYgATCAgsQABiABBiRAhiKBcICCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgQQIRgVwgIHECEYoAEYCpgDAIgGAZIHBDIyLjOgB42CAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-news\%22>urgently needs<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, the manifesto promises to reverse a popular dual citizenship policy introduced by the former government, uner which citizens can hold more than one passport for the first time in German history.<\/p>\n<p>The party argues it will mandate integration courses instead of providing citizens with nationality, calling a German passport \"the end of integration, not the beginning\".<\/p>\n<h2>Defence and security<\/h2><p>The CDU is promising to inject the military with \"at least\" 2% of the country's gross domestic product, thus keeping Germany in line with NATO's defence spending obligation, while improving defence procurement cooperation with the rest of Europe. <\/p>\n<p>\"We are equipping the Bundeswehr to become fully capable of defence again,\" the manifesto proclaims.<\/p>\n<p>The now-collapsed government led by Olaf Scholz has already achieved the 2% threshold. Yet despite a push to modernise its military after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany's armed forces were described as outdated and shrinking in an annual assessment released at the start of this year February.<\/p>\n<p>The CDU has hammered home its support for Ukraine, including continued arms deliveries, and Merz is promoting himself as even more hawkish on Russia than Scholz, saying he would potentially allow the embattled country to use Taurus missiles to strike targets within Russia \u2014 something the outgoing chancellor has flatly refused. <\/p>\n<p>However, Merz said on Tuesday at a press conference introducing the manifesto that a country at war could not become a NATO member \u2014 implying he might be more pragmatic in his support for Ukraine should he become chancellor. <\/p>\n<p>Domestically, Merz has proposed to ramp up security by equipping \"hot spots and danger spots\" with video cameras and facial recognition software, clearing mosques where \"hatred and antisemitism\" are practiced, and combating extremism on both the left and the right. <\/p>\n<h2>Tax cuts and welfare<\/h2><p>On Germany's faltering economy, which has seen two years of poor growth, the CDU's manifesto blames the former government for bringing the country \"into recession\". <\/p>\n<p>The party proposes reducing corporation tax to 25%, abolishing Germany's solidarity tax, increasing the top tax rate to \u20ac80,000, and reducing VAT in the catering industry. <\/p>\n<p>The manifesto also says the party would retain Germany's constitutionally-enshrined \"debt brake\", which restricts structural budget deficits in order to limit government debt. Scholz's calls to reform the brake drove open deep divisions in his coalition government, and ultimately helped speed its collapse. <\/p>\n<p>To finance changes, Merz has proposed sweeping changes to Germany's benefits system, arguing for a new \"basic security\" system to replace the current arrangement, under which unemployed adults receive a minimum \u20ac402 a month at its minimum.<\/p>\n<p>The party says it will be withdrawing benefits from adults who are \"unwilling to work\", but the manifesto is vague as to how that determination will be made.<\/p>\n<p>The CDU says it would instead provide more support to those looking for work, including language courses and more efficient job centres.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734439881,"updatedAt":1734457203,"publishedAt":1734454200,"firstPublishedAt":1734454200,"lastPublishedAt":1734454200,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/66\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9157c925-324b-532f-8c03-e51727104ed7-8916674.jpg","altText":"Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, right, of CDU speaks as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, centre, looks on during a plenary session at the German parliament Bundestag.","caption":"Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, right, of CDU speaks as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, centre, looks on during a plenary session at the German parliament Bundestag.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2940,"urlSafeValue":"paternoster","title":"Tamsin Paternoster","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":17640,"slug":"friedrich-merz","urlSafeValue":"friedrich-merz","title":"Friedrich Merz","titleRaw":"Friedrich Merz"},{"id":15496,"slug":"secim-turu","urlSafeValue":"secim-turu","title":"Election campaign","titleRaw":"Election campaign"},{"id":147,"slug":"immigration","urlSafeValue":"immigration","title":"Immigration","titleRaw":"Immigration"},{"id":30264,"slug":"german-election-2025","urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","title":"German election 2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2698508}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x9ay32y"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/12\/17\/en\/241217_NWSU_57298806_57302062_62000_181826_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":62000,"filesizeBytes":7872223,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/12\/17\/en\/241217_NWSU_57298806_57302062_62000_181826_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":62000,"filesizeBytes":11558111,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Video by Liv 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Can Germany\u2019s improving financial sentiment overcome business pessimism?","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Can Germany's improving financial sentiment overcome business pessimism?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Can Germany's improving financial sentiment beat business pessimism?","titleListing2":"Can Germany's improving financial sentiment overcome business pessimism?","leadin":"Financial experts are more optimistic about Germany\u2019s economy as the ZEW index rebounded more than expected in December, its highest in four months, driven by ECB rate cut prospects and snap elections. Yet, the ifo survey shows businesses remain far more pessimistic about 2025.","summary":"Financial experts are more optimistic about Germany\u2019s economy as the ZEW index rebounded more than expected in December, its highest in four months, driven by ECB rate cut prospects and snap elections. Yet, the ifo survey shows businesses remain far more pessimistic about 2025.","keySentence":"","url":"can-germanys-improving-financial-sentiment-overcome-business-pessimism","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/12\/17\/can-germanys-improving-financial-sentiment-overcome-business-pessimism","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Financial experts' confidence in the German and Eurozone economies improved in December, buoyed by the European Central Bank's interest rate cut and expectations of economic policy shifts following Germany\u2019s upcoming snap elections.\n\nThe ZEW Economic Sentiment Index for Germany, which reflects financial experts' six-month outlook, rose sharply to 15.7 points in December, up from 7.4 points in November, exceeding market forecasts of 6.5 points. This marks the index's highest reading in four months, as analysts anticipate pro-investment policies and further ECB rate cuts to support economic recovery.\n\nHowever, the optimism was tempered by worsening assessments of the present economic environment. The sub index measuring current conditions fell further into negative territory, dropping to -93.1 points, its lowest level since May 2020.\n\nZEW President Achim Wambach highlighted the factors driving the improved outlook. \"With snap elections ahead in Germany and the resulting expectations of an economic policy encouraging private investment, as well as the prospect of further interest rate cuts, the economic outlook is improving. Our daily analyses also show that after the meeting of the European Central Bank\u2019s Governing Council on 12 December, experts still expect further interest rate cuts for the coming year.\"\n\nOn Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of no confidence on Monday, triggering early elections scheduled for February. The country's governing coalition fell apart last month due to a heated disagreement over the national budget.\n\nAcross the eurozone, financial experts' optimism similarly improved. The\u00a0ZEW Economic Sentiment Index\u00a0for the euro area climbed to\u00a017 points in December, up from\u00a012.5 points in November, surpassing estimates of\u00a012 points. Yet, the eurozone's current situation indicator fell by\u00a011.2 points to -55.0, highlighting ongoing economic struggles.\n\nIn December's ZEW survey, Information Technology and Services sectord stood out with strong expectations for improvement, while sectors like Chemicals\/Pharmaceuticals and Steel faced a more pessimistic outlook.\u00a0\n\nThe weaker sentiment in these sectors could reflect concerns over rising global trade tensions, including the risk of potential Trump tariffs being introduced next year, which may disproportionately impact export-dependent industries like chemicals and steel.\n\nifo survey paints a bleaker business outlook\n\nWhile financial experts surveyed by ZEW foresee improving conditions, the latest ifo Business Climate Index reveals a more pessimistic\u00a0sentiment among German businesses.\n\nThe ifo index fell to 84.7 points in December, down from 85.6 points in November, marking its lowest reading since May 2020 and falling short of economic forecasts.\n\nThe ifo subindex for current business conditions showed modest improvement, rising from 84.3 points to 85.1 points, slightly above expectations of 84 points.\u00a0\n\nHowever, business expectations for the months ahead plunged to 84.4 points, down from a revised 87 points in November, marking their lowest level since February 2024.\n\n\u00a0ZEW vs ifo: Financial sentiment versus business reality\n\nThe divergence between ZEW and ifo results reflects their differing methodologies and focuses. The ZEW Economic Sentiment Index measures the outlook of financial experts, who assess macroeconomic trends, monetary policy, and global market dynamics. This makes ZEW particularly sensitive to expectations of interest rate cuts and political changes, such as the snap elections in Germany.\n\nIn contrast, the ifo Business Climate Index surveys German businesses across industries, providing a more grounded perspective on current economic activity and future expectations. Businesses tend to react more directly to immediate operational challenges, such as weak demand, global competitiveness concerns, and rising input costs.\n\nWhile financial experts appear cautiously optimistic, businesses remain far more pessimistic about Germany\u2019s economic prospects heading into 2025.\u00a0\n\nStagflation risks persist as experts urge ECB caution\n\nZEW economist Friedrich Heinemann expressed concerns over inflationary pressures and trade risks in the aftermath of the US presidential election.\n\n\"It is good that the ECB Governing Council has refrained from making a major interest rate move. The ongoing wage pressure and high inflation in services prove that the wage-price spiral is still turning. Even more serious is that the risk of imported inflation has now grown since the US presidential election. If tariffs increase on both sides in US-Europe trade, this will drive up import prices. Germany must therefore expect continued stagflation next year, with mini-growth and excessive inflation.\"\n\nHeinemann emphasised that the European Central Bank must communicate carefully to signal that further rate cuts are not guaranteed, as premature easing could exacerbate inflationary risks.\n\nFinancial optimism vs business reality: Can Germany bridge the confidence gap?\n\nGermany's economic sentiment offers a tale of two perspectives.\u00a0\n\nWhile financial experts remain optimistic about pro-investment policies following snap elections and the prospect of further ECB interest rate cuts, German businesses surveyed by the ifo institute reflect a far grimmer outlook for 2025, as immediate challenges like weak demand, inflationary pressures, and trade uncertainties persist.\u00a0\n\nThe German stock market appears more aligned with the optimism of financial experts, as the DAX index hovers near record highs, surging 22% year-to-date - its best performance since 2019 - despite an economy on track for stagnant growth this year.\n\nThe contrast between improving financial sentiment and cautious business confidence highlights both the hopes for recovery and the structural issues that continue to constrain Europe\u2019s largest economy.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Financial experts' confidence in the German and Eurozone economies improved in December, buoyed by the European Central Bank's interest rate cut and expectations of economic policy shifts following Germany\u2019s upcoming snap elections.<\/p>\n<p>The ZEW Economic Sentiment Index for Germany, which reflects financial experts' six-month outlook, rose sharply to 15.7 points in December, up from 7.4 points in November, exceeding market forecasts of 6.5 points. This marks the index's highest reading in four months, as analysts anticipate pro-investment policies and further ECB rate cuts to support economic recovery.<\/p>\n<p>However, the optimism was tempered by worsening assessments of the present economic environment. The sub index measuring current conditions fell further into negative territory, dropping to -93.1 points, its lowest level since May 2020.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8916162,8915526\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//12//17//germanys-business-climate-hits-near-four-year-low-as-2025-outlook-darkens/">Germany's business climate hits near four-year low as 2025 outlook darkens<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//17//european-stock-markets-hit-by-germany-and-frances-political-upheavals/">European stock markets hit by Germany and France's political upheavals <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>ZEW President Achim Wambach highlighted the factors driving the improved outlook. \"With snap elections ahead in Germany and the resulting expectations of an economic policy encouraging private investment, as well as the prospect of further interest rate cuts, the economic outlook is improving. Our daily analyses also show that after the meeting of the European Central Bank\u2019s Governing Council on 12 December, experts still expect further interest rate cuts for the coming year.\"<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of no confidence on Monday, triggering early elections scheduled for February. The country's governing coalition fell apart last month due to a heated disagreement over the national budget.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8912828,8907832\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//12//16//german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-faces-vote-of-confidence-what-can-we-expect/">German chancellor Olaf Scholz faces vote of confidence: What can we expect?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//12//13//germany-tops-us-as-most-attractive-country-for-foreign-direct-investment/">Germany tops US as most attractive country for foreign direct investment<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Across the eurozone, financial experts' optimism similarly improved. The\u00a0ZEW Economic Sentiment Index\u00a0for the euro area climbed to\u00a017 points in December, up from\u00a012.5 points in November, surpassing estimates of\u00a012 points. Yet, the eurozone's current situation indicator fell by\u00a011.2 points to -55.0, highlighting ongoing economic struggles.<\/p>\n<p>In December's ZEW survey, Information Technology and Services sectord stood out with strong expectations for improvement, while sectors like Chemicals\/Pharmaceuticals and Steel faced a more pessimistic outlook.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The weaker sentiment in these sectors could reflect concerns over rising global trade tensions, including the risk of potential Trump tariffs being introduced next year, which may disproportionately impact export-dependent industries like chemicals and steel.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>ifo survey paints a bleaker business outlook<\/strong><\/h2><p>While financial experts surveyed by ZEW foresee improving conditions, the latest ifo Business Climate Index reveals a more pessimistic\u00a0<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//12//17//germanys-business-climate-hits-near-four-year-low-as-2025-outlook-darkens/">sentiment among German businesses.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The ifo index fell to 84.7 points in December, down from 85.6 points in November, marking its lowest reading since May 2020 and falling short of economic forecasts.<\/p>\n<p>The ifo subindex for current business conditions showed modest improvement, rising from 84.3 points to 85.1 points, slightly above expectations of 84 points.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, business expectations for the months ahead plunged to 84.4 points, down from a revised 87 points in November, marking their lowest level since February 2024.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-flourish widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart u-min-height-375\" data-src=\"visualisation\/20835489?92060\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2><strong>ZEW vs ifo: Financial sentiment versus business reality<\/strong><\/h2><p>The divergence between ZEW and ifo results reflects their differing methodologies and focuses. The ZEW Economic Sentiment Index measures the outlook of financial experts, who assess macroeconomic trends, monetary policy, and global market dynamics. This makes ZEW particularly sensitive to expectations of interest rate cuts and political changes, such as the snap elections in Germany.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, the ifo Business Climate Index surveys German businesses across industries, providing a more grounded perspective on current economic activity and future expectations. Businesses tend to react more directly to immediate operational challenges, such as weak demand, global competitiveness concerns, and rising input costs.<\/p>\n<p>While financial experts appear cautiously optimistic, businesses remain far more pessimistic about Germany\u2019s economic prospects heading into 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Stagflation risks persist as experts urge ECB caution<\/strong><\/h2><p>ZEW economist Friedrich Heinemann expressed concerns over inflationary pressures and trade risks in the aftermath of the US presidential election.<\/p>\n<p>\"It is good that the ECB Governing Council has refrained from making a major interest rate move. The ongoing wage pressure and high inflation in services prove that the wage-price spiral is still turning. Even more serious is that the risk of imported inflation has now grown since the US presidential election. If tariffs increase on both sides in US-Europe trade, this will drive up import prices. Germany must therefore expect continued stagflation next year, with mini-growth and excessive inflation.\"<\/p>\n<p>Heinemann emphasised that the European Central Bank must communicate carefully to signal that further rate cuts are not guaranteed, as premature easing could exacerbate inflationary risks.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Financial optimism vs business reality: Can Germany bridge the confidence gap?<\/strong><\/h2><p>Germany's economic sentiment offers a tale of two perspectives.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While financial experts remain optimistic about pro-investment policies following snap elections and the prospect of further ECB interest rate cuts, German businesses surveyed by the ifo institute reflect a far grimmer outlook for 2025, as immediate challenges like weak demand, inflationary pressures, and trade uncertainties persist.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The German stock market appears more aligned with the optimism of financial experts, as the DAX index hovers near record highs, surging 22% year-to-date - its best performance since 2019 - despite an economy on track for stagnant growth this year.<\/p>\n<p>The contrast between improving financial sentiment and cautious business confidence highlights both the hopes for recovery and the structural issues that continue to constrain Europe\u2019s largest economy.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734434421,"updatedAt":1734436234,"publishedAt":1734435448,"firstPublishedAt":1734435448,"lastPublishedAt":1734435448,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/64\/12\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6249bb4b-de93-5746-a373-777f812706f0-8916412.jpg","altText":"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, shakes hand with Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck after losing a vote of confidence in parliament ","caption":"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, shakes hand with Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck after losing a vote of confidence in parliament ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Markus Schreiber\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1280}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":10677,"slug":"german-economy","urlSafeValue":"german-economy","title":"German economy","titleRaw":"German economy"},{"id":7913,"slug":"european-markets","urlSafeValue":"european-markets","title":"European markets","titleRaw":"European markets"},{"id":17988,"slug":"manufacturing","urlSafeValue":"manufacturing","title":"Manufacturing","titleRaw":"Manufacturing"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":2},{"slug":"flourish","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2705994},{"id":2706272}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Piero Cingari","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business\/business"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/news\/international"},{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80022015","80023001","84031001","84032002","84111001","84112005","84131001","84132012","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","business","business_advertising","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","negative_news_financial","personal_finance","personal_finance_stocks","society","society_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/business\/2024\/12\/17\/can-germanys-improving-financial-sentiment-overcome-business-pessimism","lastModified":1734435448},{"id":2705246,"cid":8916162,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241217_ECSU_57296978","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business Germany\u2019s business climate hits near 4-year low as 2025 outlook darkens","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's business climate hits near four-year low as 2025 outlook darkens","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany's business climate at near 4-year low as 2025 outlook darkens","titleListing2":"Germany's business climate hits near 4-year low as 2025 outlook darkens","leadin":"A pessimistic outlook towards 2025 is gripping key sectors, with structural challenges and weak investment driving prolonged stagnation concerns for Europe's largest economy.","summary":"A pessimistic outlook towards 2025 is gripping key sectors, with structural challenges and weak investment driving prolonged stagnation concerns for Europe's largest economy.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-business-climate-hits-near-four-year-low-as-2025-outlook-darkens","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/12\/17\/germanys-business-climate-hits-near-four-year-low-as-2025-outlook-darkens","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany's business confidence has plunged to its lowest level since mid-2020, with firms signalling deteriorating expectations for the coming year.\n\nThe\u00a0ifo Business Climate Index\u00a0fell to\u00a084.7 points in December 2024, down from a downwardly revised\u00a085.6 points in November, and below analysts' expectations of\u00a085.6 points. This marks the weakest reading since May 2020, when pandemic-induced restrictions severely impacted German businesses.\n\nThe decline was evident across the manufacturing, services, and trade sectors, where future expectations turned increasingly pessimistic. In contrast, the construction sector showed slight improvement from previously depressed levels in its current assessment, though its outlook for the future remained downbeat.\n\n\"The decline was due in particular to more pessimistic expectations. By contrast, companies assessed the current situation as better. The weakness of the German economy has become chronic,\"\u00a0noted Clemens Fuest, President of the ifo Institute.\n\nBreaking down the data, the subindex for current business conditions saw a slight improvement, rising from\u00a084.3 points to 85.1 points, surpassing consensus estimates of\u00a084 points.\n\nHowever, the expectations sub index, which measures the sentiment on the outlook for the months ahead, dropped sharply to\u00a084.4 points, down from November's revised\u00a087 points, marking its lowest level since February 2024 and falling well short of the anticipated\u00a087.5 points.\n\nPessimism grips the German economy\n\nSentiment varied across sectors but remained overwhelmingly bleak. \"No sector is really optimistic about 2025. A lot of work awaits the new German government,\u201d said Klaus Wohlrabe, an ifo expert.\n\nIn the construction industry, a majority of firms (51.5%) expect a worsening business situation in 2025, while fewer than\u00a05%\u00a0foresee any improvement.\u00a0\n\nRetailers echoed this pessimism, with\u00a042.1%\u00a0anticipating further deterioration and only\u00a07.9%\u00a0expressing optimism. Half of the surveyed retail companies expect conditions to remain unchanged.\n\nIn services, optimism is slightly stronger, but still muted: 11.9% of businesses expect better conditions, while 28.2% foresee decline. Most service providers (59.9%) expect no change.\n\nIn the\u00a0manufacturing sector, companies appear equally downbeat. While\u00a015.7%\u00a0of firms expect an improvement,\u00a031.8%\u00a0anticipate a further decline. The majority (52.6%) predict no significant changes.\n\nIfo highlights \"creeping de-industralisation\" risks\n\nStructural challenges, not just cyclical weakness, are at the heart of Germany's gloom. Export-reliant manufacturing is suffering from a loss of competitiveness, especially outside Europe.\u00a0\n\nLara Zarges, an\u00a0ifo\u00a0economic expert, said: \"Due to structural location problems and high levels of uncertainty regarding the economic policy framework, companies are holding back on their investments.\"\n\nFor some economists, this stagnation raises a red flag. \"At the moment, it is not yet clear whether the current phase of stagnation is a temporary weakness or one that is permanent and hence a painful change in the economy,\u201d said Timo Wollmersh\u00e4user, deputy director of the\u00a0ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys.\n\nLast week, ifo slashed its growth forecasts, predicting that Germany's economy will contract by 0.1% in 2024 after shrinking 0.3% this year. A slight rebound to 0.4% growth is expected in 2025, with growth reaching 0.8% by 2026.\n\n\u00a0The long-term picture, however, raises concerns about \"creeping deindustrialisation\". In its baseline scenario, ifo institute predicts that the share of manufacturing in Germany\u2019s total gross value added will decline, with companies relocating production and investments abroad.\u00a0\n\nProductivity growth remains weak, as industrial output gives way to less productive services.\n\nMarket reactions: Euro weakens, bund yields fall\n\nThe deteriorating economic outlook weighed on German financial markets. The\u00a0euro\u00a0weakened on Tuesday, with the EUR\/USD exchange rate slipping\u00a00.3%\u00a0to trade below 1.05.\n\nGerman sovereign bonds benefitted from increased investor demand, pushing yields on 10-year Bunds down to\u00a02.22%.\n\nEquities remained largely flat, with the\u00a0DAX index\u00a0showing little movement after a\u00a00.4% drop\u00a0the previous day. Among the top performers were\u00a0Airbus SE,\u00a0Siemens AG, and BMW AG, which rose\u00a01.5%,\u00a01%, and\u00a00.9%, respectively. In contrast,\u00a0Deutsche Post AG\u00a0and\u00a0Rheinmetall AG\u00a0were among the day\u2019s biggest laggards, falling\u00a02.2%\u00a0and\u00a02%, respectively.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany's business confidence has plunged to its lowest level since mid-2020, with firms signalling deteriorating expectations for the coming year.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0ifo Business Climate Index\u00a0fell to\u00a084.7 points in December 2024, down from a downwardly revised\u00a085.6 points in November, and below analysts' expectations of\u00a085.6 points. This marks the weakest reading since May 2020, when pandemic-induced restrictions severely impacted German businesses.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8915526,8912828\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//12//16//german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-faces-vote-of-confidence-what-can-we-expect/">German chancellor Olaf Scholz faces vote of confidence: What can we expect?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//17//european-stock-markets-hit-by-germany-and-frances-political-upheavals/">European stock markets hit by Germany and France's political upheavals <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The decline was evident across the manufacturing, services, and trade sectors, where future expectations turned increasingly pessimistic. In contrast, the construction sector showed slight improvement from previously depressed levels in its current assessment, though its outlook for the future remained downbeat.<\/p>\n<p>\"The decline was due in particular to more pessimistic expectations. By contrast, companies assessed the current situation as better. The weakness of the German economy has become chronic,\"\u00a0noted Clemens Fuest, President of the ifo Institute.<\/p>\n<p>Breaking down the data, the subindex for current business conditions saw a slight improvement, rising from\u00a084.3 points to 85.1 points, surpassing consensus estimates of\u00a084 points.<\/p>\n<p>However, the expectations sub index, which measures the sentiment on the outlook for the months ahead, dropped sharply to\u00a084.4 points, down from November's revised\u00a087 points, marking its lowest level since February 2024 and falling well short of the anticipated\u00a087.5 points.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-flourish widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart u-min-height-375\" data-src=\"visualisation\/20828393?92060\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2><strong>Pessimism grips the German economy<\/strong><\/h2><p>Sentiment varied across sectors but remained overwhelmingly bleak. \"No sector is really optimistic about 2025. A lot of work awaits the new German government,\u201d said Klaus Wohlrabe, an ifo expert.<\/p>\n<p>In the construction industry, a majority of firms (51.5%) expect a worsening business situation in 2025, while fewer than\u00a05%\u00a0foresee any improvement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Retailers echoed this pessimism, with\u00a042.1%\u00a0anticipating further deterioration and only\u00a07.9%\u00a0expressing optimism. Half of the surveyed retail companies expect conditions to remain unchanged.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8910080,8871914\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//12//13//germanys-bundesbank-warns-of-economic-stagnation-as-trade-war-looms/">Germany's Bundesbank warns of economic stagnation as trade war looms<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//11//25//germany-business-morale-worsens-further-is-industrial-competitiveness-at-risk/">Germany business morale worsens further: Is industrial competitiveness at risk?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In services, optimism is slightly stronger, but still muted: 11.9% of businesses expect better conditions, while 28.2% foresee decline. Most service providers (59.9%) expect no change.<\/p>\n<p>In the\u00a0manufacturing sector, companies appear equally downbeat. While\u00a015.7%\u00a0of firms expect an improvement,\u00a031.8%\u00a0anticipate a further decline. The majority (52.6%) predict no significant changes.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Ifo highlights \"creeping de-industralisation\" risks<\/strong><\/h2><p>Structural challenges, not just cyclical weakness, are at the heart of Germany's gloom. Export-reliant manufacturing is suffering from a loss of competitiveness, especially outside Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Lara Zarges, an\u00a0ifo\u00a0economic expert, said: \"Due to structural location problems and high levels of uncertainty regarding the economic policy framework, companies are holding back on their investments.\"<\/p>\n<p>For some economists, this stagnation raises a red flag. \"At the moment, it is not yet clear whether the current phase of stagnation is a temporary weakness or one that is permanent and hence a painful change in the economy,\u201d said Timo Wollmersh\u00e4user, deputy director of the\u00a0ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, ifo slashed its growth forecasts, predicting that Germany's economy will contract by 0.1% in 2024 after shrinking 0.3% this year. A slight rebound to 0.4% growth is expected in 2025, with growth reaching 0.8% by 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0The long-term picture, however, raises concerns about \"creeping deindustrialisation\". In its baseline scenario, ifo institute predicts that the share of manufacturing in Germany\u2019s total gross value added will decline, with companies relocating production and investments abroad.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Productivity growth remains weak, as industrial output gives way to less productive services.<\/p>\n<h2>Market reactions: Euro weakens, bund yields fall<\/h2><p>The deteriorating economic outlook weighed on German financial markets. The\u00a0euro\u00a0weakened on Tuesday, with the EUR\/USD exchange rate slipping\u00a00.3%\u00a0to trade below 1.05.<\/p>\n<p>German sovereign bonds benefitted from increased investor demand, pushing yields on 10-year Bunds down to\u00a02.22%.<\/p>\n<p>Equities remained largely flat, with the\u00a0DAX index\u00a0showing little movement after a\u00a00.4% drop\u00a0the previous day. Among the top performers were\u00a0Airbus SE,\u00a0Siemens AG, and BMW AG, which rose\u00a01.5%,\u00a01%, and\u00a00.9%, respectively. In contrast,\u00a0Deutsche Post AG\u00a0and\u00a0Rheinmetall AG\u00a0were among the day\u2019s biggest laggards, falling\u00a02.2%\u00a0and\u00a02%, respectively.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734430490,"updatedAt":1734431823,"publishedAt":1734431784,"firstPublishedAt":1734431784,"lastPublishedAt":1734431784,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/61\/62\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b4fd232d-9dc4-5445-af18-0b90131e9d77-8916162.jpg","altText":"Blast furnaces stand on the premises of Thyssenkrupp Steel, in Duisburg - German business confidence for 2025 is low","caption":"Blast furnaces stand on the premises of Thyssenkrupp Steel, in Duisburg - German business confidence for 2025 is low","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Federico Gambarini\/(c) Copyright 2024, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":10677,"slug":"german-economy","urlSafeValue":"german-economy","title":"German economy","titleRaw":"German economy"},{"id":17988,"slug":"manufacturing","urlSafeValue":"manufacturing","title":"Manufacturing","titleRaw":"Manufacturing"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":2},{"slug":"flourish","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2705312},{"id":2706272}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Piero Cingari","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/news\/international"},{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":72,"urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80022015","80023001","84031001","84032002","84032006","84091001","84092019","84111001","84112005","84131001","84132008","84132012","84201001","84202001"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","business","business_advertising","business_construction","hobbies_and_interests","hobbies_and_interests_inventors_and_patents","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","negative_news_financial","personal_finance","personal_finance_investing","personal_finance_stocks","shopping","shopping_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/business\/2024\/12\/17\/germanys-business-climate-hits-near-four-year-low-as-2025-outlook-darkens","lastModified":1734431784},{"id":2703862,"cid":8912828,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241215_NWSU_57283155","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Germany Curtainraiser vote of confidence","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German chancellor Olaf Scholz faces vote of confidence: What can we expect?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German Bundestag vote of confidence: What can we expect?","titleListing2":"German chancellor Olaf Scholz faces vote of confidence; What can we expect?","leadin":"The German Bundestag will hold of confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government on Monday. What does this mean?","summary":"The German Bundestag will hold of confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government on Monday. What does this mean?","keySentence":"","url":"german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-faces-vote-of-confidence-what-can-we-expect","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/12\/16\/german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-faces-vote-of-confidence-what-can-we-expect","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The German Bundestag is holding a vote of confidence for Chancellor Olaf Scholz today.\n\nAfter the collapse of the German \"traffic light coalition\" and Scholz governing with a minority coalition consisting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green party, the Chancellor had promised to call a vote of confidence.\n\nScholz formally submitted the motion to Bundestag President B\u00e4rbel Bas last Wednesday.\n\nWhat is the vote of confidence?\n\nThe vote of confidence is a political means by which the Federal Chancellor can check whether or not the Bundestag trusts him and his policies. \n\nIt was introduced into German law after the Second World War to ensure that the Federal Chancellor could not dissolve the Bundestag on his own. So far, the vote of confidence has been called five times in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. \n\nThe last time was almost 20 years ago by former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schr\u00f6der.\n\nThe vote of confidence is regulated by Article 68 of the German constitution. It also states that the motion of confidence must be received at least 48 hours before the vote. Scholz met the deadline with his motion last Wednesday.\n\nOn Monday, Scholz will justify his motion in a short speech to the Bundestag. The motion will be decided by means of a roll-call vote. \n\nIt is generally expected that Scholz will lose the vote of confidence - in other words, that the majority in the Bundestag will no longer have confidence in him and his government.\n\nHis SPD party currently holds 207 seats in the Bundestag. The remaining coalition party, the Greens, has 117 seats. \n\nIn total, the MPs of the two parties would therefore not reach the majority of 367. Additionally, some Green MPs have already announced that they will abstain.\n\nWhat happens after?\n\nIf Scholz loses the vote of confidence as expected, he will then propose to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that the Bundestag be dissolved. \n\nSteinmeier can decide whether or not to dissolve the Bundestag. Steinmeier already indicated in a speech in November that he would do so if Scholz loses.\n\nAccording to media reports, it is not yet clear when Steinmeier will make his decision. However, he must dissolve the Bundestag within 21 days following a request for dissolution. \n\nNew elections must then be held within 60 days, as stipulated in Article 39 of the German constitution. \n\nThe date for the new elections has already been set for 23 February 2025. In order to meet this deadline, the German media expects Steinmeier to dissolve the Bundestag after the Christmas holidays on 27 December.\n\nWith the prospect of new elections, the election campaign will really get going. The parties' draft election programmes are already available, and the SPD, FDP and CDU\/CSU intend to adopt and publish their programmes on Tuesday.\n\nIn the current polls, the CDU\/CSU is far ahead of Olaf Scholz's SPD. \n\nAccording to politics professor Dr Hajo Funke, the FDP is the biggest loser of the vote of confidence: \"The SPD and the Greens seem to be benefiting from the end of the coalition and SPD leader Olaf Scholz feels liberated by the dissolution of the coalition.\"\n\nRegarding the election campaign, Funke says: \"The three core issues - economic crisis management, social justice and war\/peace - will dominate the election campaign.\"\n\nJust hours after Donald Trump was elected US president for the second time, the German government collapsed. \n\nScholz sacked Finance Minister Christian Lindner. The subsequent press conference was, surprisingly for the population, characterised by emotions. Since then, Chancellor Scholz has governed with a minority government consisting of his SPD and the Greens.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The German Bundestag is holding a vote of confidence for Chancellor Olaf Scholz today.<\/p>\n<p>After the collapse of the German \"traffic light coalition\" and Scholz governing with a minority coalition consisting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green party, the Chancellor had promised to call a vote of confidence.<\/p>\n<p>Scholz formally submitted the motion to Bundestag President B\u00e4rbel Bas last Wednesday.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the vote of confidence?<\/h2><p>The vote of confidence is a political means by which the Federal Chancellor can check whether or not the Bundestag trusts him and his policies. <\/p>\n<p>It was introduced into German law after the Second World War to ensure that the Federal Chancellor could not dissolve the Bundestag on his own. So far, the vote of confidence has been called five times in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. <\/p>\n<p>The last time was almost 20 years ago by former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schr\u00f6der.<\/p>\n<p>The vote of confidence is regulated by Article 68 of the German constitution. It also states that the motion of confidence must be received at least 48 hours before the vote. Scholz met the deadline with his motion last Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, Scholz will justify his motion in a short speech to the Bundestag. The motion will be decided by means of a roll-call vote. <\/p>\n<p>It is generally expected that Scholz will lose the vote of confidence - in other words, that the majority in the Bundestag will no longer have confidence in him and his government.<\/p>\n<p>His SPD party currently holds 207 seats in the Bundestag. The remaining coalition party, the Greens, has 117 seats. <\/p>\n<p>In total, the MPs of the two parties would therefore not reach the majority of 367. Additionally, some Green MPs have already announced that they will abstain.<\/p>\n<h2>What happens after?<\/h2><p>If Scholz loses the vote of confidence as expected, he will then propose to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that the Bundestag be dissolved. <\/p>\n<p>Steinmeier can decide whether or not to dissolve the Bundestag. Steinmeier already indicated in a speech in November that he would do so if Scholz loses.<\/p>\n<p>According to media reports, it is not yet clear when Steinmeier will make his decision. However, he must dissolve the Bundestag within 21 days following a request for dissolution. <\/p>\n<p>New elections must then be held within 60 days, as stipulated in Article 39 of the German constitution. <\/p>\n<p>The date for the new elections has already been set for 23 February 2025. In order to meet this deadline, the German media expects Steinmeier to dissolve the Bundestag after the Christmas holidays on 27 December.<\/p>\n<p>With the prospect of new elections, the election campaign will really get going. The parties' draft election programmes are already available, and the SPD, FDP and CDU\/CSU intend to adopt and publish their programmes on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>In the current polls, the CDU\/CSU is far ahead of Olaf Scholz's SPD. <\/p>\n<p>According to politics professor Dr Hajo Funke, the FDP is the biggest loser of the vote of confidence: \"The SPD and the Greens seem to be benefiting from the end of the coalition and SPD leader Olaf Scholz feels liberated by the dissolution of the coalition.\"<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the election campaign, Funke says: \"The three core issues - economic crisis management, social justice and war\/peace - will dominate the election campaign.\"<\/p>\n<p>Just hours after Donald Trump was elected US president for the second time, the German government collapsed. <\/p>\n<p>Scholz sacked <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////de.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//11//06//deutsche-regierungskoalition-zerbricht-kanzler-scholz-entlasst-finanzminister-lindner/">Finance Minister Christian Lindner<\/strong><\/a>. The subsequent press conference was, surprisingly for the population, characterised by emotions. Since then, Chancellor Scholz has governed with a minority government consisting of his SPD and the Greens.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734275481,"updatedAt":1734338451,"publishedAt":1734325252,"firstPublishedAt":1734325252,"lastPublishedAt":1734338451,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/28\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2101bd07-98e1-51f9-b616-59fa06891440-8912832.jpg","altText":"Olaf Scholz formally requested a vote of confidence on 11 December.","caption":"Olaf Scholz formally requested a vote of confidence on 11 December.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Markus Schreiber\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2968,"urlSafeValue":"muller","title":"Anne Frieda M\u00fcller","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":7903,"slug":"bundestag","urlSafeValue":"bundestag","title":"Bundestag","titleRaw":"Bundestag"},{"id":14588,"slug":"olaf-scholz","urlSafeValue":"olaf-scholz","title":"Olaf Scholz","titleRaw":"Olaf Scholz"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2701526},{"id":2710828}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"S3lG30qek1w","dailymotionId":"x9ava4a"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/12\/15\/en\/241215_NWSU_57283155_57283200_65000_083745_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":65000,"filesizeBytes":8654648,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/12\/15\/en\/241215_NWSU_57283155_57283200_65000_083745_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":65000,"filesizeBytes":13028664,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84111001","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","society","society_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isAutomatic":1,"isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":8912832,"online":1},"path":"\/2024\/12\/16\/german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-faces-vote-of-confidence-what-can-we-expect","lastModified":1734338451},{"id":2702442,"cid":8910080,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241213_ECSU_57268920","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business Germany forecast","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's Bundesbank warns of economic stagnation as trade war looms","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany's Bundesbank warns of economic stagnation as trade war looms","titleListing2":"Germany\u2019s Bundesbank warns of economic stagnation as trade war looms","leadin":"The fortune of the eurozone\u2019s largest economy is gloomy, especially with President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House.","summary":"The fortune of the eurozone\u2019s largest economy is gloomy, especially with President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-bundesbank-warns-of-economic-stagnation-as-trade-war-looms","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/12\/13\/germanys-bundesbank-warns-of-economic-stagnation-as-trade-war-looms","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany\u2019s economy will contract this year and will hardly grow in 2025, according to new forecasts from Germany\u2019s central bank - the Bundesbank.\n\nNational output is expected to shrink by 0.2% this year, down from the Bundesbank\u2019s prediction of 0.3% growth - delivered in June.\n\nIn 2025, output is set to increase by a meagre 0.2%, compared to the previously-forecasted 1.1%.\n\nFor 2026 and 2027, the Bundesbank forecasts growth of 0.8% and 0.9%.\n\nThe sick man of Europe\n\nWhile other nations are suffering from high borrowing costs, Germany\u2019s economy has been doing particularly badly.\n\nDue to its former reliance on Russian energy, the country was hit disproportionately by energy price spikes following the invasion of Ukraine.\n\nA number of factors are making it difficult for the country to get back on its feet - including an ageing population, creaking infrastructure, and productivity-hampering red tape.\n\nA decline in the Chinese economy has also hit growth in the year to date, with the Asian market representing a key market for German exports.\n\nGermany\u2019s global exports fell more than expected in October, according to data also published on Friday by the federal statistics office.\n\nExports fell by 2.8% compared with the previous month.\n\nExports to China decreased by 3.8% on the month, exports to the US were down 14.2%, and exports to EU countries dropped by 0.7%.\n\nPolitical complications\n\nPolitical turmoil complicates the country\u2019s economic situation, with snap elections called in February.\n\nThe so-called \u2018traffic light\u2019 coalition collapsed in Germany last month when Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his Finance Minister Christian Lindner - blaming a budgetary dispute.\n\nThe Bundesbank also warned on Friday that politics further afield could come to bite Berlin.\n\nIf President-elect Donald Trump delivers on his promise to impose tariffs on US imports, Germany\u2019s GDP forecast for 2027 could be 1.3%-1.4% below the baseline scenario.\n\nModelling looks at a scenario where the US imposes a 10% tariff on European goods and a 60% levy on Chinese exports.\n\nThe German economy is likely to \u201csuffer considerably\u2026from such a US policy shift,\u201d said Friday\u2019s report.\n\n\u201cIts strong reliance on exports makes it particularly vulnerable to the decline in foreign demand resulting from the global trade losses triggered by the restrictive trade policy. The heightened uncertainty further burdens the German economy.\u201d\n\nOn inflation (HICP), the Bundesbank forecasts only a slight fall next year - from an annual average of 2.5\u202f% to 2.4\u202f%.\n\nThis is due to the temporarily steeper rise in food prices and only slowly abating price pressures affecting services.\u00a0\n\nFrom 2026 onwards, the Bundesbank predicts the inflation rate will \u201cgradually return\u201d to 2%.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany\u2019s economy will contract this year and will hardly grow in 2025, according to new forecasts from Germany\u2019s central bank - the Bundesbank.<\/p>\n<p>National output is expected to shrink by 0.2% this year, down from the Bundesbank\u2019s prediction of 0.3% growth - delivered in June.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025, output is set to increase by a meagre 0.2%, compared to the previously-forecasted 1.1%.<\/p>\n<p>For 2026 and 2027, the Bundesbank forecasts growth of 0.8% and 0.9%.<\/p>\n<h2>The sick man of Europe<\/h2><p>While other nations are suffering from high borrowing costs, Germany\u2019s economy has been doing particularly badly.<\/p>\n<p>Due to its former reliance on Russian energy, the country was hit disproportionately by energy price spikes following the invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>A number of factors are making it difficult for the country to get back on its feet - including an ageing population, creaking infrastructure, and productivity-hampering red tape.<\/p>\n<p>A decline in the Chinese economy has also hit growth in the year to date, with the Asian market representing a key market for German exports.<\/p>\n<p>Germany\u2019s global exports fell more than expected in October, according to data also published on Friday by the federal statistics office.<\/p>\n<p>Exports fell by 2.8% compared with the previous month.<\/p>\n<p>Exports to China decreased by 3.8% on the month, exports to the US were down 14.2%, and exports to EU countries dropped by 0.7%.<\/p>\n<h2>Political complications<\/h2><p>Political turmoil complicates the country\u2019s economic situation, with snap elections called in February.<\/p>\n<p>The so-called \u2018traffic light\u2019 coalition collapsed in Germany last month when Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his Finance Minister Christian Lindner - blaming a budgetary dispute.<\/p>\n<p>The Bundesbank also warned on Friday that politics further afield could come to bite Berlin.<\/p>\n<p>If President-elect Donald Trump delivers on his promise to impose tariffs on US imports, Germany\u2019s GDP forecast for 2027 could be 1.3%-1.4% below the baseline scenario.<\/p>\n<p>Modelling looks at a scenario where the US imposes a 10% tariff on European goods and a 60% levy on Chinese exports.<\/p>\n<p>The German economy is likely to \u201csuffer considerably\u2026from such a US policy shift,\u201d said Friday\u2019s report.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIts strong reliance on exports makes it particularly vulnerable to the decline in foreign demand resulting from the global trade losses triggered by the restrictive trade policy. The heightened uncertainty further burdens the German economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On inflation (HICP), the Bundesbank forecasts only a slight fall next year - from an annual average of 2.5\u202f% to 2.4\u202f%.<\/p>\n<p>This is due to the temporarily steeper rise in food prices and only slowly abating price pressures affecting services.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>From 2026 onwards, the Bundesbank predicts the inflation rate will \u201cgradually return\u201d to 2%.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734089906,"updatedAt":1734103687,"publishedAt":1734090578,"firstPublishedAt":1734090578,"lastPublishedAt":1734103687,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/91\/00\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_38dda69d-34ee-5d70-b59d-dca40068ae56-8910080.jpg","altText":"Containers are stacked at the cargo terminal, in Frankfurt, Germany. 6 December 2024.","caption":"Containers are stacked at the cargo terminal, in Frankfurt, Germany. 6 December 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growth"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2704378},{"id":2705062}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":72,"urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80022015","80023001","84111001","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","negative_news_financial","society","society_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/business\/2024\/12\/13\/germanys-bundesbank-warns-of-economic-stagnation-as-trade-war-looms","lastModified":1734103687},{"id":2701526,"cid":8907432,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241212_E3SU_57258561","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY VOTE PREVIEW","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"What's next for the German government?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German MPs to vote if they hold confidence in Scholz on Monday","titleListing2":"What's next for the German government?","leadin":"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has officially submitted his vote of confidence to the parliament before German MPs will vote on Monday. \nBut considering Germany's economic instability what is at stake?","summary":"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has officially submitted his vote of confidence to the parliament before German MPs will vote on Monday. \nBut considering Germany's economic instability what is at stake?","keySentence":"","url":"whats-next-for-the-german-government","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/12\/whats-next-for-the-german-government","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The last time a German chancellor asked a vote of confidence was almost 20 years ago. \n\nBut December 16 will see German leader Olaf Scholz ask members of the Bundestag to vote if they still support him. Scholz is widely expected to lose the vote, which will see German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolve parliament in under three weeks, paving the way for snap elections as early as February 23.\n\nWhy is the vote being called now?\n\nThe German government collapsed just hours after US President Donald Trump was elected for a second time, with Scholz firing German Finance Minister Christian Lindner in a surprising display of emotion that was on display during the press conference that followed.\n\nSince then, it has emerged that Lindner's party pre-planned the break up of the coalition, and despite their best efforts to try to have early elections held early to claw back some popularity, there are concerns that the Liberals (FDP) won't reach more than the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament.\n\nProfessor of political studies Dr Hajo Funke says that whilst the FDP are the biggest losers of Scholz holding his vote of confidence, the other coalition parties are benefiting.\n\n\"The SPD and Greens, on the other hand, appear to benefit from the coalition\u2019s end. SPD leader Olaf Scholz feels liberated by the dissolution of the coalition,\" he says.\n\n\"There\u2019s renewed debate about whether a ceasefire in Ukraine is possible. Scholz sees this as advantageous, especially as the Greens and CDU have supported escalation strategies that many in the public no longer favour. Second, there\u2019s the economic crisis and differing approaches to tackling it. The CDU has been hesitant to adjust the 'debt brake,' although economists argue reform is necessary. Scholz\u2019s SPD has a clearer stance on this compared to the CDU and Greens, who appear divided. Lastly, social issues such as housing affordability (e.g., rent caps) now fall under the SPD\u2019s purview without FDP interference,\" Funke adds.\n\nBut what exactly is at stake with the new elections?\n\nWith Germany's economy continuing to stagnate as major companies such as Volkswagen, ThyssenKrupp and Bosch plan to axe tens of thousands of jobs and markets, including electric vehicles, move towards Asian markets, there is a risk that political instability could continue to discourage the economy from recovering.\n\nFunke says the political parties are feeling the pressure.\n\n\"Given the severe crises in the automotive and steel industries, as well as among suppliers, coupled with extraordinarily low growth prospects compared to other countries, there is significant pressure to implement certain measures before the elections in two and a half months.\"\n\n 'Divisive policies could sway voters' \n\n\"These measures include reducing 'cold progression,' which is perceived as unfair, addressing rent control, and securing funding for Ukraine support, particularly regarding the Taurus decision. These are all highly debated points and will play a crucial role both before and during the election campaign,\" he says.\n\nDespite Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens no longer holding majority, they are making effort to work together with the Conservatives (CDU) regarding these economic and social decisions. CDU are currently leading in the polls.\n\n\"The CDU, however, finds itself in a tactical dilemma: if it fails to act, it risks appearing socially and economically indifferent, which would not serve its interests. On the other hand, if it mishandles things now, it risks undermining voter trust in the party. Thus, some compromises will likely be made,\" Funke adds.\n\nWhat is the most likely outcome?\n\nFunke says that there are two most likely scenarios: a coalition between the CDU and the Greens, or between the CDU and the SPD. \n\n\"The SPD remains hopeful they could receive as many votes as the CDU, but that doesn\u2019t seem probable at the moment. These two are the most likely coalition options.\" he says.\n\n\"Given the chaos of the current Ampel (traffic light) coalition, any new coalition, regardless of how long negotiations take, will strive for stability. The pressure to form an effective, socially sensitive, and peace-oriented government is immense. This urgency will influence voters, many of whom remain undecided - around one-third, at the moment. However, the political landscape is highly volatile, making this election cycle particularly unpredictable.\"\n\nThe three core issues, economic crisis management, social equity, and war and peace are going to be the key elements that decide the vote.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The last time a German chancellor asked a vote of confidence was almost 20 years ago. <\/p>\n<p>But December 16 will see German leader Olaf Scholz ask members of the Bundestag to vote if they still support him. Scholz is widely expected to lose the vote, which will see German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolve parliament in under three weeks, paving the way for snap elections as early as February 23.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why is the vote being called now?<\/strong><\/h2><p>The German government collapsed just hours after US President Donald Trump was elected for a second time, with Scholz firing German Finance Minister Christian Lindner in a surprising display of emotion that was on display during the press conference that followed.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, it has emerged that Lindner's party pre-planned the break up of the coalition, and despite their best efforts to try to have early elections held early to claw back some popularity, there are concerns that the Liberals (FDP) won't reach more than the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1864940568352043194\"><\/div>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Latest federal government poll<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Professor of political studies Dr Hajo Funke says that whilst the FDP are the biggest losers of Scholz holding his vote of confidence, the other coalition parties are benefiting.<\/p>\n<p>\"The SPD and Greens, on the other hand, appear to benefit from the coalition\u2019s end. SPD leader Olaf Scholz feels liberated by the dissolution of the coalition,\" he says.<\/p>\n<p>\"There\u2019s renewed debate about whether a ceasefire in Ukraine is possible. Scholz sees this as advantageous, especially as the Greens and CDU have supported escalation strategies that many in the public no longer favour. Second, there\u2019s the economic crisis and differing approaches to tackling it. The CDU has been hesitant to adjust the 'debt brake,' although economists argue reform is necessary. Scholz\u2019s SPD has a clearer stance on this compared to the CDU and Greens, who appear divided. Lastly, social issues such as housing affordability (e.g., rent caps) now fall under the SPD\u2019s purview without FDP interference,\" Funke adds.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>But what exactly is at stake with the new elections?<\/strong><\/h2><p>With Germany's economy continuing to stagnate as major companies such as Volkswagen, ThyssenKrupp and Bosch plan to axe tens of thousands of jobs and markets, including electric vehicles, move towards Asian markets, there is a risk that political instability could continue to discourage the economy from recovering.<\/p>\n<p>Funke says the political parties are feeling the pressure.<\/p>\n<p>\"Given the severe crises in the automotive and steel industries, as well as among suppliers, coupled with extraordinarily low growth prospects compared to other countries, there is significant pressure to implement certain measures before the elections in two and a half months.\"<\/p>\n<h2>'Divisive policies could sway voters'<\/h2><p>\"These measures include reducing 'cold progression,' which is perceived as unfair, addressing rent control, and securing funding for Ukraine support, particularly regarding the Taurus decision. These are all highly debated points and will play a crucial role both before and during the election campaign,\" he says.<\/p>\n<p>Despite Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens no longer holding majority, they are making effort to work together with the Conservatives (CDU) regarding these economic and social decisions. CDU are currently leading in the polls.<\/p>\n<p>\"The CDU, however, finds itself in a tactical dilemma: if it fails to act, it risks appearing socially and economically indifferent, which would not serve its interests. On the other hand, if it mishandles things now, it risks undermining voter trust in the party. Thus, some compromises will likely be made,\" Funke adds.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is the most likely outcome?<\/strong><\/h2><p>Funke says that there are two most likely scenarios: a coalition between the CDU and the Greens, or between the CDU and the SPD. <\/p>\n<p>\"The SPD remains hopeful they could receive as many votes as the CDU, but that doesn\u2019t seem probable at the moment. These two are the most likely coalition options.\" he says.<\/p>\n<p>\"Given the chaos of the current <em>Ampel<\/em> (traffic light) coalition, any new coalition, regardless of how long negotiations take, will strive for stability. The pressure to form an effective, socially sensitive, and peace-oriented government is immense. This urgency will influence voters, many of whom remain undecided - around one-third, at the moment. However, the political landscape is highly volatile, making this election cycle particularly unpredictable.\"<\/p>\n<p>The three core issues, economic crisis management, social equity, and war and peace are going to be the key elements that decide the vote.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1734000702,"updatedAt":1734779811,"publishedAt":1734023346,"firstPublishedAt":1734023346,"lastPublishedAt":1734779811,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/74\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_666bdf1a-6d5f-5e3f-aa98-ebc19bc756ad-8907428.jpg","altText":"Archive: The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz","caption":"Archive: The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Markus Schreiber\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2904,"urlSafeValue":"stroud","title":"Liv Stroud","twitter":"@livstroud"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":14588,"slug":"olaf-scholz","urlSafeValue":"olaf-scholz","title":"Olaf Scholz","titleRaw":"Olaf Scholz"},{"id":13620,"slug":"christian-democrats","urlSafeValue":"christian-democrats","title":"christian democrats","titleRaw":"christian democrats"},{"id":7955,"slug":"social-democrats","urlSafeValue":"social-democrats","title":"Social-Democrats","titleRaw":"Social-Democrats"},{"id":7903,"slug":"bundestag","urlSafeValue":"bundestag","title":"Bundestag","titleRaw":"Bundestag"},{"id":11939,"slug":"elections","urlSafeValue":"elections","title":"Elections","titleRaw":"Elections"},{"id":17318,"slug":"greens","urlSafeValue":"greens","title":"Greens","titleRaw":"Greens"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"twitter","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2691292},{"id":2706696}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"oAE-P2_kMK0","dailymotionId":"x9aoxz8"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/12\/12\/en\/241212_E3SU_57258561_57263612_152960_191524_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":152960,"filesizeBytes":19239430,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/12\/12\/en\/241212_E3SU_57258561_57263612_152960_191524_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":152960,"filesizeBytes":29185030,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","84011001","84012006","84021001","84022001","84111001","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["a_and_e_music","aggregated_all_moderate_content","arts_and_entertainment","automotive","automotive_general","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","society","society_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/12\/whats-next-for-the-german-government","lastModified":1734779811},{"id":2701198,"cid":8906374,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241212_BUSU_57256074","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"BUSINESS - Up to 10,000 Bosch jobs at risk in Germany,","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Bosch: Up to 10,000 German jobs at risk as car market stutters","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Bosch: Up to 10,000 German jobs at risk as car market stutters","titleListing2":"Bosch: Up to 10,000 German jobs at risk as car market stutters","leadin":"The world's largest supplier of car parts has been hit by weak demand, strong Chinese competition and slow transition to EVs.","summary":"The world's largest supplier of car parts has been hit by weak demand, strong Chinese competition and slow transition to EVs.","keySentence":"","url":"bosch-up-to-10000-german-jobs-at-risk-as-car-market-stutters","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/12\/12\/bosch-up-to-10000-german-jobs-at-risk-as-car-market-stutters","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Bosch has revealed it is likely to cut more jobs at its German plants than previously anticipated. The industrial giant's car supplier arm believes between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs are at risk, according to the group's vice chairman of the supervisory board Frank Sell, quoted by Reuters. \n\nEmployee representatives and unions are drawing up an action plan for 2025 that would not rule out strikes, he added.\n\nCNN quoted the company's spokesperson as saying that the company expects to cut 8,250 of its worldwide workforce over the coming years. \n\n\"The difficult economic environment and the ongoing transformation in the automotive industry are presenting us - like other companies - with major challenges. It is important for us to remain competitive under these conditions,\" CNN quoted Bosch as saying in a statement.\n\nBosch announced a few weeks ago that it planned to cut some 5,500 jobs over the next several years, because of stagnant demand for cars and new technology.\n\nThe European car market is suffering, hit by weak demand, high production costs, Chinese competition and the slow transition to electric vehicles.\n\nThe Bosch Group employs around 135,000 people in Germany.\n\nThe company didn't immediately respond to Euronews Business' request for comment. \n\nEuropean car makers have been announcing a series of cost-cutting measures as they try to steer their way through the problems. However, production costs remain high, especially in Germany, and Chinese competition is squeezing margins which are already suffering because of the slow transition to electric vehicles.\n\nVolkswagen is currently making headlines as thousands of its workers take industrial action as unions fight with management to avoid unprecedented plant closures, along with job and pay cuts. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Bosch has revealed it is likely to cut more jobs at its German plants than previously anticipated. The industrial giant's car supplier arm believes between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs are at risk, according to the group's vice chairman of the supervisory board Frank Sell, quoted by Reuters. <\/p>\n<p>Employee representatives and unions are drawing up an action plan for 2025 that would not rule out strikes, he added.<\/p>\n<p>CNN quoted the company's spokesperson as saying that the company expects to cut 8,250 of its worldwide workforce over the coming years. <\/p>\n<p>\"The difficult economic environment and the ongoing transformation in the automotive industry are presenting us - like other companies - with major challenges. It is important for us to remain competitive under these conditions,\" CNN quoted Bosch as saying in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Bosch announced a few weeks ago that it planned to cut some 5,500 jobs over the next several years, because of stagnant demand for cars and new technology.<\/p>\n<p>The European car market is suffering, hit by weak demand, high production costs, Chinese competition and the slow transition to electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>The Bosch Group employs around 135,000 people in Germany.<\/p>\n<p>The company didn't immediately respond to Euronews Business' request for comment. <\/p>\n<p>European car makers have been announcing a series of cost-cutting measures as they try to steer their way through the problems. However, production costs remain high, especially in Germany, and Chinese competition is squeezing margins which are already suffering because of the slow transition to electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Volkswagen is currently making headlines as thousands of its workers take industrial action as unions fight with management to <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//12//10//volkswagen-strike-still-a-long-way-from-a-viable-solution/">avoid unprecedented plant closures<\/strong><\/a>, along with job and pay cuts. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1733981563,"updatedAt":1734010212,"publishedAt":1733989902,"firstPublishedAt":1733989902,"lastPublishedAt":1733989902,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/63\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0d957641-7e9c-5bde-9813-0a2ce76731cf-8906374.jpg","altText":"The Bosch plant in Hildesheim, Germany, is shown Friday, Nov 22, 2024","caption":"The Bosch plant in Hildesheim, Germany, is shown Friday, Nov 22, 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Alicia Windzio\/(c) Copyright 2024, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":624}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":582,"urlSafeValue":"katanich","title":"Doloresz Katanich","twitter":"@doloreskatanich"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11131,"slug":"bosch","urlSafeValue":"bosch","title":"Bosch","titleRaw":"Bosch"},{"id":6657,"slug":"jobs","urlSafeValue":"jobs","title":"Jobs","titleRaw":"Jobs"},{"id":18038,"slug":"job-loss","urlSafeValue":"job-loss","title":"job loss","titleRaw":"job loss"},{"id":10677,"slug":"german-economy","urlSafeValue":"german-economy","title":"German economy","titleRaw":"German economy"},{"id":7906,"slug":"car-industry-in-crisis","urlSafeValue":"car-industry-in-crisis","title":"Car industry in crisis","titleRaw":"Car industry in crisis"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2701376},{"id":2702212}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business\/business"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84021001","84022011","84031001","84032013","84041001","84042001"],"slugs":["automotive","automotive_electric_vehicle","business","business_metals","careers","careers_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/business\/2024\/12\/12\/bosch-up-to-10000-german-jobs-at-risk-as-car-market-stutters","lastModified":1733989902},{"id":2701274,"cid":8906476,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241212_MKSU_57256475","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business Euro weakens ahead of the ECB rate decision","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Euro weakens ahead of the ECB rate decision due out later today","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Euro weakens ahead of the ECB rate decision due out later today ","titleListing2":"Euro weakens ahead of the ECB rate decision due out later today","leadin":"The euro further declined against the US dollar following the release of US inflation data on Wednesday. Markets will be closely watching the upcoming ECB decision today.","summary":"The euro further declined against the US dollar following the release of US inflation data on Wednesday. Markets will be closely watching the upcoming ECB decision today.","keySentence":"","url":"euro-weakens-ahead-of-the-ecb-rate-decision-due-out-later-today","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/12\/euro-weakens-ahead-of-the-ecb-rate-decision-due-out-later-today","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The euro continued to weaken against the US dollar following the US CPI data on Wednesday. The pair of EUR\/USD fell for the fourth straight trading day to just under 1.05, the lowest since 2 December. However, the single currency rebounded slightly in the early Asian session on Thursday ahead of the European Central Bank (ECB)'s rate decision later today.\u00a0\n\nUS inflation sticks\n\nUS headline inflation rose by 2.7% year-over-year in November, up from 2.6% in the previous month. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose by 0.3% month-over-month and by 3.3% year-over-year. Both data were in line with consensus estimates, reinforcing expectations for the Fed to implement the third rate cut in December, though the cut would stay modest at 25 basis points.\u00a0\n\nThe US dollar strengthened further following the data, exerting pressure on other currencies including the euro. The euro steadied against the USD in late November after tumbling to a one-year low. However, the dollar's strength returned following the stronger-than-expected US non-farm payroll last Friday, upending the rebounding trend in the euro.\u00a0\n\nAdditionally, Trump's presidency is likely to raise pressure on inflation in the US and slow the pace of rate cuts in 2025. Should the Fed pause its easing cycle, the dollar may extend its rally. Michael Brown, a senior research analyst at Pepperstone, wrote in a note: \"The pace of policy normalisation is likely to be much slower in 2025.\"\u00a0\n\nEuro's weakness likely to persist in 2025\n\nLooking ahead, the euro faces greater downside risks than upside potential. The euro has fallen by nearly 4% since early November. Globally, Trump's tariff threats have weighed on the euro. Domestically, political uncertainties and weak economic growth continue to undermine the Eurozone's competitiveness. \n\nDespite these challenges, the ECB is likely to keep its gradual pace on rate cuts, with markets expecting a 25 basis-point reduction later today. Some analysts believe the bank will have to accelerate its easing cycle in 2025. Accroding to a consensus by Reuters, the bank is expected to cut the interest rates by another 1% in the new year, bringing the deposit rates to 2%.\u00a0\n\nBoth Germany and France are grappling with political uncertainties due to the surging power of the right-wing parties. In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has requested a confident vote in parliament, scheduled for 16 December, which could potentially lead to an early federal election next year. In France, the government is facing difficulties securing parliamentary passage for the new year's budget on 16 December, which may impede efforts to reduce the country's deficit.\u00a0\n\nThe government bond yields of Germany and France have experienced sharp declines since late November to 2.13% and 2.90% respectively. This reflects heightened expectations for deeper rate cuts by the ECB. The spreads between the 10-year government bond yield of both countries - a key indicator of market sentiment - had surged to 89, the highest since 2012 at a point amid concerns about a potential French government collapse.\u00a0\n\nIn contrast, the yield on the US 10-year government bond steadied at a high level of 4.29%. The divergent movements in bond yields may continue to attract investors seeking a high-yielding US dollar, further weighing on the euro.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The euro continued to weaken against the US dollar following the US CPI data on Wednesday. The pair of EUR\/USD fell for the fourth straight trading day to just under 1.05, the lowest since 2 December. However, the single currency rebounded slightly in the early Asian session on Thursday ahead of the European Central Bank (ECB)'s rate decision later today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>US inflation sticks<\/strong><\/h2><p>US headline inflation rose by 2.7% year-over-year in November, up from 2.6% in the previous month. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose by 0.3% month-over-month and by 3.3% year-over-year. Both data were in line with consensus estimates, reinforcing expectations for the Fed to implement the third rate cut in December, though the cut would stay modest at 25 basis points.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The US dollar strengthened further following the data, exerting pressure on other currencies including the euro. The euro steadied against the USD in late November after tumbling to a one-year low. However, the dollar's strength returned following the stronger-than-expected US non-farm payroll last Friday, upending the rebounding trend in the euro.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8904670,8880918\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//12//11//ecb-set-to-trim-interest-rates-again-whats-next-and-why-it-matters/">ECB set to trim interest rates again: What's next and why it matters<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//11//29//eurozones-inflation-rate-rises-to-23-should-the-ecb-be-concerned/">Eurozone's inflation rate rises to 2.3%: Should the ECB be concerned?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Additionally, Trump's presidency is likely to raise pressure on inflation in the US and slow the pace of rate cuts in 2025. Should the Fed pause its easing cycle, the dollar may extend its rally. Michael Brown, a senior research analyst at Pepperstone, wrote in a note: \"The pace of policy normalisation is likely to be much slower in 2025.\"\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Euro's weakness likely to persist in 2025<\/strong><\/h2><p>Looking ahead, the euro faces greater downside risks than upside potential. The euro has fallen by nearly 4% since early November. Globally, Trump's tariff threats have weighed on the euro. Domestically, political uncertainties and weak economic growth continue to undermine the Eurozone's competitiveness. <\/p>\n<p>Despite these challenges, the ECB is likely to keep its gradual pace on rate cuts, with markets expecting a 25 basis-point reduction later today. Some analysts believe the bank will have to accelerate its easing cycle in 2025. Accroding to a consensus by Reuters, the bank is expected to cut the interest rates by another 1% in the new year, bringing the deposit rates to 2%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Both Germany and France are grappling with political uncertainties due to the surging power of the right-wing parties. In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has requested a confident vote in parliament, scheduled for 16 December, which could potentially lead to an early federal election next year. In France, the government is facing difficulties securing parliamentary passage for the new year's budget on 16 December, which may impede efforts to reduce the country's deficit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The government bond yields of Germany and France have experienced sharp declines since late November to 2.13% and 2.90% respectively. This reflects heightened expectations for deeper rate cuts by the ECB. The spreads between the 10-year government bond yield of both countries - a key indicator of market sentiment - had surged to 89, the highest since 2012 at a point amid concerns about a potential French government collapse.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, the yield on the US 10-year government bond steadied at a high level of 4.29%. The divergent movements in bond yields may continue to attract investors seeking a high-yielding US dollar, further weighing on the euro.\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1733986093,"updatedAt":1733987145,"publishedAt":1733987058,"firstPublishedAt":1733987058,"lastPublishedAt":1733987058,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/64\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3956bde2-1923-591f-9ffb-283fa09100f9-8906476.jpg","altText":"Two euro notes on a table","caption":"Two euro notes on a table","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Hans Ripa Unsplash+","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1281}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11266,"slug":"eurogroup","urlSafeValue":"eurogroup","title":"Eurogroup","titleRaw":"Eurogroup"},{"id":106,"slug":"eurozone","urlSafeValue":"eurozone","title":"Eurozone","titleRaw":"Eurozone"},{"id":572,"slug":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","titleRaw":"Economy"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2700830},{"id":2701182}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Tina Teng","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"markets","urlSafeValue":"markets","title":"Markets","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/markets\/markets"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"markets","urlSafeValue":"markets","title":"Markets","url":"\/business\/markets"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe 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PM Shmyhal Berlin","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Ukraine PM asks Germany to help pave the way for Ukrainian refugees' eventual return home","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Shmyhal calls on Germany to help pave the way for refugees' return","titleListing2":"Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal urged Germany to help create safe conditions for the evenual return of Ukrainian refugees to their homeland.","leadin":"Ukrainian prime minister Denis Shmyhal urged Germany to help create safe conditions for the return of Ukrainian refugees to their homeland.","summary":"Ukrainian prime minister Denis Shmyhal urged Germany to help create safe conditions for the return of Ukrainian refugees to their homeland.","keySentence":"","url":"ukraine-pm-asks-germany-to-help-pave-the-way-for-ukrainian-refugees-eventual-return-home","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/11\/ukraine-pm-asks-germany-to-help-pave-the-way-for-ukrainian-refugees-eventual-return-home","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"\"We are interested in bringing all Ukrainians back\", said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a press conference attended by Euronews and a handful of other media, which took place on the sidelines of the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum.\n\nShmyhal also emphasised that security remains a key factor for these refugees. \"They\u2019re waiting for the war to finish,\" he explained, urging Germany to help create safe conditions to go back when that happens.\n\nThe creation of mutual joint infrastructure between German authorities and the new Ukrainian Ministry of National Unity in Berlin are a priority for both countries, said the prime minister. He also confirmed discussions are taking place between the Ukrainian delegation - featuring newly appointed Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov, among others - and the German delegation, which includes Chancellor Olaf Scholz.\n\nFollowing his surprise visit to Kyiv last week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the German Bundestag, sharing he had spoken \"at great length\" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Germany and the creation of a German-Ukrainian agency.\n\nScholz emphasised the need for Germany to ensure that as many Ukrainian refugees as possible enter the workforce after completing language training and other preparatory measures. He acknowledged that while the government\u2019s job programme, titled \"job-turbo\", had yielded some successes, it was not sufficient to meet current challenges.\n\nShmyhal confirmed that the agency's primary mission is \"to unite Ukrainians worldwide\". \"We need to coordinate efforts for all of them,\" he stated. \"But many of them are already coming back to Ukraine now. We should create these conditions together - Ukrainian and German authorities, as well as authorities in Poland and Czechia - to bring back as many Ukrainians as possible under good security conditions.\" \n\nWhen it came to ending the war, Shmyhal said that freezing the front lines would lead \"to the next more dramatic aggression from the Russian side,\" which would be neither in the interest of Ukraine nor the European Union, he explained.\n\nOn the subject of bringing back Ukrainian refugees, Shmyhal did not specify what the desired conditions of that process would entail. Additionally, it is unclear whether the aforementioned agency could play a role in Ukraine's mobilisation effort. \n\nIn April this year, the Ukrainian government called on Ukrainian men who have fled the country to register with the Ukrainian military, while implementing stricter measures such as refusing to issue new passports abroad to compel men to return and potentially join the armed forces. \n\nAccording to the Federal Statistical Office, more than 1.2 million Ukrainians, including 200,000 men of military age, have been living in Germany since February 2022.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>\"We are interested in bringing all Ukrainians back\", said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a press conference attended by Euronews and a handful of other media, which took place on the sidelines of the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum.<\/p>\n<p>Shmyhal also emphasised that security remains a key factor for these refugees. \"They\u2019re waiting for the war to finish,\" he explained, urging Germany to help create safe conditions to go back when that happens.<\/p>\n<p>The creation of mutual joint infrastructure between German authorities and the new Ukrainian Ministry of National Unity in Berlin are a priority for both countries, said the prime minister. He also confirmed discussions are taking place between the Ukrainian delegation - featuring newly appointed Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov, among others - and the German delegation, which includes Chancellor Olaf Scholz.<\/p>\n<p>Following his <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//02//germanys-scholz-makes-surprise-visit-to-kyiv-at-crucial-timing/">surprise visit to Kyiv<\/strong><\/a> last week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the German Bundestag, sharing he had spoken \"at great length\" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Germany and the creation of a German-Ukrainian agency.<\/p>\n<p>Scholz emphasised the need for Germany to ensure that as many Ukrainian refugees as possible enter the workforce after completing language training and other preparatory measures. He acknowledged that while the government\u2019s job programme, titled \"job-turbo\", had yielded some successes, it was not sufficient to meet current challenges.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8891072,8889704\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//12//04//scholz-draws-line-at-german-peacekeeping-troops-in-ukraine/">Scholz draws line at German peacekeeping troops in Ukraine<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//05//war-and-peace-will-germanys-election-shape-ukraines-future/">War and peace: Will Germany's election shape Ukraine's future?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Shmyhal confirmed that the agency's primary mission is \"to unite Ukrainians worldwide\". \"We need to coordinate efforts for all of them,\" he stated. \"But many of them are already coming back to Ukraine now. We should create these conditions together - Ukrainian and German authorities, as well as authorities in Poland and Czechia - to bring back as many Ukrainians as possible under good security conditions.\" <\/p>\n<p>When it came to ending the war, Shmyhal said that freezing the front lines would lead \"to the next more dramatic aggression from the Russian side,\" which would be neither in the interest of Ukraine nor the European Union, he explained.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.75\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//90//59//18//808x608_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg/" alt=\"Ukranian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at today&#39;s press conference in Berlin.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/384x288_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/640x480_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/750x563_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/828x621_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/1080x810_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/1200x900_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/1920x1440_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Ukranian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at today&#39;s press conference in Berlin.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Johanna Urbancik<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>On the subject of bringing back Ukrainian refugees, Shmyhal did not specify what the desired conditions of that process would entail. Additionally, it is unclear whether the aforementioned agency could play a role in Ukraine's mobilisation effort. <\/p>\n<p>In April this year, the Ukrainian government called on Ukrainian men who have fled the country to register with the Ukrainian military, while implementing stricter measures such as refusing to issue new passports abroad to compel men to return and potentially join the armed forces. <\/p>\n<p>According to the Federal Statistical Office, more than 1.2 million Ukrainians, including 200,000 men of military age, have been living in Germany since February 2022.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1733936699,"updatedAt":1738749447,"publishedAt":1733952286,"firstPublishedAt":1733952286,"lastPublishedAt":1738749447,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Johanna Urbancik","altText":"Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal at today's German-Ukrainian Economic Forum press conference.","callToActionText":null,"width":4032,"caption":"Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal at today's German-Ukrainian Economic Forum press conference.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9e3e2645-dfd9-5072-963f-630219202f96-8905918.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":3024},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":4032,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/59\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_de8e4c58-8b7f-5627-8a99-698f54288fc7-8905918.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":3024}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"urbancik","twitter":"johannaurbancik","id":2922,"title":"Johanna Urbancik"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"russia-ukraine-invasion","titleRaw":"Russia's invasion of Ukraine","id":26698,"title":"Russia's invasion of Ukraine","slug":"russia-ukraine-invasion"},{"urlSafeValue":"ukraine","titleRaw":"Ukraine","id":288,"title":"Ukraine","slug":"ukraine"},{"urlSafeValue":"denys-shmyhal","titleRaw":"Denys Shmyhal","id":28680,"title":"Denys Shmyhal","slug":"denys-shmyhal"},{"urlSafeValue":"berlin","titleRaw":"Berlin","id":1734,"title":"Berlin","slug":"berlin"},{"urlSafeValue":"olaf-scholz","titleRaw":"Olaf Scholz","id":14588,"title":"Olaf Scholz","slug":"olaf-scholz"},{"urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025","id":30264,"title":"German election 2025","slug":"german-election-2025"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2700038},{"id":2702290}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"my-europe","id":2,"title":"Europe","slug":"my-europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","id":"europe-news","title":"Europe 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News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122009","80222009","84111001","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","human_made_disasters_high_and_medium_risk","human_made_disasters_high_medium_and_low_risk","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","society","society_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet-web","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/11\/ukraine-pm-asks-germany-to-help-pave-the-way-for-ukrainian-refugees-eventual-return-home","lastModified":1738749447},{"id":2700464,"cid":8904088,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241211_E3SU_57247730","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY SCHOLZ CONFIDENCE","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German chancellor Olaf Scholz requests confidence vote for next week","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz requests confidence vote","titleListing2":"German chancellor Olaf Scholz has formally requested a confidence vote, which is set to take place on 16 December.","leadin":"Scholz is expected to lose the vote in the German parliament's lower house, or Bundestag, which will take place on 16 December.","summary":"Scholz is expected to lose the vote in the German parliament's lower house, or Bundestag, which will take place on 16 December.","keySentence":"","url":"german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-requests-confidence-vote-for-next-week","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/11\/german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-requests-confidence-vote-for-next-week","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today requested a confidence vote in Germany's parliament, set to take place next week. He submitted the motion in writing to the President of the Bundestag, B\u00e4rbel Bas, as posted on his X account. The motion will then be published as a federal printed paper.\n\nThe vote will take place on 16 December. According to Article 68 of the Basic Law, the motion for a confidence vote must be submitted at least 48 hours before the vote. \n\nIf a majority of the Bundestag votes against the Chancellor next week - which is expected to be the case - the Chancellor will propose to the Federal President that the Bundestag be dissolved. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier can then decide whether or not to dissolve parliament. However, Steinmeier already indicated in a speech in November that this is the most likely scenario.\n\nFollowing the dissolution of the Bundestag, new elections must be held within 60 days, as stipulated in Article 39 of the Basic Law. The date for the new elections has already been set for February 23, 2025.\n\nAccording to media reports, it is not yet clear when Steinmeier will make his decision. \n\nGermany hasn't had a confidence vote since 2005, which former Chancellor Gerhard Schr\u00f6der lost as he engineered an early election that was narrowly won by centre-right challenger Angela Merkel.\n\nThe broken coalition that led to a vote of no confidence\n\nThe traffic light coalition, consisting of Scholz's Social Democrats, the FDP (Free Democratic Party) and the Greens collapsed on 6 November after Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner.\n\nLinder had broken his trust \u201ctoo often\u201d, Scholz told the press at the time, adding that there was \u201cno longer a basis of trust for further cooperation\u201d as the FDP chairman was more concerned with the survival of his own party.\n\nWith the FDP leaving the government, Scholz's party no longer had a majority in the Bundestag. Now, in order to pass legislation, the government would need the support of the opposition.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today requested a confidence vote in Germany's parliament, set to take place next week. He submitted the motion in writing to the President of the Bundestag, B\u00e4rbel Bas, as posted on his X account. The motion will then be published as a federal printed paper.<\/p>\n<p>The vote will take place on 16 December. According to Article 68 of the Basic Law, the motion for a confidence vote must be submitted at least 48 hours before the vote. <\/p>\n<p>If a majority of the Bundestag votes against the Chancellor next week - which is expected to be the case - the Chancellor will propose to the Federal President that the Bundestag be dissolved. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier can then decide whether or not to dissolve parliament. However, Steinmeier already indicated in a speech in November that this is the most likely scenario.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8872402,8837014\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//11//25//scholz-nominated-as-spd-partys-chancellor-candidate-after-weeks-of-doubt/">Scholz nominated as SPD party's chancellor candidate after weeks of doubt<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//11//06//german-coalition-government-collapses-chancellor-scholz-fires-finance-minister-lindner/">German coalition government collapses as Scholz fires his finance minister<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Following the dissolution of the Bundestag, new elections must be held within 60 days, as stipulated in Article 39 of the Basic Law. The date for the new elections has already been set for February 23, 2025.<\/p>\n<p>According to media reports, it is not yet clear when Steinmeier will make his decision. <\/p>\n<p>Germany hasn't had a confidence vote since 2005, which former Chancellor Gerhard Schr\u00f6der lost as he engineered an early election that was narrowly won by centre-right challenger Angela Merkel.<\/p>\n<h2>The broken coalition that led to a vote of no confidence<\/h2><p>The traffic light coalition, consisting of Scholz's Social Democrats, the FDP (Free Democratic Party) and the Greens collapsed on 6 November after Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner.<\/p>\n<p>Linder had broken his trust \u201ctoo often\u201d, Scholz told the press at the time, adding that there was \u201cno longer a basis of trust for further cooperation\u201d as the FDP chairman was more concerned with the survival of his own party.<\/p>\n<p>With the FDP leaving the government, Scholz's party no longer had a majority in the Bundestag. Now, in order to pass legislation, the government would need the support of the opposition.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1733907283,"updatedAt":1738749784,"publishedAt":1733943710,"firstPublishedAt":1733943710,"lastPublishedAt":1738749416,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Markus Schreiber\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"Olaf Scholz.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Olaf Scholz.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/00\/66\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_96068b5e-c0fa-50d3-b085-73de8fc9c2f9-8890066.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"olaf-scholz","titleRaw":"Olaf Scholz","id":14588,"title":"Olaf Scholz","slug":"olaf-scholz"},{"urlSafeValue":"bundestag","titleRaw":"Bundestag","id":7903,"title":"Bundestag","slug":"bundestag"},{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"},{"urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025","id":30264,"title":"German election 2025","slug":"german-election-2025"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2672096},{"id":2691292}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"Q6HhsP1JB2M","dailymotionId":"x9anelg"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":65920,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":8625171,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/12\/11\/en\/241211_E3SU_57247730_57247762_65920_214145_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":65920,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":12729875,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/12\/11\/en\/241211_E3SU_57247730_57247762_65920_214145_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"my-europe","id":2,"title":"Europe","slug":"my-europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","id":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","84091001","84092030"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","hobbies_and_interests","hobbies_and_interests_social_networking"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/11\/german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-requests-confidence-vote-for-next-week","lastModified":1738749416},{"id":2700492,"cid":8904168,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241211_BUSU_57248101","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business Zalando","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany\u2019s Zalando to acquire rival fashion retailer About You","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany\u2019s Zalando to acquire rival fashion retailer About You","titleListing2":"Germany\u2019s Zalando to acquire rival fashion retailer About You","leadin":"Zalando says the deal will help it to build a pan-European e-commerce platform.","summary":"Zalando says the deal will help it to build a pan-European e-commerce platform.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-zalando-to-acquire-rival-fashion-retailer-about-you","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/12\/11\/germanys-zalando-to-acquire-rival-fashion-retailer-about-you","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany\u2019s online retailer Zalando said on Wednesday that it had agreed to buy rival fashion group About You for around \u20ac1.1bn.\n\nZalando said it would offer \u20ac6.50 for each About You share, a premium of 67% on Tuesday\u2019s closing price.\n\nIt also represents a 107% premium on About You's three-month average stock price.\n\nAbout You\u2019s management and major shareholders, representing 73% of share capital, have agreed to sell their stakes - according to Zalando\u2019s press statement.\n\nThe transaction is expected to close in summer 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.\n\nAbout You, which was founded in 2014, counts more than 12 million active customers and stocks roughly 4,000 brands\n\nWednesday\u2019s statement noted that About You appeals to a \u201cyoung fashion audience\u201d and is therefore more \u201cstyle-led\u201d than Zalando - which tends to be more \u201cbrand-led\u201d.\n\nZalando add that the \u201ccomplementary strengths\u201d of the two businesses would \u201cseamlessly align to deliver a comprehensive and optimised offer for clients\u201d across Europe.\n\nOver the longer term, the process of combining operations is expected to generate about \u20ac100m a year in cost-savings.\n\nShares in Zalando were down more than 6% in daily trading at around 10h15 CET.\n\nAbout You shares were up around 63%.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany\u2019s online retailer Zalando said on Wednesday that it had agreed to buy rival fashion group About You for around \u20ac1.1bn.<\/p>\n<p>Zalando said it would offer \u20ac6.50 for each About You share, a premium of 67% on Tuesday\u2019s closing price.<\/p>\n<p>It also represents a 107% premium on About You's three-month average stock price.<\/p>\n<p>About You\u2019s management and major shareholders, representing 73% of share capital, have agreed to sell their stakes - according to Zalando\u2019s press statement.<\/p>\n<p>The transaction is expected to close in summer 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.<\/p>\n<p>About You, which was founded in 2014, counts more than 12 million active customers and stocks roughly 4,000 brands<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday\u2019s statement noted that About You appeals to a \u201cyoung fashion audience\u201d and is therefore more \u201cstyle-led\u201d than Zalando - which tends to be more \u201cbrand-led\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Zalando add that the \u201ccomplementary strengths\u201d of the two businesses would \u201cseamlessly align to deliver a comprehensive and optimised offer for clients\u201d across Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Over the longer term, the process of combining operations is expected to generate about \u20ac100m a year in cost-savings.<\/p>\n<p>Shares in Zalando were down more than 6% in daily trading at around 10h15 CET.<\/p>\n<p>About You shares were up around 63%.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1733909070,"updatedAt":1733923013,"publishedAt":1733912554,"firstPublishedAt":1733912554,"lastPublishedAt":1733912554,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/41\/68\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4d03b84f-e1d9-5319-a746-ec4b14c23607-8904168.jpg","altText":"Zalando office.","caption":"Zalando office.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Zalando\/Kirsten Bucher","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2500,"height":1667}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2734,"urlSafeValue":"butler","title":"Eleanor Butler","twitter":"@eleanorfbutler"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":111,"slug":"fashion","urlSafeValue":"fashion","title":"Fashion","titleRaw":"Fashion"},{"id":11065,"slug":"mergers-and-acquisitions","urlSafeValue":"mergers-and-acquisitions","title":"Mergers and acquisitions","titleRaw":"Mergers and acquisitions"},{"id":23252,"slug":"online-shop","urlSafeValue":"online-shop","title":"online shop","titleRaw":"online shop"},{"id":13804,"slug":"online-shopping","urlSafeValue":"online-shopping","title":"online shopping","titleRaw":"online shopping"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2700016},{"id":2700392},{"id":2700706}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business\/business"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84031001","84032001","84131001","84132012","84201001","84202001","84231001","84232005","84232006"],"slugs":["business","business_general","personal_finance","personal_finance_stocks","shopping","shopping_general","style_and_fashion","style_and_fashion_clothing","style_and_fashion_fashion"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/business\/2024\/12\/11\/germanys-zalando-to-acquire-rival-fashion-retailer-about-you","lastModified":1733912554},{"id":2699652,"cid":8901790,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241210_BUSU_57238995","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business Volkswagen strike: 'Still a long way from a viable solution'","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Volkswagen strike: 'Still a long way from a viable solution'","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Plant closures and job cuts: Volkswagen resumes talks with unions","titleListing2":"Volkswagen strike: 'Still a long way from a viable solution'","leadin":"Management and unions at Volkswagen have yet to find common ground in talks concerning the German car maker's proposal on possible job cuts and plant closures. Workers took strike action on Monday.","summary":"Management and unions at Volkswagen have yet to find common ground in talks concerning the German car maker's proposal on possible job cuts and plant closures. Workers took strike action on Monday.","keySentence":"","url":"volkswagen-strike-still-a-long-way-from-a-viable-solution","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/12\/10\/volkswagen-strike-still-a-long-way-from-a-viable-solution","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The fourth round of collective bargaining negotiations at Volkswagen AG on Monday failed to find a solution between management and unions.\u00a0\n\nThousands of employees downed tools for four hours in nine German plants as bosses and unions began a new round of negotiations over pay cuts and plant closures.\n\nThe renewed negotiations were aimed at ending a standoff between the German car maker and its employees after the car giant rejected the latest proposal put forward by the unions, including reduced working hours, lowering dividend payouts and cutting some bonuses, which all together meant saving \u20ac1.5bn.\u00a0\n\nAfter the talks on Monday, the company's chief negotiator Arne Meiswinkel said: \"We are still a long way from a viable solution,\" but added that the discussions were \"constructive\".\u00a0\n\nIn an email to Euronews, the company said: \"To reach our goal, we need a cost relief that can be implemented in the short term and has a lasting effect. This is the only way we can secure our future investments.\"\u00a0\n\nVolkswagen, struggling with poor demand in Europe and competition in China, wants to make \u20ac10bn of savings. It is considering the unprecedented closure of plants in Germany, slashing thousands of jobs and cutting pay by 10%. The company argues that it must lower costs in Germany in order to preserve its competitiveness.\u00a0\n\nThe management of Volkswagen AG aims to reduce the company's excess capacity, and lower factory costs, including high labour costs.\n\nAfter the negotiations, the dominant metal workers union IG Metall said on their website: \"The company's top management had announced that they wanted to cut wages, close plants and lay off thousands of employees.\"\u00a0\n\nUnions doubtful over cost-cutting measures\n\nBut the unions doubt that these are the only cost cuttings that can help. After the negotiations on Monday, IG Metall negotiator Thorsten Gr\u00f6ger said: \"A solution must be found without site closures and redundancies. ... The burden of supporting future investments must not be passed on unilaterally to the employees. The board of directors and shareholders also have a duty to make their fair contribution.\"\n\nGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz also joined the debate by calling on the car maker to hold off shutting down factories, Funke media group reported. Scholz acknowledged that it was up to the company and its staff representatives to discuss the matter.\n\nThe negotiations were accompanied on Monday by warning strikes at nine Volkswagen locations. According to the unions, around 68,000 employees stopped work early in the afternoon. Last week, 100,000 employees nationwide stopped work for two hours to take part of a so-called \"warning strike\".\u00a0\n\nOn Monday, 38,000 employees demonstrated in front of the carmakers headquarters in Wolfsburg, against the VW board's plans - plant closures, mass layoffs and wage cuts, according to IG Metall.\u00a0\n\nMore talks and more strikes are both on the cards\n\nTalks are to be resumed next week. IG Metall and Volkswagen have agreed to continue the collective bargaining talks on 16 and 17 December.\u00a0\n\nAccording to the chief negotiator of Volkswagen, discussions will be intensified \"at the operational level on plant occupancy and capacities in Germany.\"\n\nMeiswinkel added: \"Here too, the positions are still far apart. We still cannot rule out plant closures.\"\u00a0\n\nThe unions described the negotiations as \"conditionally willing to shape things\", but added that they was still \"a long way to go before a possible rapprochement\".\u00a0\n\nThe unions are threatening strikes in 2025 if a deal is not done.\n\n\"If there is no agreement in the interests of the employees before Christmas, IG Metall reserves the right to significantly intensify warning strike measures in 2025,\" said the union in a statement.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The fourth round of collective bargaining negotiations at Volkswagen AG on Monday failed to find a solution between management and unions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of employees downed tools for four hours in nine German plants as bosses and unions began a new round of negotiations over pay cuts and plant closures.<\/p>\n<p>The renewed negotiations were aimed at ending a standoff between the German car maker and its employees after the car giant rejected the latest proposal put forward by the unions, including reduced working hours, lowering dividend payouts and cutting some bonuses, which all together meant saving \u20ac1.5bn.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>After the talks on Monday, the company's chief negotiator Arne Meiswinkel said: \"We are still a long way from a viable solution,\" but added that the discussions were \"constructive\".\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8817968,8802984\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//10//21//volkswagen-given-hefty-fine-for-mistreatment-of-uk-customers/">Volkswagen faces hefty fine for mistreatment of UK customers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//10//28//volkswagen-set-to-close-three-german-plants-and-cut-thousands-of-jobs/">Volkswagen set to close three German factories and axe thousands of jobs<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In an email to Euronews, the company said: \"To reach our goal, we need a cost relief that can be implemented in the short term and has a lasting effect. This is the only way we can secure our future investments.\"\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Volkswagen, struggling with poor demand in Europe and competition in China, wants to make \u20ac10bn of savings. It is considering the unprecedented closure of plants in Germany, slashing thousands of jobs and cutting pay by 10%. The company argues that it must lower costs in Germany in order to preserve its competitiveness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The management of Volkswagen AG aims to reduce the company's excess capacity, and lower factory costs, including high labour costs.<\/p>\n<p>After the negotiations, the dominant metal workers union IG Metall said on their website: \"The company's top management had announced that they wanted to cut wages, close plants and lay off thousands of employees.\"\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Unions doubtful over cost-cutting measures<\/h2><p>But the unions doubt that these are the only cost cuttings that can help. After the negotiations on Monday, IG Metall negotiator Thorsten Gr\u00f6ger said: \"A solution must be found without site closures and redundancies. ... The burden of supporting future investments must not be passed on unilaterally to the employees. The board of directors and shareholders also have a duty to make their fair contribution.\"<\/p>\n<p>German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also joined the debate by calling on the car maker to hold off shutting down factories, Funke media group reported. Scholz acknowledged that it was up to the company and its staff representatives to discuss the matter.<\/p>\n<p>The negotiations were accompanied on Monday by warning strikes at nine Volkswagen locations. According to the unions, around 68,000 employees stopped work early in the afternoon. Last week, 100,000 employees nationwide stopped work for two hours to take part of a so-called \"warning strike\".\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, 38,000 employees demonstrated in front of the carmakers headquarters in Wolfsburg, against the VW board's plans - plant closures, mass layoffs and wage cuts, according to IG Metall.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>More talks and more strikes are both on the cards<\/strong><\/h2><p>Talks are to be resumed next week. IG Metall and Volkswagen have agreed to continue the collective bargaining talks on 16 and 17 December.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to the chief negotiator of Volkswagen, discussions will be intensified \"at the operational level on plant occupancy and capacities in Germany.\"<\/p>\n<p>Meiswinkel added: \"Here too, the positions are still far apart. We still cannot rule out plant closures.\"\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The unions described the negotiations as \"conditionally willing to shape things\", but added that they was still \"a long way to go before a possible rapprochement\".\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The unions are threatening strikes in 2025 if a deal is not done.<\/p>\n<p>\"If there is no agreement in the interests of the employees before Christmas, IG Metall reserves the right to significantly intensify warning strike measures in 2025,\" said the union in a statement.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1733827965,"updatedAt":1733830182,"publishedAt":1733829049,"firstPublishedAt":1733829049,"lastPublishedAt":1733829049,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/90\/17\/90\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f13406fa-51e2-5efd-8ac6-3cde6dd48ff4-8901790.jpg","altText":"IG Metall union members protest in front of the HQ of car maker Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany","caption":"IG Metall union members protest in front of the HQ of car maker Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Martin Meissner\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1280}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":5966,"slug":"volkswagen","urlSafeValue":"volkswagen","title":"Volkswagen","titleRaw":"Volkswagen"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":11029,"slug":"cars","urlSafeValue":"cars","title":"Cars","titleRaw":"Cars"},{"id":17988,"slug":"manufacturing","urlSafeValue":"manufacturing","title":"Manufacturing","titleRaw":"Manufacturing"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2699448}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Doloresz Katanich","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business\/business"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe 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GERMAN CHEMTRAILS","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Video of German pilot fired for refusing to spray chemtrails is satirical","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Video of German pilot fired for refusing to spray chemtrails is satire","titleListing2":"Video of German pilot fired for refusing to spray chemtrails is satirical","leadin":"Social media users are sharing a spoof news package in which a former Lufthansa pilot is suing the company for unfair dismissal after he refused to release chemtrails over the public.","summary":"Social media users are sharing a spoof news package in which a former Lufthansa pilot is suing the company for unfair dismissal after he refused to release chemtrails over the public.","keySentence":"","url":"video-of-german-pilot-fired-for-refusing-to-spray-chemtrails-is-satirical","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/12\/10\/video-of-german-pilot-fired-for-refusing-to-spray-chemtrails-is-satirical","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The old chemtrail conspiracy theory has once again reared its head, as people share as factual a satirical German news report about a pilot who was fired for unfair dismissal.\n\nIn the viral video, a journalist reports on the pilot who claims Lufthansa fired him for refusing to drop harmful substances on the Europeans below.\n\nBecause of his actions, Lufthansa got in trouble with \"secret world governments\" and had to pay millions of euros in fines for breaking their contractual chemtrail obligations, according to a so-called expert in the report.\n\nThe video is often shared with captions claiming that it\u2019s proof the alleged \"elite\" wants to fumigate and manipulate the public.\n\nOne post in particular has been seen more than half a million times as of the time of this report, and it's been shared in other languages too.\n\nNevertheless, none of what it claims is true.\n\nThe chemtrail conspiracy theory is a long-running, factually incorrect claim that the vapour trails that planes leave in the sky are actually \"chemtrails\", containing harmful chemicals that the \"elite\" uses to control the general public.\n\nSome say the purpose of the chemtrails is to modify the weather, while others allege they can be used for psychological manipulation, population control or even chemical warfare.\n\nThe conspiracy theories have been discredited for years, and the video in question even has a note in Slovak that appears at the top left of the screen, describing chemtrails as such.\n\nTurning to features of the viral report more specifically, a reverse image search from one of the frames in the video directs us to where it originally comes from \u2014 a German website called Der Postillon.\n\nYou can see that a watermark in the video also matches up with Der Postillon's logo.\n\nIf you scroll down to the website's FAQ page, the first question asks whether the content produced by Der Postillon is true.\n\nThe answer explicitly states that everything found on the site is satire and \"a blatant lie\".\n\n\"Every character that appears is fictional, and any resemblance to living people is purely coincidental,\" the website says. \"This should actually be obvious, although numerous comments point out that much here is taken at face value.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The old chemtrail conspiracy theory has once again reared its head, as people share as factual a satirical German news report about a pilot who was fired for unfair dismissal.<\/p>\n<p>In the viral video, a journalist reports on the pilot who claims Lufthansa fired him for refusing to drop harmful substances on the Europeans below.<\/p>\n<p>Because of his actions, Lufthansa got in trouble with \"secret world governments\" and had to pay millions of euros in fines for breaking their contractual chemtrail obligations, according to a so-called expert in the report.<\/p>\n<p>The video is often shared with captions claiming that it\u2019s proof the alleged \"elite\" wants to fumigate and manipulate the public.<\/p>\n<p>One post in particular has been seen more than half a million times as of the time of this report, and it's been shared in other languages too.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, none of what it claims is true.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//89//05//52//808x454_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg/" alt=\"The post tries to present the satirical video as factual\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/384x216_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/640x360_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/750x422_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/828x466_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/1080x608_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/1200x675_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/1920x1080_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The post tries to present the satirical video as factual<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The chemtrail conspiracy theory is a long-running, factually incorrect claim that the vapour trails that planes leave in the sky are actually \"chemtrails\", containing harmful chemicals that the \"elite\" uses to control the general public.<\/p>\n<p>Some say the purpose of the chemtrails is to modify the weather, while others allege they can be used for psychological manipulation, population control or even chemical warfare.<\/p>\n<p>The conspiracy theories have been discredited for years, and the video in question even has a note in Slovak that appears at the top left of the screen, describing chemtrails as such.<\/p>\n<p>Turning to features of the viral report more specifically, a reverse image search from one of the frames in the video directs us to where it originally comes from \u2014 a German website called Der Postillon.<\/p>\n<p>You can see that a watermark in the video also matches up with Der Postillon's logo.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//89//05//52//808x454_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg/" alt=\"The logos from the video and the website appear to match up.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/384x216_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/640x360_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/750x422_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/828x466_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/1080x608_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/1200x675_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/1920x1080_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The logos from the video and the website appear to match up.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you scroll down to the website's FAQ page, the first question asks whether the content produced by Der Postillon is true.<\/p>\n<p>The answer explicitly states that everything found on the site is satire and \"a blatant lie\".<\/p>\n<p>\"Every character that appears is fictional, and any resemblance to living people is purely coincidental,\" the website says. \"This should actually be obvious, although numerous comments point out that much here is taken at face value.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1733321325,"updatedAt":1733819225,"publishedAt":1733813114,"firstPublishedAt":1733813114,"lastPublishedAt":1733813118,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_67b301b1-dc79-553a-bf6c-389f965bb93d-8890552.jpg","altText":"Plane vapour trails or contrails have long been the subject of the chemtrail conspiracy theory.","caption":"Plane vapour trails or contrails have long been the subject of the chemtrail conspiracy theory.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Canva","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e71f7825-4fda-5a42-8df9-75676cfdb99c-8890552.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_29935314-fcd5-5ac6-ae61-432742280045-8890552.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/05\/52\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_769ce0d0-801a-5611-b504-709411d7644c-8890552.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2290,"urlSafeValue":"thomas-ja","title":"James 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Europe Series","url":"\/my-europe\/my-europe-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":60,"urlSafeValue":"my-europe-series","title":"Europe Series"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/10\/video-of-german-pilot-fired-for-refusing-to-spray-chemtrails-is-satirical","lastModified":1733813118},{"id":2698508,"cid":8898488,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"241209_E3SU_57227659","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"MERTZ IN KWIV","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's CDU leader Friedrich Merz visits Kyiv to reaffirm support","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany's CDU leader Friedrich Merz visits Kyiv to reaffirm support","titleListing2":"Germany's opposition CDU leader, Friedrich Merz, met with Ukrainain President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to reaffirm his support, one week after a visit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.","leadin":"Friedrich Merz, the CDU\u2019s candidate for chancellor in Germany\u2019s upcoming snap elections in February, is looking to shore up support among his base.","summary":"Friedrich Merz, the CDU\u2019s candidate for chancellor in Germany\u2019s upcoming snap elections in February, is looking to shore up support among his base.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-cdu-leader-friedrich-merz-visits-kyiv-to-reaffirm-support","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/09\/germanys-cdu-leader-friedrich-merz-visits-kyiv-to-reaffirm-support","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"During a visit to Kyiv on Monday, the leader of Germany\u2019s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, said his party stands firmly with Ukraine.\n\n\"I am very much looking forward to meeting the president [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] again and would like to find out during the day what the situation in Ukraine is like, and what we can do to help this battered country defend itself against Russian aggression,\" Merz said upon his arrival.\n\nMerz, the CDU\u2019s candidate for chancellor in Germany\u2019s upcoming elections on 23 February, is looking to shore up support for his base ahead of the snap polls.\n\nAfter his meeting with President Zelenskyy, Merz wrote on X: \"Friends. Allies. Partners.\" He stressed that Germany \"will do everything to support Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself. For freedom. For peace. For the people of Ukraine.\"\n\nOn his part, the Ukrainian president said the two discussed \"the need to increase military aid for the next year,\" as well as Ukraine's integration into the EU. \"We agreed on the importance of enhancing Ukraine\u2019s long-range capabilities and extending an invitation to NATO,\" he added.\n\nMerz's visit followed that of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the Ukrainian capital last week. Scholz, who is contesting for reelection after the collapse of his government in November, has drawn criticism for refusing to supply Kyiv with long-range Taurus missiles.\n\nHowever, as the largest supplier of weapons and military equipment aside from the US, Germany continues to remain a vital ally for Ukraine, while a debate on its support for the country has been a major pre-election topic.\n\nA significant amount of German voters have grown tired of the nearly three-year war against the Russian invasion, and have turned their support to far-right and far-left parties that oppose arms deliveries to Ukraine. \n\nPolitical uncertainty in Berlin over Ukraine\n\nThe 68-year-old Merz, chosen in September to be the CDU's candidate for chancellor, wants to maintain support for Ukraine. \n\nWith the trajectory of the Ukraine war still uncertain, Kyiv is also waiting to learn the plans of incoming US president Donald Trump, and recently increased talks with European allies.\n\nOther campaign issues are Berlin's ailing economy, which led to the collapse of the government in the first place, and the issue of migration.\n\nGermany has been governed since 2021 by a coalition led by Olaf Scholz\u2019s left-leaning Social Democrats, which included the smaller pro-business Free Democrats and the Greens.\n\nThe coalition, which has become unpopular, suffered losses in the European Parliament elections earlier this year as well as in recent state elections in Thuringia and Saxony.\n\nFollowing the collapse of Scholz's coalition with the Liberals and Greens in November, Chancellor Scholz consented to hold a vote of confidence on 16 December, a necessary step ahead of early federal elections as the chancellor must first call the vote in parliament.\n\nThe Christian Democrats are seen as Germany's strongest party, with some polls projecting Merz to succeed Scholz in February. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>During a visit to Kyiv on Monday, the leader of Germany\u2019s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, said his party stands firmly with Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>\"I am very much looking forward to meeting the president [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] again and would like to find out during the day what the situation in Ukraine is like, and what we can do to help this battered country defend itself against Russian aggression,\" Merz said upon his arrival.<\/p>\n<p>Merz, the CDU\u2019s candidate for chancellor in Germany\u2019s upcoming elections on 23 February, is looking to shore up support for his base ahead of the snap polls.<\/p>\n<p>After his meeting with President Zelenskyy, Merz wrote on X: \"Friends. Allies. Partners.\" He stressed that Germany \"will do everything to support Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself. For freedom. For peace. For the people of Ukraine.\"<\/p>\n<p>On his part, the Ukrainian president said the two discussed \"the need to increase military aid for the next year,\" as well as Ukraine's integration into the EU. \"We agreed on the importance of enhancing Ukraine\u2019s long-range capabilities and extending an invitation to NATO,\" he added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1866099976318878160\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Merz's visit followed that of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the Ukrainian capital last week. Scholz, who is contesting for reelection after the collapse of his government in November, has drawn criticism for refusing to supply Kyiv with long-range Taurus missiles.<\/p>\n<p>However, as the largest supplier of weapons and military equipment aside from the US, Germany continues to remain a vital ally for Ukraine, while a debate on its support for the country has been a major pre-election topic.<\/p>\n<p>A significant amount of German voters have grown tired of the nearly three-year war against the Russian invasion, and have turned their support to far-right and far-left parties that oppose arms deliveries to Ukraine. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8872402,8890070\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//04//german-foreign-minister-open-to-sending-peacekeeping-troops-to-ukraine/">Germany open to sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, foreign minister says<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//11//25//scholz-nominated-as-spd-partys-chancellor-candidate-after-weeks-of-doubt/">Scholz nominated as SPD party's chancellor candidate after weeks of doubt<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Political uncertainty in Berlin over Ukraine<\/h2><p>The 68-year-old Merz, chosen in September to be the CDU's candidate for chancellor, wants to maintain support for Ukraine. <\/p>\n<p>With the trajectory of the Ukraine war still uncertain, Kyiv is also waiting to learn the plans of incoming US president Donald Trump, and recently increased talks with European allies.<\/p>\n<p>Other campaign issues are Berlin's ailing<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////apnews.com//article//germany-government-economy-scholz-trump-8e7f77fe36d711d7192a8c96a4c41353/"> <\/a>economy, which led to the collapse of the government in the first place, and the issue of migration.<\/p>\n<p>Germany has been governed since 2021 by a coalition led by Olaf Scholz\u2019s left-leaning Social Democrats, which included the smaller pro-business Free Democrats and the Greens.<\/p>\n<p>The coalition, which has become unpopular, suffered losses in the European Parliament elections earlier this year as well as in recent state elections in Thuringia and Saxony.<\/p>\n<p>Following the collapse of Scholz's coalition with the Liberals and Greens in November, Chancellor Scholz consented to hold a vote of confidence on 16 December, a necessary step ahead of early federal elections as the chancellor must first call the vote in parliament.<\/p>\n<p>The Christian Democrats are seen as Germany's strongest party, with some polls projecting Merz to succeed Scholz in February. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1733733493,"updatedAt":1738749786,"publishedAt":1733759264,"firstPublishedAt":1733759264,"lastPublishedAt":1738749537,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Markus Schreiber\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.","altText":"The CDU's candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz has travelled to Kyiv.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"The CDU's candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz has travelled to Kyiv.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/89\/85\/00\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d3095129-9977-5f81-9f86-a4895bf1511f-8898500.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"fisayo","twitter":"@fisayobambi","id":957,"title":"Jerry Fisayo-Bambi"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"},{"urlSafeValue":"friedrich-merz","titleRaw":"Friedrich Merz","id":17640,"title":"Friedrich Merz","slug":"friedrich-merz"},{"urlSafeValue":"volodymyr-zelenskiy","titleRaw":"Volodymyr Zelenskiy","id":19226,"title":"Volodymyr Zelenskiy","slug":"volodymyr-zelenskiy"},{"urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025","id":30264,"title":"German election 2025","slug":"german-election-2025"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"twitter"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2730954},{"id":2736210},{"id":2737450}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"Df65pe__-30","dailymotionId":"x9ahzsg"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60120,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":7844016,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/12\/09\/en\/241209_E3SU_57227659_57227688_60120_143652_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60120,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":11829936,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/12\/09\/en\/241209_E3SU_57227659_57227688_60120_143652_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"my-europe","id":2,"title":"Europe","slug":"my-europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","id":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","84111001","84112005"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isAutomatic":1,"isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":8898500,"online":1},"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/12\/09\/germanys-cdu-leader-friedrich-merz-visits-kyiv-to-reaffirm-support","lastModified":1738749537}]" data-api-url="">

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