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European Commission seeks more information from X on algorithms<\/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//2025//01//17//ursula-von-der-leyen-attends-epp-leaders-summit-in-berlin/">Ursula von der Leyen attends EPP leaders summit in Berlin<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3>\"Lower productivity in the EU\"<\/h3><p>The EPP highlighted that European industry is getting less competitive as growth in Europe lags behind other regions. There is a growing GDP gap with the US, from 17% in 2002 to 30% in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>\"The main reason for the worsening situation is lower productivity in the EU, which leads to slower income growth and weaker domestic demand in Europe. Recently, international trade has come under pressure \u2013 putting additional strain on many export-oriented sectors of our economies,\" the party stated.<\/p>\n<p>It added that \"the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the subsequent increase in energy prices have additionally worsened the economic outlook in Europe.\"<\/p>\n<p>The EPP proposes simplifying existing laws, cutting unnecessary rules, and adopting a \"one in, two out\" rule for new regulations.<\/p>\n<p>And it's also suggests delaying and reducing the scope of corporate sustainability laws to ease the burden on businesses.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1737194334,"updatedAt":1737210066,"publishedAt":1737208962,"firstPublishedAt":1737208962,"lastPublishedAt":1737208962,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/98\/31\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bcd19a08-1d88-5326-9fea-846763717abb-8983156.jpg","altText":"A member of the security staff stands in front of the podium at the EPP Congress in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, March 7, 2024.","caption":"A member of the security staff stands in front of the podium at the EPP Congress in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, March 7, 2024.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Andreea Alexandru\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":16814,"slug":"epp","urlSafeValue":"epp","title":"EPP","titleRaw":"EPP"},{"id":13620,"slug":"christian-democrats","urlSafeValue":"christian-democrats","title":"christian democrats","titleRaw":"christian democrats"},{"id":147,"slug":"immigration","urlSafeValue":"immigration","title":"Immigration","titleRaw":"Immigration"},{"id":105,"slug":"european-union","urlSafeValue":"european-union","title":"European Union","titleRaw":"European Union"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"KXHPj4TN7jE","dailymotionId":"x9ckxqw"},"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60480,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":7910059,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/25\/01\/18\/en\/250118_E3SU_57543549_57544795_60480_151416_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60480,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":11815595,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/25\/01\/18\/en\/250118_E3SU_57543549_57544795_60480_151416_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"EBU, EPP","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":[{"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","84111001","84112003","84112005","84211001","84212004"],"slugs":["a_and_e_music","aggregated_all_moderate_content","arts_and_entertainment","law_gov_t_and_politics_immigration","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","society","society_ethnic_specific"]}},"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\/2025\/01\/18\/parliaments-epp-bloc-targets-the-hard-right-migration-and-the-economy","lastModified":1737208962},{"id":2731726,"cid":8983418,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250118_NWSU_57544086","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMAN TRAIN DAREDEVIL","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Daredevil Hungarian clings to German fast train after cigarette break","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Daredevil Hungarian clings to German fast train after cigarette break","titleListing2":"Daredevil Hungarian clings to German hi-speed train after cigarette break","leadin":"The man, who didn't have a ticket, desperately hung on to cables connecting two carriages as the train sped at 282 kph towards Nuremburg.","summary":"The man, who didn't have a ticket, desperately hung on to cables connecting two carriages as the train sped at 282 kph towards Nuremburg.","keySentence":"","url":"daredevil-hungarian-clings-to-german-fast-train-after-cigarette-break","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/01\/18\/daredevil-hungarian-clings-to-german-fast-train-after-cigarette-break","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A Hungarian passenger who got off his train and onto the platform at Ingolstadt for a cigarette hung on desperately as it began leaving the station without him.\n\nThe 40 year old man, who didn't have a ticket, said he decided to jump onto the plates that connected two carriages as he had left his luggage on the train.\n\nAfter travelling 30 kilometres along the track the train, travelling at 282 kph in the winter cold, made an unscheduled stop at a minor station and the man got off, completely unharmed.\n\nAstonished eyewitnesses had alerted the rail authorities that they'd seen a figure clinging onto an inter-city train speeding through the countryside.\n\nA police officer who happened to be travelling on the train apprehended the man who was then handed over to police at Kinding station and arrested.\n\nHe is due to face charges, including evading a fare.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A Hungarian passenger who got off his train and onto the platform at Ingolstadt for a cigarette hung on desperately as it began leaving the station without him.<\/p>\n<p>The 40 year old man, who didn't have a ticket, said he decided to jump onto the plates that connected two carriages as he had left his luggage on the train.<\/p>\n<p>After travelling 30 kilometres along the track the train, travelling at 282 kph in the winter cold, made an unscheduled stop at a minor station and the man got off, completely unharmed.<\/p>\n<p>Astonished eyewitnesses had alerted the rail authorities that they'd seen a figure clinging onto an inter-city train speeding through the countryside.<\/p>\n<p>A police officer who happened to be travelling on the train apprehended the man who was then handed over to police at Kinding station and arrested.<\/p>\n<p>He is due to face charges, including evading a fare.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1737199406,"updatedAt":1737204344,"publishedAt":1737204340,"firstPublishedAt":1737204340,"lastPublishedAt":1737204340,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/98\/34\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_05d42883-1aeb-5d1a-b023-ef772dbfb00f-8983418.jpg","altText":"Employees stand by the first Paris-Berlin high speed train line that will operate Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 at the Gare de l'Est station in Paris. (AP Photo\/Aurelien Morissard)","caption":"Employees stand by the first Paris-Berlin high speed train line that will operate Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 at the Gare de l'Est station in Paris. (AP Photo\/Aurelien Morissard)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Evan Vucci\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":1074,"urlSafeValue":"bellamy","title":"Daniel Bellamy","twitter":"danbel"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":13936,"slug":"high-speed-train","urlSafeValue":"high-speed-train","title":"high speed train ","titleRaw":"high speed train "},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":143,"slug":"hungary","urlSafeValue":"hungary","title":"Hungary","titleRaw":"Hungary"},{"id":14562,"slug":"cigarette","urlSafeValue":"cigarette","title":"cigarette","titleRaw":"cigarette"}],"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":"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":{"id":1882,"urlSafeValue":"ingolstadt","title":"Ingolstadt"},"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":"\/2025\/01\/18\/daredevil-hungarian-clings-to-german-fast-train-after-cigarette-break","lastModified":1737204340},{"id":2730954,"cid":8981166,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250117_E3SU_57537521","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY VDL MERZ WEBER by Liv","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Ursula von der Leyen attends EPP leaders summit in Berlin","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Ursula von der Leyen attends EPP leaders summit in Berlin","titleListing2":"Ursula Von der Leyen attends EPP leaders summit in Berlin","leadin":"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made her first appearance in Berlin following her recovery from severe pneumonia.","summary":"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made her first appearance in Berlin following her recovery from severe pneumonia.","keySentence":"","url":"ursula-von-der-leyen-attends-epp-leaders-summit-in-berlin","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/17\/ursula-von-der-leyen-attends-epp-leaders-summit-in-berlin","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European People's Party Manfred Weber met with the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, in Berlin for a two day summit on Friday. \n\nThe meeting was the first time von der Leyen was seen in public following her recovery from severe pneumonia.\n\nOn the agenda is European security, migration policy and competitiveness, along with Europe's evolving relationship with the US ahead of president-elect Donald Trump inauguration on Monday. Reducing bureaucracy is also a top theme for the summit.\n\nAhead of the meeting Merz, whose party is topping the polls ahead of Germany's federal election in February, heaped praised on Sweden and Italy for curbing illegal migration. \n\nHe added that Germany comparatively had made only \"little steps\" and signalled he would be open to a tougher stance on migration at a Europe-wide level \u2014 a key part of his party's manifesto. \n\nWhilst the CDU may wish to focus on strategising for the upcoming months, the issue of the far right may dominate discussions with the German election looming just five weeks away and nearby Austria now testing the waters with a coalition between the conservative and far-right parties.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European People's Party Manfred Weber met with the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, in Berlin for a two day summit on Friday. <\/p>\n<p>The meeting was the first time von der Leyen was seen in public following her recovery from severe pneumonia.<\/p>\n<p>On the agenda is European security, migration policy and competitiveness, along with Europe's evolving relationship with the US ahead of president-elect Donald Trump inauguration on Monday. Reducing bureaucracy is also a top theme for the summit.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the meeting Merz, whose party is topping the polls ahead of Germany's federal election in February, heaped praised on Sweden and Italy for curbing illegal migration. <\/p>\n<p>He added that Germany comparatively had made only \"little steps\" and signalled he would be open to a tougher stance on migration at a Europe-wide level \u2014 a key part of his party's manifesto. <\/p>\n<p>Whilst the CDU may wish to focus on strategising for the upcoming months, the issue of the far right may dominate discussions with the German election looming just five weeks away and nearby Austria now testing the waters with a coalition between the conservative and far-right parties.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1737119059,"updatedAt":1737165403,"publishedAt":1737135607,"firstPublishedAt":1737135607,"lastPublishedAt":1737135607,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/98\/11\/66\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4fea1395-86dc-5e74-9b4f-eda8bc20497e-8981166.jpg","altText":"EPP party summit in Berlin","caption":"EPP party summit in Berlin","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Liv Stroud","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":16814,"slug":"epp","urlSafeValue":"epp","title":"EPP","titleRaw":"EPP"},{"id":18906,"slug":"ursula-von-der-leyen","urlSafeValue":"ursula-von-der-leyen","title":"Ursula von der Leyen","titleRaw":"Ursula von der Leyen"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2726968},{"id":2698508},{"id":2724136}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x9cjd8m"},"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":68680,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":8640577,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/25\/01\/17\/en\/250117_E3SU_57537521_57537595_68680_185013_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":68680,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":12814401,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/25\/01\/17\/en\/250117_E3SU_57537521_57537595_68680_185013_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"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 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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":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","84011001","84012006","84111001","84112003","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["a_and_e_music","aggregated_all_moderate_content","arts_and_entertainment","law_gov_t_and_politics_immigration","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\/2025\/01\/17\/ursula-von-der-leyen-attends-epp-leaders-summit-in-berlin","lastModified":1737135607},{"id":2730680,"cid":8980090,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250117_E3SU_57535098","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY UKRAINE AID ROW","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's Scholz under fire for blocking extra \u20ac3 billion aid package for Ukraine","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany's Scholz under fire for blocking Ukraine aid package","titleListing2":"Germany's Scholz under fire for blocking \u20ac3 billion Ukraine aid package ","leadin":"German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and other lawmakers have criticised Chancellor Olaf Scholz for refusing further military aid to Kyiv.","summary":"German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and other lawmakers have criticised Chancellor Olaf Scholz for refusing further military aid to Kyiv.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-scholz-under-fire-for-blocking-extra-3-billion-aid-package-for-ukraine","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/17\/germanys-scholz-under-fire-for-blocking-extra-3-billion-aid-package-for-ukraine","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under fire from lawmakers from across the political spectrum \u2014 including his own foreign minister \u2014 for refusing to approve a further \u20ac3 billion in military aid for Ukraine unless it is funded with additional borrowing. \n\nSpeaking on national television earlier this week, Germany's beleaguered leader said he would only agree to the military aid package if new debt was issued to finance it, rather than cuts to social spending. \n\nThe additional cash, which would supplement \u20ac4 billion of aid for Kyiv already committed for 2025 in a provisional budget, would mainly fund weapons for Ukraine's air defence.\n\nOpposition politicians and even Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock have criticised Scholz's stance \u2014 either directly or indirectly \u2014 and accused him of electioneering. \n\n\"Germany as a whole isn't currently seen as a driving force for peace policy in Europe, and honestly that pains me,\" Baerbock, a leading Greens lawmaker, told Politico in an interview on Friday.\n\n\u201cEven now, during the election campaign, some prioritize a national perspective \u2014 or how to quickly gain a few votes in the parliamentary election \u2014 rather than taking real responsibility for securing Europe\u2019s peace and freedom,\" added Baerbock, without mentioning Scholz by name. \n\nGermany is set for snap elections on 23 February after the brittle three-way coalition dramatically collapsed in November. \n\nScholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is third in the latest opinion polls, on 16%, behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on 20%, and the centre-right alliance between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Socialist Union (CSU) on 31%.\n\nMany SPD members and supporters are weary of Russia's war in Ukraine, and reluctant for Germany to keep spending billions on arms deliveries given the country's economic stagnation and double-digit budget shortfall, according to local media reports. Germany is the second biggest provider of financial and military aid to Ukraine after the US. \n\nEarlier this week, Karstein Klein of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Johann Wadephul of the CDU separately told German press agency dpa that they felt Scholz was trying to win over voters by linking the aid package to borrowing. \n\n\"Support for Ukraine does not require watering down the debt brake,\" Klein told dpa. \"Scholz is carrying out election campaign manoeuvres on the backs of the Ukrainians.\"\n\nThe CDU, CSU and FDP generally support giving more aid to Kyiv but are against taking on additional debt to finance it. Therefore it is currently unclear whether the \u20ac3 billion package will be passed before the country's parliamentary elections next month. \n\nGerman Defence Minister Boris Pistorius made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Tuesday, which he said was meant to highlight Berlin\u2019s support for Ukraine ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who looks set to transform Washington\u2019s policy on the war.\n\nSpeaking on Friday, Scholz said he had spoken to Trump twice since the US election in November, and that he did not think his incoming administration would stop providing military aid to Ukraine.\n\n\"We can therefore hope that good cooperation between Europe and the US will continue to be successful in the future, including on the issue of support for Ukraine,\" Scholz said.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under fire from lawmakers from across the political spectrum \u2014 including his own foreign minister \u2014 for refusing to approve a further \u20ac3 billion in military aid for Ukraine unless it is funded with additional borrowing. <\/p>\n<p>Speaking on national television earlier this week, Germany's beleaguered leader said he would only agree to the military aid package if new debt was issued to finance it, rather than cuts to social spending. <\/p>\n<p>The additional cash, which would supplement \u20ac4 billion of aid for Kyiv already committed for 2025 in a provisional budget, would mainly fund weapons for Ukraine's air defence.<\/p>\n<p>Opposition politicians and even Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock have criticised Scholz's stance \u2014 either directly or indirectly \u2014 and accused him of electioneering. <\/p>\n<p>\"Germany as a whole isn't currently seen as a driving force for peace policy in Europe, and honestly that pains me,\" Baerbock, a leading Greens lawmaker, told Politico in an interview on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven now, during the election campaign, some prioritize a national perspective \u2014 or how to quickly gain a few votes in the parliamentary election \u2014 rather than taking real responsibility for securing Europe\u2019s peace and freedom,\" added Baerbock, without mentioning Scholz by name. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8973352,8960354\" 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//2025//01//15//germanys-economy-shrinks-for-a-second-year-in-a-row-in-2024/">Germany's economy shrinks for a second year in a row as election 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//2025//01//09//ramstein-germany-pledges-more-tanks-missiles-and-air-defence-for-ukraine/">Ramstein: Germany pledges more tanks, missiles, and air defence for Ukraine<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Germany is set for snap elections on 23 February after the brittle three-way coalition dramatically collapsed in November. <\/p>\n<p>Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is third in <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.wahlrecht.de//umfragen///">the latest opinion polls<\/a>, on 16%, behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on 20%, and the centre-right alliance between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Socialist Union (CSU) on 31%.<\/p>\n<p>Many SPD members and supporters are weary of Russia's war in Ukraine, and reluctant for Germany to keep spending billions on arms deliveries given the country's economic stagnation and double-digit budget shortfall, according to local media reports. Germany is the second biggest provider of financial and military aid to Ukraine after the US. <\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, Karstein Klein of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Johann Wadephul of the CDU separately told German press agency dpa that they felt Scholz was trying to win over voters by linking the aid package to borrowing. <\/p>\n<p>\"Support for Ukraine does not require watering down the debt brake,\" Klein told dpa. \"Scholz is carrying out election campaign manoeuvres on the backs of the Ukrainians.\"<\/p>\n<p>The CDU, CSU and FDP generally support giving more aid to Kyiv but are against taking on additional debt to finance it. Therefore it is currently unclear whether the \u20ac3 billion package will be passed before the country's parliamentary elections next month. <\/p>\n<p>German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius made a <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//01//14//german-defence-minister-boris-pistorius-arrives-in-kyiv-to-underscore-support-for-ukraine/">surprise visit <\/a>to Kyiv on Tuesday, which he said was meant to highlight Berlin\u2019s support for Ukraine ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who looks set to transform Washington\u2019s policy on the war.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on Friday, Scholz said he had spoken to Trump twice since the US election in November, and that he did not think his incoming administration would stop providing military aid to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>\"We can therefore hope that good cooperation between Europe and the US will continue to be successful in the future, including on the issue of support for Ukraine,\" Scholz said.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1737106563,"updatedAt":1738749064,"publishedAt":1737112646,"firstPublishedAt":1737112646,"lastPublishedAt":1738748805,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Antti Aimo-Koivisto\/Lehtikuva","altText":"FILE: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a statement during the summit of the Baltic Sea NATO countries in Helsinki, Finland, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"FILE: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a statement during the summit of the Baltic Sea NATO countries in Helsinki, Finland, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/98\/00\/90\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6e60ae38-a4e4-55bb-b946-b42a080a3d3e-8980090.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":575}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"guilbert","twitter":null,"id":3238,"title":"Kieran 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\u2013 Chemnitz City of Culture","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Chemnitz prepares to celebrate year as European Capital of Culture 2025","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Chemnitz readies to celebrate year as European Capital of Culture 2025","titleListing2":"Chemnitz kicks off year as European Capital of Culture 2025 with opening celebration","leadin":"Chemnitz officially begins its year as European Capital of Culture 2025 this weekend with a grand opening celebration, while later this year, Gorizia and Nova Gorica will also make history as Europe\u2019s first \u2018borderless\u2019 Capitals of Culture.","summary":"Chemnitz officially begins its year as European Capital of Culture 2025 this weekend with a grand opening celebration, while later this year, Gorizia and Nova Gorica will also make history as Europe\u2019s first \u2018borderless\u2019 Capitals of Culture.","keySentence":"","url":"chemnitz-prepares-to-celebrate-year-as-european-capital-of-culture-2025","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/01\/17\/chemnitz-prepares-to-celebrate-year-as-european-capital-of-culture-2025","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Having been announced back in 2020, the long-awaited moment has arrived for Chemnitz \u2013 the southeastern German city is now officially a 2025 European Capital of Culture, and it\u2019s kicking off with a huge celebration on Saturday.\u00a0\n\nThe city is expecting 70,000 to 100,000 visitors to flock to its streets for a day packed with art, music, and cultural performances. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the ECOC initiative, making the party even more poignant.\n\nThe opening ceremony will take place at the iconic Marx Monument, fitting not least because the 40-ton bust, known locally as the \u201cNischel,\u201d has long been a symbol of Chemnitz, formerly called Karl-Marx-Stadt in the GDR era. \n\nBefore the main event gets going in the evening, visitors can enjoy performances by actor Alexander Scheer and director Andreas Dresen, who will play together with a band; the \u201cDancing Neighbours\u201d, a local dance project for those over 60; pop singer Dilla and Argentine bandoneon musician Omar Massa. If people are feeling peckish, they can visit the \u201cKitchen of Nations\u201d food market, which organisers say will showcase the city\u2019s diverse culinary heritage.\n\nChemnitz will also highlight its deep industrial roots, with volunteers pulling a historic steam locomotive through the centre as part of the \u201cMitziehen\u201d campaign, symbolising collective action and the city\u2019s industrial past. The day will wrap up with parties and live music at various clubs around the city.\n\nThe celebrations continue throughout the year, with the theme \u201cC the Unseen\u201d linking 200 projects and 1,000 events.\n\nThe city hopes to draw art lovers with a plethora of exhibitions, including a major display of works by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, who stayed in Chemnitz in 1905. Visitors will also be able to explore the city via the \u201cPurple Path,\u201d a trail connecting public art installations by international artists like Tony Cragg and James Turrell.\n\nA marathon route will be reimagined as the longest musical stage in the world, blending everything from classical tunes to hip-hop and electronic beats. The celebration of sporting culture will continue with a cross-border cycling tour honouring the Peace Race, a historic event that once spanned the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Other highlights include a dance journey inspired by James Joyce\u2019s \"Ulysses\" and a revitalised Kosmos festival celebrating democracy. Meanwhile, the Begehungen Festival (translated as \"Inspection\") will transform a former lignite mine into a contemporary art gallery.\n\nHowever, the festivities come with their share of challenges. Right-wing groups have planned a rally in Chemnitz on opening day, prompting a counter-demonstration organised by the German Trade Union Confederation, which expects thousands of participants to advocate for unity and against hate.\n\nThe celebrations won't be confined to Chemnitz alone, however. In February, Gorizia and Nova Gorica, located on the border between Italy and Slovenia, will make history as Europe\u2019s first \u2018cross-border\u2019 Capital of Culture.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Having been announced back in 2020, the long-awaited moment has arrived for Chemnitz \u2013 the southeastern German city is now officially a 2025 <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//12//14//bourges-completes-list-of-european-capitals-of-culture-for-2028/">European Capital of Culture<\/strong><\/a>, and it\u2019s kicking off with a huge celebration on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The city is expecting 70,000 to 100,000 visitors to flock to its streets for a day packed with art, music, and cultural performances. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the ECOC initiative, making the party even more poignant.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-freeform\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DEfSHsFtjXM\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.instagram.com//reel//DEfSHsFtjXM//?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\%22 style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.instagram.com//reel//DEfSHsFtjXM//?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\%22 style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Chemnitz 2025 (@chemnitz2025)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=https://www.euronews.com/"////www.instagram.com//embed.js/">/n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The opening ceremony will take place at the iconic Marx Monument, fitting not least because the 40-ton bust, known locally as the \u201cNischel,\u201d has long been a symbol of Chemnitz, formerly called <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//02//21//culture-re-view-karl-marx-anne-frank-and-malcolm-x/">Karl-Marx-Stadt in the GDR era. <\/p>\n<p>Before the main event gets going in the evening, visitors can enjoy performances by actor Alexander Scheer and director Andreas Dresen, who will play together with a band; the \u201cDancing Neighbours\u201d, a local dance project for those over 60; pop singer Dilla and Argentine bandoneon musician Omar Massa. If people are feeling peckish, they can visit the \u201cKitchen of Nations\u201d food market, which organisers say will showcase the city\u2019s diverse culinary heritage.<\/p>\n<p>Chemnitz will also highlight its deep industrial roots, with volunteers pulling a historic steam locomotive through the centre as part of the \u201cMitziehen\u201d campaign, symbolising collective action and the city\u2019s industrial past. The day will wrap up with parties and live music at various clubs around the city.<\/p>\n<p>The celebrations continue throughout the year, with the theme \u201cC the Unseen\u201d linking 200 projects and 1,000 events.<\/p>\n<p>The city hopes to draw art lovers with a plethora of exhibitions, including a major display of works by Norwegian painter <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//08//22//culture-re-view-edvard-munch-the-scream-is-stolen-in-broad-daylight/">Edvard Munch<\/strong><\/a>, who stayed in Chemnitz in 1905. Visitors will also be able to explore the city via the \u201cPurple Path,\u201d a trail connecting public art installations by international artists like Tony Cragg and James Turrell.<\/p>\n<p>A marathon route will be reimagined as the longest musical stage in the world, blending everything from classical tunes to hip-hop and electronic beats. The celebration of sporting culture will continue with a cross-border cycling tour honouring the Peace Race, a historic event that once spanned the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Other highlights include a dance journey inspired by James Joyce\u2019s \"Ulysses\" and a revitalised Kosmos festival celebrating democracy. Meanwhile, the Begehungen Festival (translated as \"Inspection\") will transform a former lignite mine into a contemporary art gallery.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\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//97//13//70//808x539_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.jpg/" alt=\"Jan Kummer's "Heimat Ensemble II" is among the works on the Purple Path art and sculpture path.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/384x256_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/640x427_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/750x500_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/828x552_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/1080x720_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/1200x800_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/1920x1281_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.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\">Jan Kummer's "Heimat Ensemble II" is among the works on the Purple Path art and sculpture path.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Ernesto Uhlmann\/Radar Studios\/Chemnitz 2025\/Facebook<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, the festivities come with their share of challenges. Right-wing groups have planned a rally in Chemnitz on opening day, prompting a counter-demonstration organised by the German Trade Union Confederation, which expects thousands of participants to advocate for unity and against hate.<\/p>\n<p>The celebrations won't be confined to Chemnitz alone, however. In February, <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//11//25//nova-gorica-2025-introducing-the-first-cross-border-city-of-culture/">Gorizia and Nova Gorica<\/strong><\/a>, located on the border between Italy and Slovenia, will make history as Europe\u2019s first \u2018cross-border\u2019 Capital of Culture.\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736854697,"updatedAt":1737096684,"publishedAt":1737096623,"firstPublishedAt":1737096623,"lastPublishedAt":1737096683,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_12875180-244c-5a3e-ac21-9088ae0d129c-8971370.jpg","altText":"Chemnitz officially kicks off its year as European Capital of Culture 2025 on 18 January","caption":"Chemnitz officially kicks off its year as European Capital of Culture 2025 on 18 January","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ernesto Uhlmann\/ Radar Studios \/ Chemnitz 2025","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2500,"height":1668},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/70\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e614d268-f8a1-59c6-80fe-35ce6b2dd1bd-8971370.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2048,"height":1366}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":13604,"slug":"european-capital-of-culture","urlSafeValue":"european-capital-of-culture","title":"european capital of culture","titleRaw":"european capital of culture"},{"id":3286,"slug":"chemnitz","urlSafeValue":"chemnitz","title":"Chemnitz","titleRaw":"Chemnitz"},{"id":4160,"slug":"contemporary-art","urlSafeValue":"contemporary-art","title":"Contemporary art","titleRaw":"Contemporary 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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":3286,"urlSafeValue":"chemnitz","title":"Chemnitz"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","84011001","84012005","84012006","84081001","84082001","84111001","84112005","84221001","84222004"],"slugs":["a_and_e_movies","a_and_e_music","aggregated_all_moderate_content","arts_and_entertainment","health_and_fitness","health_and_fitness_general","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","sports","sports_bicycling"]}},"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\/2025\/01\/17\/chemnitz-prepares-to-celebrate-year-as-european-capital-of-culture-2025","lastModified":1737096683},{"id":2730090,"cid":8978150,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250116_E3SU_57528726","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"AFD TRRUMP INAUGURATION","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"AfD's co-leader Tino Chrupalla to attend Trump's inauguration on Monday","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"AfD's Tino Chrupalla to attend Trump's inauguration on Monday","titleListing2":"AfD's co-leader Tino Chrupalla to attend Trump's inauguration on Monday","leadin":"AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla will attend Trump's inauguration, while Alice Weidel stays in Germany for the election campaign. Beatrix von Storch will also attend.","summary":"AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla will attend Trump's inauguration, while Alice Weidel stays in Germany for the election campaign. Beatrix von Storch will also attend.","keySentence":"","url":"afds-co-leader-tino-chrupalla-to-attend-trumps-inauguration-on-monday","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/16\/afds-co-leader-tino-chrupalla-to-attend-trumps-inauguration-on-monday","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Tino Chrupalla will be attending US President Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration on Monday, the party confirmed to Euronews on Thursday.\n\nMeanwhile, co-leader and chancellor candidate Alice Weidel will be staying behind in Germany to concentrate on the election campaign despite also receiving an invitation.\n\nDeputy chairwoman of the AfD parliamentary group Beatrix von Storch will also attend the event.\u00a0\n\nSo far, neither Chancellor Olaf Scholz nor German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have been invited. \n\nScholz was one of the last European politicians to congratulate Trump on his re-election on X platform in November, only after French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n did the same. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Tino Chrupalla will be attending US President Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration on Monday, the party confirmed to Euronews on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, co-leader and chancellor candidate Alice Weidel will be staying behind in Germany to concentrate on the election campaign despite also receiving an invitation.<\/p>\n<p>Deputy chairwoman of the AfD parliamentary group <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//05//17//violence-against-german-politicians-almost-doubles-in-5-years/">Beatrix von Storch<\/a> will also attend the event.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>So far, neither Chancellor Olaf Scholz nor German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have been invited. <\/p>\n<p>Scholz was one of the last European politicians to congratulate Trump on his re-election on X platform in November, only after French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n did the same. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1737040424,"updatedAt":1737044564,"publishedAt":1737042921,"firstPublishedAt":1737042921,"lastPublishedAt":1737042921,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/68\/15\/08\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fac0c31d-7590-5704-b99c-101a1bb5d86a-8681508.jpg","altText":"AfD poster in Thuringia in 2024","caption":"AfD poster in Thuringia in 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Liv Stroud","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":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":17832,"slug":"afd-alternative-fur-deutschland","urlSafeValue":"afd-alternative-fur-deutschland","title":"AfD Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland","titleRaw":"AfD Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland"},{"id":30264,"slug":"german-election-2025","urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","title":"German election 2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2544526},{"id":2729086},{"id":2592600}],"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 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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":[],"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\/2025\/01\/16\/afds-co-leader-tino-chrupalla-to-attend-trumps-inauguration-on-monday","lastModified":1737042921},{"id":2729510,"cid":8976138,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250116_ECSU_57523665","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"BUSINESS German inflation December","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German inflation shows continued rise, still ahead of ECB's target","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German inflation shows continued rise, still ahead of ECB's target","titleListing2":"German inflation shows continued rise, still ahead of ECB's target","leadin":"The increase was mainly led by rising services and food prices, leaving the inflation rate to remain above the European Central Bank's target of 2%.","summary":"The increase was mainly led by rising services and food prices, leaving the inflation rate to remain above the European Central Bank's target of 2%.","keySentence":"","url":"german-inflation-shows-continued-rise-still-some-way-above-ecbs-target","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2025\/01\/16\/german-inflation-shows-continued-rise-still-some-way-above-ecbs-target","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The final figure for Germany's year-on-year inflation rate for December has been confirmed as 2.6%, according to the Federal Statistical Office. That was in line with estimates and the third month in a row of inflation growth. It was also the highest figure since January 2024. \u00a0\n\nDecember's result was mainly boosted by services prices rising at a quicker pace, at 4.1%, from November's 4%. Similarly, food prices increased to 2% in December, from 1.8% in the previous month.\u00a0\n\nEnergy prices fell at a slower rate in December, at -1.6%, down from -3.7% in November.\u00a0\n\nThe month-on-month inflation rate for December came in at 0.5%, up from -0.2% in November, as well as ahead of preliminary estimates of 0.4%.\u00a0\n\nThe annual average inflation rate for 2024 came up to 2.2%, a sharp fall from 2023's 5.9%. Core inflation also dropped to 3% for the whole of 2024, down from 5.1% in 2023.\u00a0\n\nGerman economy continues to struggle\u00a0\n\nGermany's economy shrunk by 0.2% in 2024, following a 0.3% contraction in 2023, according to gross domestic product (GDP) figures released on Wednesday.\u00a0\n\nThis was mainly because of a fall in manufacturing output, which dropped -3% in 2024, primarily pulled down by the sluggish car manufacturing and machinery sector. The construction sector also declined 3.8% last year, mainly because of rising interest rates and soaring construction prices.\n\nHousehold consumption, however, rose marginally, by 0.3% in 2024, largely boosted by transport and health spending increases.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nBoth structural and cyclical pressures impacted economic growth in 2024, including surging competition for the German export industry's most important markets. Higher energy costs, as well as ongoing geopolitical concerns also contributed to this situation.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The final figure for Germany's year-on-year inflation rate for December has been confirmed as 2.6%, according to the Federal Statistical Office. That was in line with estimates and the third month in a row of inflation growth. It was also the highest figure since January 2024. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>December's result was mainly boosted by services prices rising at a quicker pace, at 4.1%, from November's 4%. Similarly, food prices increased to 2% in December, from 1.8% in the previous month.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8973478,8973352\" 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//2025//01//15//germanys-economy-shrinks-for-a-second-year-in-a-row-in-2024/">Germany's economy shrinks for a second year in a row as election looms<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//01//15//spanish-inflation-rate-confirmed-at-28-as-fuel-costs-surge/">Spanish inflation rate confirmed at 2.8% as fuel costs surge <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Energy prices fell at a slower rate in December, at -1.6%, down from -3.7% in November.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The month-on-month inflation rate for December came in at 0.5%, up from -0.2% in November, as well as ahead of preliminary estimates of 0.4%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The annual average inflation rate for 2024 came up to 2.2%, a sharp fall from 2023's 5.9%. Core inflation also dropped to 3% for the whole of 2024, down from 5.1% in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>German economy continues to struggle<\/h2><p>Germany's economy shrunk by 0.2% in 2024, following a 0.3% contraction in 2023, according to gross domestic product (GDP) figures released on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This was mainly because of a fall in manufacturing output, which dropped -3% in 2024, primarily pulled down by the sluggish car manufacturing and machinery sector. The construction sector also declined 3.8% last year, mainly because of rising interest rates and soaring construction prices.<\/p>\n<p>Household consumption, however, rose marginally, by 0.3% in 2024, largely boosted by transport and health spending increases.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Both structural and cyclical pressures impacted economic growth in 2024, including surging competition for the German export industry's most important markets. Higher energy costs, as well as ongoing geopolitical concerns also contributed to this situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1737009508,"updatedAt":1737022085,"publishedAt":1737021452,"firstPublishedAt":1737021452,"lastPublishedAt":1737022085,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Canva","altText":"Aerial view of Berlin, the capital of Germany","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Aerial view of Berlin, the capital of Germany","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/61\/38\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6b796a01-cc0e-527e-9f32-75ec8525dc2f-8976138.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"lahiri","twitter":null,"id":2872,"title":"Indrabati Lahiri"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"german-economy","titleRaw":"German economy","id":10677,"title":"German economy","slug":"german-economy"},{"urlSafeValue":"inflation","titleRaw":"Inflation","id":150,"title":"Inflation","slug":"inflation"},{"urlSafeValue":"economic-growth","titleRaw":"Economic growth","id":7966,"title":"Economic growth","slug":"economic-growth"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2729540},{"id":2728908},{"id":2728614}],"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":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"business","id":11,"title":"Business","slug":"business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"economy","id":"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":[],"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":"\/business\/2025\/01\/16\/german-inflation-shows-continued-rise-still-some-way-above-ecbs-target","lastModified":1737022085},{"id":2728664,"cid":8973352,"versionId":8,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250115_ECSU_57515480","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"BUSINESS Germany GDP","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's economy shrinks for a second year in a row as election looms","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany's economy shrinks for a second year in a row as election looms","titleListing2":"Germany's economy shrinks for a second year in a row as election looms","leadin":"Europe's biggest economy shrank for a second year in a row in 2024, according to data released on Wednesday by the Federal Statistics Office.","summary":"Europe's biggest economy shrank for a second year in a row in 2024, according to data released on Wednesday by the Federal Statistics Office.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-economy-shrinks-for-a-second-year-in-a-row-in-2024","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/15\/germanys-economy-shrinks-for-a-second-year-in-a-row-in-2024","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany's economy contracted by 0.2% last year after shrinking by 0.3% in 2023, latest data showed.\n\n\"According to first calculations of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the price adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) was 0.2% lower in 2024 than in the previous year. The decline in economic performance in Germany also amounted to 0.2% after adjustment for calendar effects,\" a Destatis press release said.\n\n\"Cyclical and structural pressures stood in the way of better economic development in 2024,\" Ruth Brand added at a press conference held in Berlin on Germany's 2024 gross domestic product. \n\n\"These include increasing competition for the German export industry on key sales markets, high energy costs, an interest rate level that remains high, and an uncertain economic outlook. Against this backdrop, the German economy contracted once again in 2024,\" Brand continued.\n\nMarked decline in manufacturing and construction\n\nAfter adjustment for price effects, whole economy gross value added fell by 0.4% in 2024, with significant differences in the performance of individual economic sectors.\n\n\"In manufacturing, output was down and gross value added dropped significantly (-3.0%) compared with the previous year. In particular, key sectors like the manufacture of machinery and equipment or the automotive industry saw a marked decline in production. Production remained at a low level in energy-intensive industrial branches, which include the chemical and metal-working industries for example. In 2023, production had decreased considerably owing to the sharp rise in energy prices,\" Destatis also noted in its press release.\n\nIn the construction industry, the year-on-year decline in gross value added in 2024, at -3.8%, was even somewhat more pronounced. In particular, with construction prices and interest rates remaining high, fewer residential buildings were built. \n\n\"Building completion work also faced a drop in output. By contrast, the modernisation and new construction of roads, railways and pipelines led to an increase in the civil engineering sector,\" Destatis also noted.\n\nHowever, the service sector registered positive growth overall in 2024 (+0.8%), the performance of the individual branches varied. For example, gross value added in the aggregated economic sector of trade, transport, accommodation and food services stagnated. Although, while the retail sector and providers of transport services each reported growth, the motor vehicle trade, wholesaling and food and beverage service activities experienced a drop in performance compared with the previous year. \n\n\"Gross value added of business services also stagnated. The information and communication sector, on the other hand, continued to grow (+2.5%). There was also a steady rise in the sectors of the economy that are closely linked to general government: apart from public administration itself, continued growth was also reported in the areas of education and public health. Taken together, the gross value added of these sectors increased substantially on the previous year (+1.6%),\" the Federal Statistical Office also said.\n\nPending snap election and economic hurdles ahead\n\nThe latest data comes just weeks ahead of the country's crucial snap election with the challenge of fixing Germany's economy high on the agenda. Stagnating growth, fiscal uncertainty, geopolitical risks, high energy costs, and a weakening automotive sector all adding to the country's woes - and without reforms to unlock structural investments and bolster competitiveness, Europe's largest economy risks prolonged malaise.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany's economy contracted by 0.2% last year after shrinking by 0.3% in 2023, latest data showed.<\/p>\n<p>\"According to first calculations of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the price adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) was 0.2% lower in 2024 than in the previous year. The decline in economic performance in Germany also amounted to 0.2% after adjustment for calendar effects,\" a Destatis press release said.<\/p>\n<p>\"Cyclical and structural pressures stood in the way of better economic development in 2024,\" Ruth Brand added at a press conference held in Berlin on Germany's 2024 gross domestic product. <\/p>\n<p>\"These include increasing competition for the German export industry on key sales markets, high energy costs, an interest rate level that remains high, and an uncertain economic outlook. Against this backdrop, the German economy contracted once again in 2024,\" Brand continued.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8971510\" 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//2025//01//14//germany-mulls-sale-of-energy-supplier-uniper-to-canadian-investment-group/">Germany mulls sale of energy supplier Uniper to Canadian investment group<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2><strong>Marked decline in manufacturing and construction<\/strong><\/h2><p>After adjustment for price effects, whole economy gross value added fell by 0.4% in 2024, with significant differences in the performance of individual economic sectors.<\/p>\n<p>\"In manufacturing, output was down and gross value added dropped significantly (-3.0%) compared with the previous year. In particular, key sectors like the manufacture of machinery and equipment or the automotive industry saw a marked decline in production. Production remained at a low level in energy-intensive industrial branches, which include the chemical and metal-working industries for example. In 2023, production had decreased considerably owing to the sharp rise in energy prices,\" Destatis also noted in its press release.<\/p>\n<p>In the construction industry, the year-on-year decline in gross value added in 2024, at -3.8%, was even somewhat more pronounced. In particular, with construction prices and interest rates remaining high, fewer residential buildings were built. <\/p>\n<p>\"Building completion work also faced a drop in output. By contrast, the modernisation and new construction of roads, railways and pipelines led to an increase in the civil engineering sector,\" Destatis also noted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8928608\" 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//2025//01//06//german-election-2025-whos-ahead-in-the-polls/">German election 2025: Who\u2019s ahead in the polls?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, the service sector registered positive growth overall in 2024 (+0.8%), the performance of the individual branches varied. For example, gross value added in the aggregated economic sector of trade, transport, accommodation and food services stagnated. Although, while the retail sector and providers of transport services each reported growth, the motor vehicle trade, wholesaling and food and beverage service activities experienced a drop in performance compared with the previous year. <\/p>\n<p>\"Gross value added of business services also stagnated. The information and communication sector, on the other hand, continued to grow (+2.5%). There was also a steady rise in the sectors of the economy that are closely linked to general government: apart from public administration itself, continued growth was also reported in the areas of education and public health. Taken together, the gross value added of these sectors increased substantially on the previous year (+1.6%),\" the Federal Statistical Office also said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8928624\" 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//24//five-major-economic-hurdles-germany-needs-to-overcome-in-2025/">Five major economic hurdles Germany needs to overcome in 2025<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Pending snap election and economic hurdles ahead<\/h2><p>The latest data comes just weeks ahead of the country's crucial snap election with the challenge of fixing Germany's economy high on the agenda. Stagnating growth, fiscal uncertainty, geopolitical risks, high energy costs, and a weakening automotive sector all adding to the country's woes - and without reforms to unlock structural investments and bolster competitiveness, Europe's largest economy risks prolonged malaise.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736931989,"updatedAt":1736934016,"publishedAt":1736932557,"firstPublishedAt":1736932557,"lastPublishedAt":1736934016,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP","altText":"Berlin - file photo","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Berlin - file photo","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/66\/96\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_295ba15f-d3bd-5ec8-a7c5-6a75f65ed8a9-8669602.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":562}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"barnes","twitter":"@ABarnesNews","id":1618,"title":"Angela Barnes"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025","id":30264,"title":"German election 2025","slug":"german-election-2025"},{"urlSafeValue":"german","titleRaw":"German","id":25482,"title":"German","slug":"german"},{"urlSafeValue":"inflation","titleRaw":"Inflation","id":150,"title":"Inflation","slug":"inflation"},{"urlSafeValue":"gdp","titleRaw":"GDP","id":18120,"title":"GDP","slug":"gdp"}],"widgets":[{"count":3,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2728604},{"id":2728540},{"id":2728694}],"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":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"business","id":11,"title":"Business","slug":"business"},{"urlSafeValue":"my-europe","id":2,"title":"Europe","slug":"my-europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"economy","id":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"},{"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","id":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/news\/international"}],"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":["84031001","84032006","84111001","84112005","84131001","84132012","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["business","business_construction","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","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\/2025\/01\/15\/germanys-economy-shrinks-for-a-second-year-in-a-row-in-2024","lastModified":1736934016},{"id":2727784,"cid":8971306,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250114_E3SU_57507664","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"POLICE OPEN INVESTIGATION INTO AFD ELECTION DEPORTATION TICKETS","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German police investigate AfD for sending out 'deportation tickets'","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German police investigate AfD for sending out 'deportation tickets'","titleListing2":"German police investigate AfD for sending out 'deportation tickets'","leadin":"The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been embroiled in controversy after distributing campaign flyers that resemble \"deportation tickets\" in the city of Karlsruhe.","summary":"The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been embroiled in controversy after distributing campaign flyers that resemble \"deportation tickets\" in the city of Karlsruhe.","keySentence":"","url":"german-police-investigate-afd-for-sending-out-deportation-tickets","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/14\/german-police-investigate-afd-for-sending-out-deportation-tickets","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Police have launched an investigation into the local branch of the far-right AfD party in the city of Karlsruhe over campaign posters styled as \"deportation tickets\" sparked controversy in the run-up to the country's election on 23 February. \n\nThe flyers, which are based on airplane tickets, are being investigated on suspicion of inciting racial hatred according to the criminal police force in Karlsruhe. They show an airline ticket with the AfD's logo on it with manipulated flight details reading \"departure: Germany\" and \"destination: safe country of origin.\"\n\nOn the flyers, \"AfD\" is entered as the departure gate, and two sentences read, \"Only remigration can save Germany\" and, \"It's nice at home too\". \n\nThe flyers have sparked complaints from the public as well as members of the Left party who threatened to report the AfD district branch for inciting hatred. \n\nThe Left argued that the flyers were purposefully distributed in mailboxes of people with a migration background, were openly xenophobic and aimed at stoking division and hatred between different groups.\n\nThe AfD's Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg state branch insisted that the flyers were aimed at all eligible voters with a large part simply based in Karlsruhe, according to press agency dpa. It said a template of the poster would be passed on to the party's other local branches. Despite this, a police spokesman said that the flyers are currently under investigation. \n\nGerman media pointed out the campaign's similarity to one pushed by the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), which has since been renamed the Heimat, in 2013. At the time, the right-wing extremist party distributed forged flight tickets reading \"From Germany \u2014 destination home\" in a bid to discourage candidates from an immigrant background from standing for parliament. \n\nThe campaign sparked tense controversy and was labelled \"xenophobic propaganda\" by analysts. The NPD has since been barred from receiving state funding and tax breaks usually granted to Germany's political parties after days of protests against the far-right. \n\nAfD politician Marc Bernhard rejected any association with the NPD, telling local media: \"We categorically reject any connection with an action by the NPD that took place more than a decade ago, which is completely unknown to us.\"\n\nThe campaign, however, seems to be in lockstep with the AfD's policies on immigration, with the party's chancellor candidate Alice Weidel openly embracing the term \"remigration\" at the party's conference in the eastern town of Riesa over the weekend. \n\n\"Remigration\" is a vague strategy widely understood to mean the mass deportation of people with a migrant background. However, reports differ on whether this would include foreigners who have legal residency rights. \n\nWeidel's move is a U-turn from just a year ago when she sought to distance herself from the term, which sparked national protests when it emerged a senior AfD party member had met with controversial Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner to discuss \"remigrating\" foreigners with residency rights and \"non-assimilated\" citizens. \n\nThe concept has also been promoted by Austria's hard-right politician Herbert Kickl, who has recently been invited to lead coalition talks after coming first in general elections.\n\nThe latest INSA poll puts the AfD in second place with 22% of the national vote. Other parties, including the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is polling first, have ruled out working with them, meaning they are unlikely to make it into government bar a political earthquake in the country. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Police have launched an investigation into the local branch of the far-right AfD party in the city of Karlsruhe over campaign posters styled as \"deportation tickets\" sparked controversy in the run-up to the country's election on 23 February. <\/p>\n<p>The flyers, which are based on airplane tickets, are being investigated on suspicion of inciting racial hatred according to the criminal police force in Karlsruhe. They show an airline ticket with the AfD's logo on it with manipulated flight details reading \"departure: Germany\" and \"destination: safe country of origin.\"<\/p>\n<p>On the flyers, \"AfD\" is entered as the departure gate, and two sentences read, \"Only remigration can save Germany\" and, \"It's nice at home too\". <\/p>\n<p>The flyers have sparked complaints from the public as well as members of the Left party who threatened to report the AfD district branch for inciting hatred. <\/p>\n<p>The Left argued that the flyers were purposefully distributed in mailboxes of people with a migration background, were openly xenophobic and aimed at stoking division and hatred between different groups.<\/p>\n<p>The AfD's Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg state branch insisted that the flyers were aimed at all eligible voters with a large part simply based in Karlsruhe, according to press agency dpa. It said a template of the poster would be passed on to the party's other local branches. Despite this, a police spokesman said that the flyers are currently under investigation. <\/p>\n<p>German media pointed out the campaign's similarity to one pushed by the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), which has since been renamed the Heimat, in 2013. At the time, the right-wing extremist party distributed forged flight tickets reading \"From Germany \u2014 destination home\" in a bid to discourage candidates from an immigrant background from standing for parliament. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8958336,8960680\" 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//2025//01//10//the-man-tipped-to-be-austrias-next-chancellor-advocates-remigration-what-does-it-mean/">The man tipped to be Austria's next Chancellor advocates 'remigration'. What does it mean?<\/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//2025//01//09//elon-musk-and-germanys-far-right-chief-host-online-chat-the-eu-warns-could-be-illegal/">Germany's far-right AfD chief pushes back on Nazi claims in chat with Elon Musk on X<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The campaign sparked tense controversy and was labelled \"xenophobic propaganda\" by analysts. The NPD has since been barred from receiving state funding and tax breaks usually granted to Germany's political parties after days of protests against the far-right. <\/p>\n<p>AfD politician Marc Bernhard rejected any association with the NPD, telling local media: \"We categorically reject any connection with an action by the NPD that took place more than a decade ago, which is completely unknown to us.\"<\/p>\n<p>The campaign, however, seems to be in lockstep with the AfD's policies on immigration, with the party's chancellor candidate Alice Weidel openly embracing the term \"remigration\" at the party's conference in the eastern town of Riesa over the weekend. <\/p>\n<p>\"Remigration\" is a vague strategy widely understood to mean the mass deportation of people with a migrant background. However, reports differ on whether this would include foreigners who have legal residency rights. <\/p>\n<p>Weidel's move is a U-turn from just a year ago when she sought to distance herself from the term, which sparked national protests when it emerged a senior AfD party member had met with controversial Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner to discuss \"remigrating\" foreigners with residency rights and \"non-assimilated\" citizens. <\/p>\n<p>The concept has also been promoted by Austria's hard-right politician Herbert Kickl, who has recently been invited to lead coalition talks after coming first in general elections.<\/p>\n<p>The latest INSA poll puts the AfD in second place with 22% of the national vote. Other parties, including the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is polling first, have ruled out working with them, meaning they are unlikely to make it into government bar a political earthquake in the country. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736854340,"updatedAt":1738748824,"publishedAt":1736860065,"firstPublishedAt":1736860065,"lastPublishedAt":1738748824,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"An election campaign poster of Germany's far-right party AfD, Alternative for Germany, reading: 'Reduce energy prices, stop deindustrialization' stand at a road in Berlin.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"An election campaign poster of Germany's far-right party AfD, Alternative for Germany, reading: 'Reduce energy prices, stop deindustrialization' stand at a road in Berlin.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/13\/06\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_13580609-dfe9-56e9-b5de-e64df7cca546-8971306.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":576}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"paternoster","twitter":null,"id":2940,"title":"Tamsin Paternoster"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"},{"urlSafeValue":"afd-alternative-fur-deutschland","titleRaw":"AfD Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland","id":17832,"title":"AfD Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland","slug":"afd-alternative-fur-deutschland"},{"urlSafeValue":"police","titleRaw":"Police","id":11642,"title":"Police","slug":"police"},{"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":2708640},{"id":2735226},{"id":2737890}],"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 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":3379,"urlSafeValue":"karlsruhe","title":"Karlsruhe"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122004","80222004","84111001","84112003","84112005","84131001","84132012","84211001","84212001","84251001","84252004","84252015"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","hate_speech_and_cyberbullying_high_and_medium_risk","hate_speech_and_cyberbullying_high_medium_and_low_risk","law_gov_t_and_politics_immigration","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","personal_finance","personal_finance_stocks","society","society_general","travel","travel_air_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":"\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/14\/german-police-investigate-afd-for-sending-out-deportation-tickets","lastModified":1738748824},{"id":2727760,"cid":8971174,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250114_BUSU_57507412","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business Goldman Sachs downgrades Mercedes and Porsche as German automakers struggle","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Goldman Sachs downgrades Mercedes and Porsche as German car makers struggle","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Mercedes and Porsche 'downgraded' as German car makers struggle","titleListing2":"Goldman Sachs downgrades Mercedes and Porsche as German car makers struggle","leadin":"As European car makers face mounting challenges in 2025, Goldman Sachs has downgraded both Mercedes-Benz AG and Porsche SE, citing rising costs, tariffs, and margin pressures.","summary":"As European car makers face mounting challenges in 2025, Goldman Sachs has downgraded both Mercedes-Benz AG and Porsche SE, citing rising costs, tariffs, and margin pressures.","keySentence":"","url":"goldman-sachs-downgrades-mercedes-and-porsche-as-german-car-makers-struggle","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2025\/01\/14\/goldman-sachs-downgrades-mercedes-and-porsche-as-german-car-makers-struggle","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"German car making titans, long celebrated for their engineering prowess, are now grappling with the twin challenges of weak electric vehicle profitability and declining earnings in China.\u00a0\n\nThis uncertain landscape has prompted Goldman Sachs to downgrade Porsche SE and Mercedes-Benz AG, painting a sobering picture for the broader European car industry.\n\nIn a note published on Tuesday, Goldman Sachs analyst George Galliers highlighted the headwinds facing Europe's car makers, citing rising labour costs, tariff risks, plummeting profitability in China and the mounting pressure to comply with stringent environmental regulations.\u00a0\n\n\"We expect another challenging year for European auto stocks in 2025\", Galliers said, noting that the sector had already suffered a more than 12% decline in 2024.\n\nGoldman Sachs has cut its earnings forecasts for the sector by 9% for 2025 and 6% for 2026, reflecting mounting pressures.\u00a0\n\nWhy are German car makers under pressure?\n\nOne of the core issues undermining European car makers is the profitability of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).\u00a0\n\nGoldman Sachs projects that BEV penetration in Europe and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) will rise from 14.3% of sales in 2024 to around 19% in 2025, driven by regulatory requirements to reduce CO2 emissions.\u00a0\n\nHowever, Galliers questioned whether these sales could offset the high production costs of BEVs, which remain a drag on profit margins.\n\nAdditionally, German car makers are feeling the sting of plummeting profits from their Chinese joint ventures. Earnings from these ventures fell by 36% year-on-year in 2024, according to Goldman Sachs, reflecting broader challenges faced by Western car makers in the world's largest automobile market.\u00a0\n\nGalliers added that Ford and General Motors have already seen their Chinese operations become unprofitable, and there are growing concerns that European manufacturers could follow suit.\n\n\u00a0Porsche and Mercedes: A downgraded outlook\n\nGoldman Sachs downgraded Porsche SE from a \"Buy\" to a \"Sell\" rating, citing limited growth prospects for 2025 and ongoing financial risks.\n\n\"We see limited scope for earnings growth in 2025\", Galliers said, attributing the downgrade to softening BEV demand in Western markets and ongoing challenges in China.\u00a0\n\nAdditionally, the analyst pointed to Porsche's financial challenges, including high leverage and Volkswagen's restructuring efforts, which could limit any near-term improvements in the company's financials. Goldman Sachs does not expect Porsche's net debt to fall below \u20ac4bn before 2027.\n\nMercedes-Benz AG was also downgraded, moving from a \"Buy\" to a \"Neutral\" rating. The report cited ongoing uncertainty around the company's top-end luxury vehicle sales, particularly in light of weaker demand in key markets, mixed reception for AMG models, and an ageing S-Class lineup.\n\nMercedes' adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for its car division was down 44% year-to-date by the end of Q3 2024, with a full-year decline of 40% anticipated. Looking ahead, Goldman expects another 14% drop in 2025 before a modest recovery in 2026.\n\n\"Investors are likely to demand a reset of Mercedes' near- and mid-term margin targets\", Galliers said, adding that BEV profitability and weakening contributions from China remain key concerns.\n\nDespite these concerns, Goldman Sachs noted potential opportunities for Mercedes-Benz, particularly with advancements in Level 2+ autonomous driving technology and its partnership with Nvidia.\n\nProgress in these areas, coupled with clear shareholder return strategies and plans for the Daimler Truck stake, could provide a more positive outlook for the company\u2019s equity story.\n\nTrade risks and tariff uncertainties\n\nAdding to the industry's woes are unresolved trade and tariff risks.\u00a0\n\nThe European Union recently imposed tariffs on Chinese-made BEVs, while escalating trade tensions with the Donald Trump administration could further disrupt global supply chains.\u00a0\n\n\"The auto industry is inherently global, and many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are vulnerable to any escalation in tariffs\", Galliers noted.\n\nIs there a silver lining?\n\nDespite the challenging backdrop, Goldman Sachs singled out Renault as a potential outperformer in the European auto sector.\u00a0\n\nThe French car maker's focus on cost discipline and a strong pipeline of new products could help it navigate the turbulent market conditions better than its German counterparts.\n\nThe question now is whether Europe's storied car makers can adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape.\u00a0\n\nAs Galliers observed: \"Secular concerns have weighed on auto multiples for almost a decade.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>German car making titans, long celebrated for their engineering prowess, are now grappling with the twin challenges of weak electric vehicle profitability and declining earnings in China.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This uncertain landscape has prompted Goldman Sachs to downgrade Porsche SE and Mercedes-Benz AG, painting a sobering picture for the broader European car industry.<\/p>\n<p>In a note published on Tuesday, Goldman Sachs analyst George Galliers highlighted the headwinds facing Europe's car makers, citing rising labour costs, tariff risks, plummeting profitability in China and the mounting pressure to comply with stringent environmental regulations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"We expect another challenging year for European auto stocks in 2025\", Galliers said, noting that the sector had already suffered a more than 12% decline in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Goldman Sachs has cut its earnings forecasts for the sector by 9% for 2025 and 6% for 2026, reflecting mounting pressures.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why are German car makers under pressure?<\/strong><\/h2><p>One of the core issues undermining European car makers is the profitability of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Goldman Sachs projects that BEV penetration in Europe and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) will rise from 14.3% of sales in 2024 to around 19% in 2025, driven by regulatory requirements to reduce CO2 emissions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8954934,8867148\" 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//2025//01//07//mercedes-benz-may-cut-back-on-profit-outlook-as-car-market-slows/">Mercedes-Benz may cut back on profit outlook as car market slows<\/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//22//mercedes-reveals-plans-to-cut-costs-by-several-billion-euros-per-year/">Mercedes reveals plans to cut costs by several billion euros per year<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, Galliers questioned whether these sales could offset the high production costs of BEVs, which remain a drag on profit margins.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, German car makers are feeling the sting of plummeting profits from their Chinese joint ventures. Earnings from these ventures fell by 36% year-on-year in 2024, according to Goldman Sachs, reflecting broader challenges faced by Western car makers in the world's largest automobile market.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Galliers added that Ford and General Motors have already seen their Chinese operations become unprofitable, and there are growing concerns that European manufacturers could follow suit.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Porsche and Mercedes: A downgraded outlook<\/strong><\/h2><p>Goldman Sachs downgraded Porsche SE from a \"Buy\" to a \"Sell\" rating, citing limited growth prospects for 2025 and ongoing financial risks.<\/p>\n<p>\"We see limited scope for earnings growth in 2025\", Galliers said, attributing the downgrade to softening BEV demand in Western markets and ongoing challenges in China.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7109375\">\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//97//11//74//808x573_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.jpg/" alt=\"File pic of Porsche cars lined up in front of the stock market at the start of Porsche's market listing in Frankfurt in 2022\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/384x273_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/640x455_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/750x533_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/828x589_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/1080x768_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/1200x853_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/1920x1365_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.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\">File pic of Porsche cars lined up in front of the stock market at the start of Porsche's market listing in Frankfurt in 2022<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Michael Probst\/Copyright 2022 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Additionally, the analyst pointed to Porsche's financial challenges, including high leverage and Volkswagen's restructuring efforts, which could limit any near-term improvements in the company's financials. Goldman Sachs does not expect Porsche's net debt to fall below \u20ac4bn before 2027.<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes-Benz AG was also downgraded, moving from a \"Buy\" to a \"Neutral\" rating. The report cited ongoing uncertainty around the company's top-end luxury vehicle sales, particularly in light of weaker demand in key markets, mixed reception for AMG models, and an ageing S-Class lineup.<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes' adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for its car division was down 44% year-to-date by the end of Q3 2024, with a full-year decline of 40% anticipated. Looking ahead, Goldman expects another 14% drop in 2025 before a modest recovery in 2026.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8599428,8596624\" 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//07//23//brakes-on-porsche-profit-outlook-due-to-alloy-supply-shortage/">Brakes on Porsche profit outlook as alloy supply shortage kicks in<\/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//07//24//porsche-lets-go-of-electric-car-targets-as-demand-fails-to-accelerate/">Porsche ditches electric car targets as demand fails to accelerate<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\"Investors are likely to demand a reset of Mercedes' near- and mid-term margin targets\", Galliers said, adding that BEV profitability and weakening contributions from China remain key concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these concerns, Goldman Sachs noted potential opportunities for Mercedes-Benz, particularly with advancements in Level 2+ autonomous driving technology and its partnership with Nvidia.<\/p>\n<p>Progress in these areas, coupled with clear shareholder return strategies and plans for the Daimler Truck stake, could provide a more positive outlook for the company\u2019s equity story.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Trade risks and tariff uncertainties<\/strong><\/h2><p>Adding to the industry's woes are unresolved trade and tariff risks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The European Union recently imposed tariffs on Chinese-made BEVs, while escalating trade tensions with the Donald Trump administration could further disrupt global supply chains.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"The auto industry is inherently global, and many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are vulnerable to any escalation in tariffs\", Galliers noted.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Is there a silver lining?<\/strong><\/h2><p>Despite the challenging backdrop, Goldman Sachs singled out Renault as a potential outperformer in the European auto sector.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The French car maker's focus on cost discipline and a strong pipeline of new products could help it navigate the turbulent market conditions better than its German counterparts.<\/p>\n<p>The question now is whether Europe's storied car makers can adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As Galliers observed: \"Secular concerns have weighed on auto multiples for almost a decade.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736853262,"updatedAt":1736967592,"publishedAt":1736855157,"firstPublishedAt":1736855157,"lastPublishedAt":1736967592,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"John Locher\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.","altText":"File picture of a Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class car ","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"File picture of a Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class car ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_619f9644-c36f-542c-a034-acb5922d6f37-8971174.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1280},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/97\/11\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_85ef5482-6a27-5225-9c9a-bc249a9e1778-8971174.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1365}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"mercedes-benz","titleRaw":"Mercedes-Benz","id":7980,"title":"Mercedes-Benz","slug":"mercedes-benz"},{"urlSafeValue":"porsche","titleRaw":"Porsche","id":7929,"title":"Porsche","slug":"porsche"},{"urlSafeValue":"luxury-lifestyle","titleRaw":"Luxury lifestyle","id":20470,"title":"Luxury lifestyle","slug":"luxury-lifestyle"},{"urlSafeValue":"cars","titleRaw":"Cars","id":11029,"title":"Cars","slug":"cars"},{"urlSafeValue":"evs","titleRaw":"EVs","id":26442,"title":"EVs","slug":"evs"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":2,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2722628},{"id":2722468},{"id":2727872}],"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":"","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":[{"urlSafeValue":"business","id":11,"title":"Business","slug":"business"},{"urlSafeValue":"my-europe","id":2,"title":"Europe","slug":"my-europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"business","id":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"},{"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","id":"europe-news","title":"Europe 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FMD OUTBREAK","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Pre-emptive culling continues as Berlin battles first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 35 years","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Pre-emptive culling continues in Germany after FMD outbreak ","titleListing2":"More animals are continuing to be killed as a precautionary measure in Germany a few days after the first outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in more than 35 years.","leadin":"More animals are continuing to be killed as a precautionary measure in Germany a few days after the first outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in more than 35 years.","summary":"More animals are continuing to be killed as a precautionary measure in Germany a few days after the first outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in more than 35 years.","keySentence":"","url":"pre-emptive-culling-continues-as-berlin-battles-first-outbreak-of-foot-and-mouth-disease-i","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/14\/pre-emptive-culling-continues-as-berlin-battles-first-outbreak-of-foot-and-mouth-disease-i","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"On Monday, 55 goats and sheep and three cattle were slaughtered as a precautionary measure on a farm in Sch\u00f6neiche in Germany\u2019s Brandenburg state days after a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak was confirmed.\n\nThe affected farm had purchased hay from a buffalo farm in H\u00f6now a few days prior, where the disease was first reported and confirmed. A 72-hour ban on transporting cows, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals was immediately put in place to prevent further spread of the disease.\n\nInvestigations since have indicated that the disease has not spread further in Brandenburg, and is contained within the two farms in Sch\u00f6neiche and H\u00f6now. \u201cThe samples currently being analysed have not shown any further positive results,\u201d says Hanka Mittelst\u00e4dt, Brandenburg Minister of Agriculture.\n\n\u201cWhether these 72-hours will be extended, or other measures will be taken remains to be seen\u201d she added.\n\nGermany\u2019s federal lawmakers were also reeled in to respond to this matter. Federal Minister of Agriculture, Cem \u00d6zdemir noted that it\u2019s too early to tell if the disease is fully contained, adding that rigorous testing is taking place to ensure its containment.\n\n\u201cAt this point in time, we cannot say whether it will remain with one farm or whether other farms will be affected. We naturally hope, together with our livestock farmers and the export-oriented industry affected, that this is a limited area,\u201d says \u00d6zdemir.\n\nThe outbreak, the first since 1988, is sure to have drastic consequences. Germany\u2019s animal product exports turnover approximately \u20ac10 billion annually, with their biggest customer being the United Kingdom.\n\nThe loss of Berlin\u2019s FMD-free status means veterinary certificates for exports outside the European Union is not longer possible.\n\n\u00d6zdemir says the outbreak will also likely affect the exports of milk and dairy products, meat products, hides, skins and blood products. \u00d6zdemir says the ministry \u201cassumed third countries would immediately impose bans on such goods from Germany\u201d, further limiting their supply possibilities.\n\nThe Federal Agriculture Minister stressed that the immediate goal is to ensure the disease\u2019s containment.\n\nFMD causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Some decades ago, the outbreak took most of the world by storm, and required major slaughtering campaigns to eradicate.\n\nThe disease, though highly infectious, poses no threat to humans, neither by contact nor by consumption of an infected animal\u2019s meat or milk.\n\nThe disease occurs regularly in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to some Asian and South American countries.\n\nUp to 1991-1992, FMD was controlled in Europe via systematic vaccination programs of the entire cattle population across the continent. Soon after, when Europe was officially disease free for a number of years, vaccines were discontinued, and cases have since remained very low.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>On Monday, 55 goats and sheep and three cattle were slaughtered as a precautionary measure on a farm in Sch\u00f6neiche in Germany\u2019s Brandenburg state days after a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak was confirmed.<\/p>\n<p>The affected farm had purchased hay from a buffalo farm in H\u00f6now a few days prior, where the disease was first reported and confirmed. A 72-hour ban on transporting cows, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals was immediately put in place to prevent further spread of the disease.<\/p>\n<p>Investigations since have indicated that the disease has not spread further in Brandenburg, and is contained within the two farms in Sch\u00f6neiche and H\u00f6now. \u201cThe samples currently being analysed have not shown any further positive results,\u201d says Hanka Mittelst\u00e4dt, Brandenburg Minister of Agriculture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhether these 72-hours will be extended, or other measures will be taken remains to be seen\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>Germany\u2019s federal lawmakers were also reeled in to respond to this matter. Federal Minister of Agriculture, Cem \u00d6zdemir noted that it\u2019s too early to tell if the disease is fully contained, adding that rigorous testing is taking place to ensure its containment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt this point in time, we cannot say whether it will remain with one farm or whether other farms will be affected. We naturally hope, together with our livestock farmers and the export-oriented industry affected, that this is a limited area,\u201d says \u00d6zdemir.<\/p>\n<p>The outbreak, the first since 1988, is sure to have drastic consequences. Germany\u2019s animal product exports turnover approximately \u20ac10 billion annually, with their biggest customer being the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>The loss of Berlin\u2019s FMD-free status means veterinary certificates for exports outside the European Union is not longer possible.<\/p>\n<p>\u00d6zdemir says the outbreak will also likely affect the exports of milk and dairy products, meat products, hides, skins and blood products. \u00d6zdemir says the ministry \u201cassumed third countries would immediately impose bans on such goods from Germany\u201d, further limiting their supply possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>The Federal Agriculture Minister stressed that the immediate goal is to ensure the disease\u2019s containment.<\/p>\n<p>FMD causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Some decades ago, the outbreak took most of the world by storm, and required major slaughtering campaigns to eradicate.<\/p>\n<p>The disease, though highly infectious, poses no threat to humans, neither by contact nor by consumption of an infected animal\u2019s meat or milk.<\/p>\n<p>The disease occurs regularly in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to some Asian and South American countries.<\/p>\n<p>Up to 1991-1992, FMD was controlled in Europe via systematic vaccination programs of the entire cattle population across the continent. Soon after, when Europe was officially disease free for a number of years, vaccines were discontinued, and cases have since remained very low.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736801298,"updatedAt":1736833523,"publishedAt":1736830895,"firstPublishedAt":1736830895,"lastPublishedAt":1736830895,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Sebastian Gollnow\/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","altText":"The entrance to the zoo Tierpark Berlin, Berlin, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025, which has closed to visitors as a precaution after foot-and-mouth disease was detected","callToActionText":null,"width":819,"caption":"The entrance to the zoo Tierpark Berlin, Berlin, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025, which has closed to visitors as a precaution after foot-and-mouth disease was detected","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/91\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7d7be8b6-969c-576b-ae96-34a411034540-8969124.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":460}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"fouda","twitter":null,"id":3270,"title":"Malek Fouda"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"},{"urlSafeValue":"brandenburg","titleRaw":"Brandenburg","id":1749,"title":"Brandenburg","slug":"brandenburg"},{"urlSafeValue":"foot-and-mouth-disease","titleRaw":"Foot and mouth disease","id":23342,"title":"Foot and mouth 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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":{"urlSafeValue":"europe","id":104,"title":"Europe"},"country":{"urlSafeValue":"germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84031001","84032003","84071001","84072001","84111001","84112001","84141001","84142008"],"slugs":["business","business_agriculture","food_and_drink","food_and_drink_general","law_government_and_politics","law_government_and_politics_general","pets","pets_veterinary_medicine"]}},"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\/2025\/01\/14\/pre-emptive-culling-continues-as-berlin-battles-first-outbreak-of-foot-and-mouth-disease-i","lastModified":1736830895},{"id":2727114,"cid":8969018,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250113_NWSU_57501617","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMAN SCHOLZ DEFENCE","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Scholz tells voters he is against increase in defence budget","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Scholz rejects Trump's 5% demand for defense spending","titleListing2":"Scholz tells voters he is against increase in defence budget","leadin":"Other German politicians have equally rebuked US President-elect Donald Trump over his demand that NATO's European members should more than double their defence spending.","summary":"Other German politicians have equally rebuked US President-elect Donald Trump over his demand that NATO's European members should more than double their defence spending.","keySentence":"","url":"scholz-tells-voters-he-is-against-increase-in-defence-budget","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/01\/13\/scholz-tells-voters-he-is-against-increase-in-defence-budget","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Speaking at the first stop of his election campaign tour in Bielefeld, German chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the controversy surrounding a potential defence budget increase, raised by US President-elect Donald Trump last week. Scholz said he would not be raising the budget but would adhere to the current NATO target of at least two percent. \n\nTrump had criticised Europe's contributions to NATO and suggested member states to increase their defence spending to five percent of their gross domestic product (GDP). \n\nScholz pushed back and said five percent would be too costly. \n\n\u201cFive percent would be over 200 billion euros per year, the federal budget is not even 500 billion,\u201d he said during his election campaign event in Bielefeld. \n\nHe added that such a target would only be doable with \"massive tax increases or massive cuts to many things that are important to us.\u201d\n\n\u201cI guarantee that we will continue to spend two percent of our economic output on defense,\u201d he said. \u201cAnyone who says that's not the way to go must also say where the money will come from,\u201d he concluded. \n\nGermany is one of the closest allies to the US in Western Europe. After he is sworn into office on January 20, Trump is expected to put pressure onto Germany on an economical level, as well as in terms of security policy. \n\nGermany's conservatives, the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), prioritised defence spending in their election campaigns. \n\nFriedrich Merz, leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democrat Union (CDU) and the man tipped to succeed Scholz as chancellor, on Wednesday said the country would spend more on defence but he would not be drawn on a specific spending target.\n\n\"The 2, 3 or 5% (targets) are basically irrelevant, the decisive factor is that we do what is necessary to defend ourselves,\" Merz told public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.\n\nWhile both parties are performing well in the polls, their proposal to increase defence spending does not seem to align with popular demand of German voters. \n\nGermany's election campaign in full swing\n\nScholz kicked off his election campaign tour in Bielefeld. The German chancellor is planning more than 30 public talks between now and February 23, the day of the election. \n\nThe event in Bielefeld was disrupted by two hecklers who protested against Israel's war in Gaza. The two were subsequently escorted out of the hall. \n\nOther parties also kicked off their election campaigns ahead of the national elections.\n\nThe CDU and its candidate, Friedrich Merz, are leading polls with around 30 percent. \n\nPolls then show far-right AfD in second place with 20 percent, with their leader Alice Weidel, who had an online discussion with tech mogul Elon Musk earlier this week. \n\nWeidel, however, does not have a realistic chance of becoming Germany's next leader as other parties refuse to work with the AfD. \n\nOlaf Scholz and his Social Democrats came in around 14-17 percent in the polls. Scholz leads a minority government after his three-party coalition - made up of the Social Democrats, the liberal FDP, and the Greens - collapsed in November when he fired a key minister of the FDP, Christian Lindner, which Scholz said was a result of the minister \"breaking his trust too many times.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Speaking at the first stop of his election campaign tour in Bielefeld, German chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the controversy surrounding a potential defence budget increase, raised by US President-elect Donald Trump last week. Scholz said he would not be raising the budget but would adhere to the current NATO target of at least two percent. <\/p>\n<p>Trump had criticised Europe's contributions to NATO and suggested member states to <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//01//08//german-politicians-rebuke-trump-over-nato-defence-spending-demand/">increase <\/a>their defence spending to five percent of their gross domestic product (GDP). <\/p>\n<p>Scholz pushed back and said five percent would be too costly. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cFive percent would be over 200 billion euros per year, the federal budget is not even 500 billion,\u201d he said during his election campaign event in Bielefeld. <\/p>\n<p>He added that such a target would only be doable with \"massive tax increases or massive cuts to many things that are important to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guarantee that we will continue to spend two percent of our economic output on defense,\u201d he said. \u201cAnyone who says that's not the way to go must also say where the money will come from,\u201d he concluded. <\/p>\n<p>Germany is one of the closest allies to the US in Western Europe. After he is sworn into office on January 20, Trump is expected to put pressure onto Germany on an economical level, as well as in terms of security policy. <\/p>\n<p>Germany's conservatives, the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), prioritised defence spending in their election campaigns. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6640625\">\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//96//90//18//808x535_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.jpg/" alt=\"Election posters with SPD's Olaf Scholz and CDU's Friedrich Merz. Posters read: "More for you better for Germany" and below: "For a country that we can be proud of again."\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/384x255_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/640x425_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/750x498_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/828x550_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/1080x717_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/1200x797_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/1920x1275_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.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\">Election posters with SPD's Olaf Scholz and CDU's Friedrich Merz. Posters read: "More for you better for Germany" and below: "For a country that we can be proud of again."<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Markus Schreiber\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democrat Union (CDU) and the man tipped to succeed Scholz as chancellor, on Wednesday said the country would spend more on defence but he would not be drawn on a specific spending target.<\/p>\n<p>\"The 2, 3 or 5% (targets) are basically irrelevant, the decisive factor is that we do what is necessary to defend ourselves,\" Merz told public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.<\/p>\n<p>While both parties are performing well in the polls, their proposal to increase defence spending does not seem to align with popular demand of German voters. <\/p>\n<h2>Germany's election campaign in full swing<\/h2><p>Scholz kicked off his election campaign tour in Bielefeld. The German chancellor is planning more than 30 public talks between now and February 23, the day of the election. <\/p>\n<p>The event in Bielefeld was disrupted by two hecklers who protested against Israel's war in Gaza. The two were subsequently escorted out of the hall. <\/p>\n<p><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//01//07//germanys-greens-csu-kick-off-election-campaigns-ahead-of-23-february-vote/">Other <\/a>parties also kicked off their election campaigns ahead of the national elections.<\/p>\n<p>The CDU and its candidate, Friedrich Merz, are leading polls with around 30 percent. <\/p>\n<p>Polls then show far-right AfD in second place with 20 percent, with their leader Alice Weidel, who had an online discussion with tech mogul <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//01//09//elon-musk-and-germanys-far-right-chief-host-online-chat-the-eu-warns-could-be-illegal/">Elon Musk<\/strong><\/a> earlier this week. <\/p>\n<p>Weidel, however, does not have a realistic chance of becoming Germany's next leader as other parties refuse to work with the AfD. <\/p>\n<p>Olaf Scholz and his Social Democrats came in around 14-17 percent in the polls. Scholz leads a minority government after his three-party coalition - made up of the Social Democrats, the liberal FDP, and the Greens - collapsed in <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//11//06//german-coalition-government-collapses-chancellor-scholz-fires-finance-minister-lindner/">November <\/a>when he fired a key minister of the FDP, Christian Lindner, which Scholz said was a result of the minister \"breaking his trust too many times.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736792514,"updatedAt":1736802544,"publishedAt":1736802257,"firstPublishedAt":1736802257,"lastPublishedAt":1736802257,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e4b70f00-a432-514c-a07f-00f61f7eb316-8969018.jpg","altText":"A Social Democratic Party, SPD, election campaign poster showing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and reading: \"More For You. Better For Germany.\"in Berlin, Germany, Monnday, Jan. 13. ","caption":"A Social Democratic Party, SPD, election campaign poster showing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and reading: \"More For You. Better For Germany.\"in Berlin, Germany, Monnday, Jan. 13. ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ebrahim Noroozi\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/90\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bf2fa3cb-6108-5183-8798-10c22a3f5a74-8969018.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":680}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3110,"urlSafeValue":"dom","title":"Evelyn Ann-Marie Dom","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":15140,"slug":"secim-mitingi","urlSafeValue":"secim-mitingi","title":"election campaign","titleRaw":"election campaign"},{"id":14588,"slug":"olaf-scholz","urlSafeValue":"olaf-scholz","title":"Olaf Scholz","titleRaw":"Olaf Scholz"},{"id":68,"slug":"defence","urlSafeValue":"defence","title":"Defence","titleRaw":"Defence"},{"id":205,"slug":"nato","urlSafeValue":"nato","title":"NATO","titleRaw":"NATO"},{"id":30264,"slug":"german-election-2025","urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","title":"German election 2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2724136},{"id":2721148},{"id":2719910}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"_sMi7fmsras","dailymotionId":"x9cbcue"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/25\/01\/13\/en\/250113_NWSU_57501617_57502373_75000_215446_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":75000,"filesizeBytes":9830241,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/25\/01\/13\/en\/250113_NWSU_57501617_57502373_75000_215446_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":75000,"filesizeBytes":14564705,"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":"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":{"id":3253,"urlSafeValue":"bielefeld","title":"Bielefeld"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","84111001","84112005","84112006"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_gov_t_and_politics_u_s_government_resources","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":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2025\/01\/13\/scholz-tells-voters-he-is-against-increase-in-defence-budget","lastModified":1736802257},{"id":2724222,"cid":8961726,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250113_EYSU_57476951","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"EUROVERIFY MAGDEBURG CLAIMS","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"How fake news about the Magdeburg attack is spreading ahead of the German elections","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Fake news about Magdeburg attack spreads ahead of German elections","titleListing2":"How fake news about the Magdeburg attack is spreading ahead of the German elections","leadin":"Some politicians and social media users have been accused of using the incident for political gain.","summary":"Some politicians and social media users have been accused of using the incident for political gain.","keySentence":"","url":"how-fake-news-about-the-magdeburg-attack-is-spreading-ahead-of-the-german-elections","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/01\/13\/how-fake-news-about-the-magdeburg-attack-is-spreading-ahead-of-the-german-elections","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Weeks after a car was rammed into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six and injuring more than 200 others, false claims about the attack are still being shared by internet users and politicians alike.\n\nOne video for example has been shared with a caption saying that German police arrested Muslim extremists who support terrorism, the day after the attack which saw a Saudi-born doctor plough into civilians.\u00a0\n\nIt shows Berlin Police officers chasing after and arresting several people at Berlin Central Train Station.\n\nHowever, the video has already been community-noted, explaining that the video was shot on 20 December, a day before the attack in Magdeburg, and that it shows officers arresting participants at a pro-Palestine demonstration.\n\nThe police have also since publicly confirmed that this was the case.\n\nIn many instances, false claims about the attack have also been disseminated in the context of Germany's upcoming federal elections, seemingly in an effort to politicise the incident.\n\nCertain politicians have been at the centre, such as Alice Weidel, co-chair of the far-right AfD party, who alleged that the perpetrator was an \"Islamist filled with hatred\".\n\n\"Dear friends, we are gathered here, one day before Christmas Eve to remember the victims of an act of madness,\" she said at a vigil for victims of the attack on 23 December. \"An act beyond the imagination of all present. An act by an Islamist full of hatred for what constitutes human cohesion. On us humans. On us Germans. On us Christians.\"\n\nSince the attack, the issues of immigration and security have become an even bigger election talking point than they were before. This is reflected by the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Germany's largest opposition party, recently announcing in its manifesto that it would push for a much more hardline immigration policy.\n\nHowever, officials say that Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen is an \"atypical attacker\", and he's previously described himself as an aggressive critic of Islam while also expressing support for AfD.\u00a0\n\nNo motive has been established yet for why the suspect drove into the crowd, but it's been revealed that he has been sharing Islamophobic views online for years.\u00a0\n\nGerman media identified an account on X, allegedly linked to the suspect, with a handle saying, \"Saudi Military Opposition \u2022 Germany chases female Saudi asylum seekers, inside and outside Germany, to destroy their lives \u2022 Germany wants to Islamise Europe\".\n\nIn a 2019 FAZ interview, Al-Abdulmohsen described himself as \"the most aggressive critic of Islam in history\". Elsewhere, he said that AfD pursued the same goals that he did.\n\nThe party has distanced itself from the suspected attacker, assuring it has nothing to do with him.\n\nNevertheless, some are still using the incident to push their own political agenda.\n\nAnother image going around online allegedly depicts Social Democratic MP Saskia Esken speaking out against the deportation of the attacker and calling for him to be forgiven on political talk show Lanz.\n\n\"Are you really so cold-hearted, so callous, to put the welfare of the perpetrator above the suffering of the victims?\" a post that shares the images says.\n\nBut fact-checkers have already debunked this: a community note shows that the timeline doesn't add up for when Esken allegedly made the comments and when the attack took place.\n\nUnfortunately, there are plenty of other examples of this: Green politician Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, was also wrongly accused of urging people to \"forgive the perpetrator\", according to German fact-checkers.\n\nGermany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier meanwhile was accused of claiming on X that the attacker was a right-wing radical who society had failed to integrate. In fact, those words came from a parody account.\n\nAs Germany's elections approach, it's crucial that citizens are correctly informed before they cast their votes.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Weeks after a car was rammed into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six and injuring more than 200 others, false claims about the attack are still being shared by internet users and politicians alike.<\/p>\n<p>One video for example has been shared with a caption saying that German police arrested Muslim extremists who support terrorism, the day after the attack which saw a Saudi-born doctor plough into civilians.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It shows Berlin Police officers chasing after and arresting several people at Berlin Central Train Station.<\/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//96//17//26//808x454_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.jpg/" alt=\"The video is wrongly captioned\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/384x216_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/640x360_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/750x422_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/828x466_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/1080x608_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/1200x675_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/1920x1080_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.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 video is wrongly captioned<\/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>However, the video has already been community-noted, explaining that the video was shot on 20 December, a day before the attack in Magdeburg, and that it shows officers arresting participants at a pro-Palestine demonstration.<\/p>\n<p>The police have also since publicly confirmed that this was the case.<\/p>\n<p>In many instances, false claims about the attack have also been disseminated in the context of Germany's upcoming federal elections, seemingly in an effort to politicise the incident.<\/p>\n<p>Certain politicians have been at the centre, such as Alice Weidel, co-chair of the far-right AfD party, who alleged that the perpetrator was an \"Islamist filled with hatred\".<\/p>\n<p>\"Dear friends, we are gathered here, one day before Christmas Eve to remember the victims of an act of madness,\" she said at a vigil for victims of the attack on 23 December. \"An act beyond the imagination of all present. An act by an Islamist full of hatred for what constitutes human cohesion. On us humans. On us Germans. On us Christians.\"<\/p>\n<p>Since the attack, the issues of immigration and security have become an even bigger election talking point than they were before. This is reflected by the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Germany's largest opposition party, recently announcing in its manifesto that it would push for a much more <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//12//17//german-election-cdu-manifesto-proposes-rightward-shift-on-migration-and-strong-support-for/">hardline immigration policy<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, officials say that Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen is an \"atypical attacker\", and he's previously described himself as an aggressive critic of Islam while also expressing support for AfD.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8925320\" 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//21//who-is-the-suspect-behind-magdeburg-christmas-market-attack/">Who is Taleb A., the suspect behind the Magdeburg Christmas market attack?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>No motive has been established yet for why the suspect drove into the crowd, but it's been revealed that he has been sharing Islamophobic views online for years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>German media identified an account on X, allegedly linked to the suspect, with a handle saying, \"Saudi Military Opposition \u2022 Germany chases female Saudi asylum seekers, inside and outside Germany, to destroy their lives \u2022 Germany wants to Islamise Europe\".<\/p>\n<p>In a 2019 FAZ interview, Al-Abdulmohsen described himself as \"the most aggressive critic of Islam in history\". Elsewhere, he said that AfD pursued the same goals that he did.<\/p>\n<p>The party has distanced itself from the suspected attacker, assuring it has nothing to do with him.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, some are still using the incident to push their own political agenda.<\/p>\n<p>Another image going around online allegedly depicts Social Democratic MP Saskia Esken speaking out against the deportation of the attacker and calling for him to be forgiven on political talk show Lanz.<\/p>\n<p>\"Are you really so cold-hearted, so callous, to put the welfare of the perpetrator above the suffering of the victims?\" a post that shares the images says.<\/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//96//17//26//808x454_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.jpg/" alt=\"There's no evidence that Esken ever said what the picture claims\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/384x216_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/640x360_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/750x422_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/828x466_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/1080x608_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/1200x675_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/1920x1080_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.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\">There's no evidence that Esken ever said what the picture claims<\/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>But fact-checkers have already debunked this: a community note shows that the timeline doesn't add up for when Esken allegedly made the comments and when the attack took place.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, there are plenty of other examples of this: Green politician Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, was also wrongly accused of urging people to \"forgive the perpetrator\", according to German fact-checkers.<\/p>\n<p>Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier meanwhile was accused of claiming on X that the attacker was a right-wing radical who society had failed to integrate. In fact, those words came from a parody account.<\/p>\n<p>As Germany's elections approach, it's crucial that citizens are correctly informed before they cast their votes.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736499298,"updatedAt":1736760610,"publishedAt":1736750711,"firstPublishedAt":1736750711,"lastPublishedAt":1736760610,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/93\/52\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1784c21a-610e-5738-8939-cd0b3a1c8e8a-8935216.jpg","altText":"Flowers are laid in front of the Johannis church near the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024","caption":"Flowers are laid in front of the Johannis church near the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ebrahim Noroozi\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/17\/26\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_65d5e443-79b0-5e56-afe5-39b5078095c6-8961726.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\/96\/17\/26\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6985e706-ce5d-51be-a40e-4746a8ac636d-8961726.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":26642,"slug":"fact-checking","urlSafeValue":"fact-checking","title":"Fact checking","titleRaw":"Fact checking"},{"id":30264,"slug":"german-election-2025","urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","title":"German election 2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025"},{"id":30282,"slug":"magdeburg-christmas-market-attack","urlSafeValue":"magdeburg-christmas-market-attack","title":"Magdeburg christmas market attack","titleRaw":"Magdeburg christmas market attack"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"SSflhmjvAIU","dailymotionId":"x9c9mck"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/EY\/SU\/25\/01\/13\/en\/250113_EYSU_57476951_57477018_116240_152856_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":116240,"filesizeBytes":14229658,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/EY\/SU\/25\/01\/13\/en\/250113_EYSU_57476951_57477018_116240_152856_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":116240,"filesizeBytes":20544154,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"euro-verify","urlSafeValue":"euro-verify","title":"EuroVerify","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/my-europe-series\/euro-verify"},"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":"my-europe-series","urlSafeValue":"my-europe-series","title":"My 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\/2025\/01\/13\/how-fake-news-about-the-magdeburg-attack-is-spreading-ahead-of-the-german-elections","lastModified":1736760610},{"id":2725262,"cid":8964640,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250111_E3SU_57486895","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY ANIMAL TRANSPORT BANNED","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"First foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Germany for 35 years","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"First foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Germany for 35 years","titleListing2":"First foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Germany for 35 years","leadin":"As a precaution animal transportation has been banned in Brandenburg state after the disease was detected in a buffalo herd just outside Berlin.","summary":"As a precaution animal transportation has been banned in Brandenburg state after the disease was detected in a buffalo herd just outside Berlin.","keySentence":"","url":"first-foot-and-mouth-disease-outbreak-in-germany-for-35-years","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/11\/first-foot-and-mouth-disease-outbreak-in-germany-for-35-years","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A 72-hour ban on transporting cows, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals such as camels and llamas in Brandenburg went into force on Saturday and Berlin's two zoos also closed.\n\nIt came after authorities in Brandenburg state, which surrounds Berlin, said on Friday that a farmer found three of a 14-strong herd of water buffalo dead in Hoenow, just outside the city limits. Germany's national animal health institute confirmed that foot-and-mouth disease had been detected in samples from one animal, and the rest of the herd was slaughtered. It wasn't clear how the animals were infected.\n\nAuthorities said that around 200 pigs at a farm in Ahrensfelde, near where the outbreak was detected, would be slaughtered as a precaution.\n\nThe highly contagious viral disease affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs and sheep, including those in zoos. There are tight international regulations in place to stop its transmission. Whilst the disease doesn't affect humans they can carry it and infect animals.\n\nDeath rates are typically low, but the disease can make animals ill with fever, decreased appetite, excessive drooling, blisters and other symptoms.\n\nIn the UK in 2001 and outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease led the authorities to kill around six million livestock on infected farms and farms next to them, costing billions of euros. At the time, some farmers said the response was too extreme.\n\nThe virus spreads easily through contact and airborne transmission and can quickly infect entire herds. People can also spread the disease though things like farming equipment, shoes, clothing and vehicle tyres that have come into contact with the virus.\n\nThe last outbreak in Germany was in 1988 and the last in Europe in 2011, according to Germany's animal health institute.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A 72-hour ban on transporting cows, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals such as camels and llamas in Brandenburg went into force on Saturday and Berlin's two zoos also closed.<\/p>\n<p>It came after authorities in Brandenburg state, which surrounds Berlin, said on Friday that a farmer found three of a 14-strong herd of water buffalo dead in Hoenow, just outside the city limits. Germany's national animal health institute confirmed that foot-and-mouth disease had been detected in samples from one animal, and the rest of the herd was slaughtered. It wasn't clear how the animals were infected.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities said that around 200 pigs at a farm in Ahrensfelde, near where the outbreak was detected, would be slaughtered as a precaution.<\/p>\n<p>The highly contagious viral disease affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs and sheep, including those in zoos. There are tight international regulations in place to stop its transmission. Whilst the disease doesn't affect humans they can carry it and infect animals.<\/p>\n<p>Death rates are typically low, but the disease can make animals ill with fever, decreased appetite, excessive drooling, blisters and other symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>In the UK in 2001 and outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease led the authorities to kill around six million livestock on infected farms and farms next to them, costing billions of euros. At the time, some farmers said the response was too extreme.<\/p>\n<p>The virus spreads easily through contact and airborne transmission and can quickly infect entire herds. People can also spread the disease though things like farming equipment, shoes, clothing and vehicle tyres that have come into contact with the virus.<\/p>\n<p>The last outbreak in Germany was in 1988 and the last in Europe in 2011, according to Germany's animal health institute.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736598173,"updatedAt":1736605337,"publishedAt":1736600627,"firstPublishedAt":1736600627,"lastPublishedAt":1736600627,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/46\/40\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_174c1802-ffa4-576c-b6ba-858c33c6fba8-8964640.jpg","altText":"Armed officials in protective clothing walk through a farm in Hoppegarten, Germany, Friday Jan 10, 2025. (Sebastian Gollnow\/dpa via AP)","caption":"Armed officials in protective clothing walk through a farm in Hoppegarten, Germany, Friday Jan 10, 2025. (Sebastian Gollnow\/dpa via AP)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Sebastian Gollnow\/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":1074,"urlSafeValue":"bellamy","title":"Daniel Bellamy","twitter":"danbel"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":23342,"slug":"foot-and-mouth-disease","urlSafeValue":"foot-and-mouth-disease","title":"Foot and mouth disease","titleRaw":"Foot and mouth disease"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":14374,"slug":"livestock","urlSafeValue":"livestock","title":"livestock","titleRaw":"livestock"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2727238}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","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","80122010","80222010","84141001","84142008","84191001","84192003","84231001","84232005"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","natural_disasters_high_and_medium_risk","natural_disasters_high_medium_and_low_risk","pets","pets_veterinary_medicine","science","science_biology","style_and_fashion","style_and_fashion_clothing"]}},"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\/2025\/01\/11\/first-foot-and-mouth-disease-outbreak-in-germany-for-35-years","lastModified":1736600627},{"id":2725132,"cid":8964346,"versionId":8,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250111_E3SU_57486270","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY ELEX CAMPAIGN","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's AfD names Alice Weidel as chancellor candidate ahead of February election","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"AfD confirms Weidel as chancellor pick while SPD sticks with Scholz","titleListing2":"Germany's AfD confirms Weidel to run for chancellor while SPD sticks with Scholz","leadin":"The AfD has confirmed its first-ever chancellor candidate as polls show the part is currently in second place. Co-leader Tino Chrupalla says the goal in the February vote is to surpass the 20% mark.","summary":"The AfD has confirmed its first-ever chancellor candidate as polls show the part is currently in second place. Co-leader Tino Chrupalla says the goal in the February vote is to surpass the 20% mark.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-afd-party-nominates-alice-weidel-as-its-candidate-for-chancellor","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/11\/germanys-afd-party-nominates-alice-weidel-as-its-candidate-for-chancellor","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The far-right AfD party announced it has chosen Alice Weidel as its chancellor candidate in the upcoming election at the start of a two-day gathering in Riesa, in the eastern state of Saxony, one of its strongholds.\n\nIt is the first time in the party's history that it is claiming a possible chancellorship by electing an official candidate for the role.\n\nPolls show AfD in second place ahead of the election on 23 February, with about 20% support. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla clearly formulated his party's goals at the party conference in Riesa. \n\n\"Now we have to leave the 20 percent mark behind us and continue to climb,\" Chrupalla said.\n\nHowever, Weidel \u2014 who this week held a live chat with tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has endorsed the party on his X platform \u2014 has no realistic chance of becoming Germany's leader as other parties refuse to work with AfD.\n\nWeidel has been one of the party's most well-known faces for years. Her central theme is the alleged collapse of internal security due to immigration.\u00a0\n\nSaturday's conference made a slow start with more than an hour delay, as anti-AfD protesters blocked several access roads.\n\nA heavy police presence was in place as thousands of demonstrators were expected. Officers partly broke up a sit-in blockade at a crossroads, and fireworks were thrown toward police on the sidelines of another protest, German news agency dpa reported.\n\nCDU and SPD also launch campaigns\n\nThe mainstream conservative opposition Union bloc leads polls with around 30%, and its candidate, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, is the favourite to become the next chancellor.\n\nAt the CDU party meeting in Hamburg, Merz called for \"fundamental change\" in German politics. \"We are ready to take responsibility for our country, but we also know that things cannot continue as they have for the last three years,\" he said.\n\nMeanwhile, centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz was confirmed as the SPD's candidate at their party conference on Saturday. He is hoping for a come-from-behind victory, but there has been little sign of significant movement so far in polls that show support for his Social Democrats at 14-17%. \n\nBoth parties were also campaigning on Saturday. In his speech to SPD delegates, Scholz began by comparing Austria's political situation, where President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked right-wing FP\u00d6 leader Herbert Kickl with attempting to form a government. \n\nScholz said Austria is on the verge of having an \"extreme right-winger\" as head of government, \"even though 70% of Austrians voted for democratic parties.\" \n\n\"We are really at a crossroads in Germany,\" he added.\n\nScholz leads a minority government after his unpopular and notoriously rancorous three-party coalition collapsed in November when he fired his finance minister in a dispute over how to revitalise Germany\u2019s stagnant economy. \n\nThe election is being held seven months earlier than initially scheduled.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The far-right AfD party announced it has chosen Alice Weidel as its chancellor candidate in the upcoming election at the start of a two-day gathering in Riesa, in the eastern state of Saxony, one of its strongholds.<\/p>\n<p>It is the first time in the party's history that it is claiming a possible chancellorship by electing an official candidate for the role.<\/p>\n<p>Polls show AfD in second place ahead of the election on 23 February, with about 20% support. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla clearly formulated his party's goals at the party conference in Riesa. <\/p>\n<p>\"Now we have to leave the 20 percent mark behind us and continue to climb,\" Chrupalla said.<\/p>\n<p>However, Weidel \u2014 who this week held a live chat with tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has endorsed the party on his X platform \u2014 has no realistic chance of becoming Germany's leader as other parties refuse to work with AfD.<\/p>\n<p>Weidel has been one of the party's most well-known faces for years. Her central theme is the alleged collapse of internal security due to immigration.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Saturday's conference made a slow start with more than an hour delay, as anti-AfD protesters blocked several access roads.<\/p>\n<p>A heavy police presence was in place as thousands of demonstrators were expected. Officers partly broke up a sit-in blockade at a crossroads, and fireworks were thrown toward police on the sidelines of another protest, German news agency dpa reported.<\/p>\n<h2>CDU and SPD also launch campaigns<\/h2><p>The mainstream conservative opposition Union bloc leads polls with around 30%, and its candidate, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, is the favourite to become the next chancellor.<\/p>\n<p>At the CDU party meeting in Hamburg, Merz called for \"fundamental change\" in German politics. \"We are ready to take responsibility for our country, but we also know that things cannot continue as they have for the last three years,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz was confirmed as the SPD's candidate at their party conference on Saturday. He is hoping for a come-from-behind victory, but there has been little sign of significant movement so far in polls that show support for his Social Democrats at 14-17%. <\/p>\n<p>Both parties were also campaigning on Saturday. In his speech to SPD delegates, Scholz began by comparing Austria's political situation, where President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked right-wing FP\u00d6 leader Herbert Kickl with attempting to form a government. <\/p>\n<p>Scholz said Austria is on the verge of having an \"extreme right-winger\" as head of government, \"even though 70% of Austrians voted for democratic parties.\" <\/p>\n<p>\"We are really at a crossroads in Germany,\" he added.<\/p>\n<p>Scholz leads a minority government after his unpopular and notoriously rancorous three-party coalition collapsed in November when he fired his finance minister in a dispute over how to revitalise Germany\u2019s stagnant economy. <\/p>\n<p>The election is being held seven months earlier than initially scheduled.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736589086,"updatedAt":1738749246,"publishedAt":1736599685,"firstPublishedAt":1736599685,"lastPublishedAt":1738748941,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Sebastian Kahnert\/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","altText":"AfD national chairwoman Alice Weidel in Riesa and Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (Sebastian Kahnert\/dpa via AP)","callToActionText":null,"width":3264,"caption":"AfD national chairwoman Alice Weidel in Riesa and Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (Sebastian Kahnert\/dpa via AP)","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/43\/54\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_deeceb52-be8e-543b-845c-92785a674f1c-8964354.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1938}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"bellamy","twitter":"danbel","id":1074,"title":"Daniel Bellamy"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"afd-alternative-fur-deutschland","titleRaw":"AfD Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland","id":17832,"title":"AfD Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland","slug":"afd-alternative-fur-deutschland"},{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"},{"urlSafeValue":"far-right","titleRaw":"Far-right","id":11378,"title":"Far-right","slug":"far-right"},{"urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025","id":30264,"title":"German election 2025","slug":"german-election-2025"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2723804},{"id":2719910},{"id":2738552}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"1wtcK4QfbI4","dailymotionId":"x9c6jhi"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":72040,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":9258157,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/25\/01\/11\/en\/250111_E3SU_57486270_57486295_72040_161247_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":72040,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":14168237,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/25\/01\/11\/en\/250111_E3SU_57486270_57486295_72040_161247_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","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","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","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\/2025\/01\/11\/germanys-afd-party-nominates-alice-weidel-as-its-candidate-for-chancellor","lastModified":1738748941},{"id":2725062,"cid":8964154,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250111_NWSU_57485630","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY RUSSIAN OIL TANKER","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany tugs drifting oil tanker - believed to be Russian - to safer waters","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany tugs drifting oil tanker to safer waters","titleListing2":"Germany tugs drifting oil tanker - believed to be Russian - to safer waters","leadin":"The oil tanker Eventin is believed to be part of Moscow\u2019s efforts to evade sanctions - Greenpeace says it belongs to Russia's 'shadow fleet.'","summary":"The oil tanker Eventin is believed to be part of Moscow\u2019s efforts to evade sanctions - Greenpeace says it belongs to Russia's 'shadow fleet.'","keySentence":"","url":"germany-tugs-drifting-oil-tanker-believed-to-be-russian-to-safer-waters","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/01\/11\/germany-tugs-drifting-oil-tanker-believed-to-be-russian-to-safer-waters","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The tanker, which is believed to be part of Russia\u2019s efforts to evade sanctions, was discovered adrift in heavy seas off Germany's coastline in the Baltic Sea.\n\nA tugboat from Bremen was deployed which managed to tow it into safer waters off the nearby German island of R\u00fcgen on Saturday.\n\nGermany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock called the incident a danger to security and tourism in the Baltic Sea.\n\nThe Panamanian-flagged Eventin was believed to be carrying 99,000 tons of oil from Russia en route to Egypt when it went adrift for several hours. There was no immediate danger to the environment, the German news agency dpa reported.\n\nGreenpeace said that Eventin belongs to a so-called Russian shadow fleet, which is made up of hundreds of aging tankers that are dodging sanctions in order to keep oil revenue flowing into the Russian state budget. The sanctions were imposed after Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.\n\nBaerbock said that the incident shows that Russia is endangering European security \u201cnot only with its war of aggression on Ukraine\u201d but with sabotage and disinformation \u201cand even with dilapidated oil tankers.\u201d\n\nShe said that Russia was not only circumventing sanctions \u201cwith the nefarious use of a fleet of rusty tankers,\u201d but also endangering tourism in the Baltic Sea.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The tanker, which is believed to be part of Russia\u2019s efforts to evade sanctions, was discovered adrift in heavy seas off Germany's coastline in the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n<p>A tugboat from Bremen was deployed which managed to tow it into safer waters off the nearby German island of R\u00fcgen on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock called the incident a danger to security and tourism in the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n<p>The Panamanian-flagged Eventin was believed to be carrying 99,000 tons of oil from Russia en route to Egypt when it went adrift for several hours. There was no immediate danger to the environment, the German news agency dpa reported.<\/p>\n<p>Greenpeace said that Eventin belongs to a so-called Russian shadow fleet, which is made up of hundreds of aging tankers that are dodging sanctions in order to keep oil revenue flowing into the Russian state budget. The sanctions were imposed after Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Baerbock said that the incident shows that Russia is endangering European security \u201cnot only with its war of aggression on Ukraine\u201d but with sabotage and disinformation \u201cand even with dilapidated oil tankers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said that Russia was not only circumventing sanctions \u201cwith the nefarious use of a fleet of rusty tankers,\u201d but also endangering tourism in the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736581946,"updatedAt":1736584602,"publishedAt":1736583277,"firstPublishedAt":1736583277,"lastPublishedAt":1736584602,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/41\/54\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4ccfd9a5-a1ec-5a08-8386-c1eca34d5ff2-8964154.jpg","altText":"The oil tanker \"Eventin\" off the coast of the island of R\u00fcgen, Germany, Friday Jan. 10, 2025. (Stefan Sauer\/dpa via AP)","caption":"The oil tanker \"Eventin\" off the coast of the island of R\u00fcgen, Germany, Friday Jan. 10, 2025. (Stefan Sauer\/dpa via AP)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Stefan Sauer\/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":1074,"urlSafeValue":"bellamy","title":"Daniel Bellamy","twitter":"danbel"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"},{"id":12135,"slug":"oil-tanker","urlSafeValue":"oil-tanker","title":"Oil tanker","titleRaw":"Oil tanker"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"}],"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":"AP","additionalSources":"","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":["80023001","84111001","84112001","84251001","84252003","84252015"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","law_government_and_politics","law_government_and_politics_general","travel","travel_africa","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":"\/2025\/01\/11\/germany-tugs-drifting-oil-tanker-believed-to-be-russian-to-safer-waters","lastModified":1736584602},{"id":2723718,"cid":8960276,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250109_TRSU_57470971","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Culture - Disagreement over new German court for Nazi-looted art","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"New German court sparks row over return of Nazi-looted art","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Row erupts over new German court for Nazi-looted art","titleListing2":"New German court opens to decide fate of Nazi-looted art","leadin":"The German government has approved a new system to make it easier to return Nazi-looted art to their rightful owners.","summary":"The German government has approved a new system to make it easier to return Nazi-looted art to their rightful owners.","keySentence":"","url":"new-german-court-sparks-row-over-return-of-nazi-looted-art","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2025\/01\/10\/new-german-court-sparks-row-over-return-of-nazi-looted-art","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany\u2019s federal government has set up a new arbitration court to simplify the process of returning property stolen during the Nazi regime. \n\nThe court is intended to make the final decision in a situation where parties dispute the return of Nazi-looted art during a preliminary process. \n\nThe Arbitration Court for Nazi Looted Property allows for \u201cunilateral appealability\u201d. This distinguishes it from the old system where the descendants of the former owners and the current owners both had to agree on an appeal. \n\nUnder the old system, many pieces of art have been withheld from an appeals committee by the current owners refusing to allow the system to advance. One Picasso painting\u2019s providence has yet to be fully investigated due to such a refusal by Bavaria. \n\nYet, a group of lawyers and historians that specialise in Nazi-looted art have written an open letter to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to criticise the planned changes. \n\n\u201cIt is dishonest to abolish the Advisory Commission on Nazi-looted art in the final stages of the legislative period and to decide on a new procedure that is worse for the victims,\u201d the open letter reads. \n\nThe Advisory Commission was founded in 2003 in response to many German institutions refusing to cooperate with the Washington Agreement of 1999 that committed the nation to returning Nazi-looted art. \n\nAs the Advisory Commission had no decision-making power, it was pledged in 2021 to strengthen it and avert situations like with the Picasso painting in Bavaria. \n\nInstead, the government has removed the Advisory Commission entirely in place of this new arbitration court. Signatories of the open letter are concerned that the framework of the new court hasn\u2019t been discussed publicly. \n\nThey are also concerned that this new court will not allow victims who sold their art to the Nazis under pressure of persecution will not be covered by the new restitution regulations. \u201cEven those persecuted who had to sell cultural property in connection with their escape from Nazi Germany or from a country occupied by the Nazis will in future only have a very limited right to restitution,\u201d the letter reads. \n\nIf this is the case, it will be a \u201ca slap in the face of the victims and their descendants\u201d and \u201ccatastrophic for Germany's reputation\u201d the open letter argues. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany\u2019s <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//01//24//art-world-accusing-german-government-of-choking-pro-palestinian-speech/">federal government<\/strong><\/a> has set up a new arbitration court to simplify the process of returning property stolen during the Nazi regime. <\/p>\n<p>The court is intended to make the final decision in a situation where parties dispute the return of Nazi-looted art during a preliminary process. <\/p>\n<p>The Arbitration Court for Nazi Looted Property allows for \u201cunilateral appealability\u201d. This distinguishes it from the old system where the descendants of the former owners and the current owners both had to agree on an appeal. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8782548,8679800\" 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//culture//2024//08//26//this-painting-was-destined-for-hitlers-museum-now-its-back-with-its-jewish-owners-heirs/">This painting was destined for Hitler\u2019s museum. Now it\u2019s back with its Jewish owner\u2019s heirs<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//10//10//claude-monet-masterpiece-stolen-by-nazis-returned-to-rightful-heirs-after-80-year-search/">Claude Monet masterpiece stolen by Nazis returned to rightful heirs after 80-year search<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Under the old system, many pieces of art have been withheld from an appeals committee by the current owners refusing to allow the system to advance. One Picasso painting\u2019s providence has yet to be fully investigated due to such a refusal by Bavaria. <\/p>\n<p>Yet, a group of lawyers and historians that specialise in <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2018//11//18//jewish-leader-says-germany-dragging-heels-on-looted-art/">Nazi-looted art<\/strong><\/a> have written an open letter to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to criticise the planned changes. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is dishonest to abolish the Advisory Commission on Nazi-looted art in the final stages of the legislative period and to decide on a new procedure that is worse for the victims,\u201d the open letter reads. <\/p>\n<p>The Advisory Commission was founded in 2003 in response to many German institutions refusing to cooperate with the Washington Agreement of 1999 that committed the nation to returning Nazi-looted art. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6475\">\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//96//02//76//808x525_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.jpg/" alt=\"Claudia Roth, Minister of State for Culture and the Media, who has led the plans for the new court\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/384x249_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/640x414_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/750x486_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/828x536_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/1080x699_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/1200x777_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/1920x1243_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.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\">Claudia Roth, Minister of State for Culture and the Media, who has led the plans for the new court<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Michael Kappeler\/(c) Copyright 2024, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As the Advisory Commission had no decision-making power, it was pledged in 2021 to strengthen it and avert situations like with the Picasso painting in Bavaria. <\/p>\n<p>Instead, the government has removed the Advisory Commission entirely in place of this new arbitration court. Signatories of the open letter are concerned that the framework of the new court hasn\u2019t been discussed publicly. <\/p>\n<p>They are also concerned that this new court will not allow victims who sold their art to the Nazis under <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2022//04//25//should-museums-return-artworks-stolen-by-nazis/">pressure of persecution<\/strong><\/a> will not be covered by the new restitution regulations. \u201cEven those persecuted who had to sell cultural property in connection with their escape from Nazi Germany or from a country occupied by the Nazis will in future only have a very limited right to restitution,\u201d the letter reads. <\/p>\n<p>If this is the case, it will be a \u201ca slap in the face of the victims and their descendants\u201d and \u201ccatastrophic for Germany's reputation\u201d the open letter argues. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736432796,"updatedAt":1736497534,"publishedAt":1736496084,"firstPublishedAt":1736496084,"lastPublishedAt":1736496127,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_955d418c-11f0-550e-a5ee-b3ceee9688a9-8960276.jpg","altText":"U.S. 7th Army troops found a priceless collection of looted art treasures hidden in Neuschwantstein Castle at Fussen near the Swiss frontier in Austria, May 1945.","caption":"U.S. 7th Army troops found a priceless collection of looted art treasures hidden in Neuschwantstein Castle at Fussen near the Swiss frontier in Austria, May 1945.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Horace Abrahams\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":3300,"height":2474},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/02\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9ac6d460-78c8-52a2-84c7-aa553ed03276-8960276.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":6000,"height":3885}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2272,"urlSafeValue":"walfisz","title":"Jonny Walfisz","twitter":"@JonathanWalfisz"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":18492,"slug":"nazis","urlSafeValue":"nazis","title":"Nazis","titleRaw":"Nazis"},{"id":4168,"slug":"fine-arts","urlSafeValue":"fine-arts","title":"Fine arts","titleRaw":"Fine arts"},{"id":4814,"slug":"world-war-ii","urlSafeValue":"world-war-ii","title":"World War II","titleRaw":"World War II"},{"id":12703,"slug":"looted-art","urlSafeValue":"looted-art","title":"looted art","titleRaw":"looted art"},{"id":6923,"slug":"museum","urlSafeValue":"museum","title":"Museum","titleRaw":"Museum"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":1911316},{"id":1836568},{"id":2724250}],"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":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122004","80222004","84011001","84012003","84031001","84032001","84091001","84092023","84111001","84112001"],"slugs":["a_and_e_fine_arts","aggregated_all_moderate_content","arts_and_entertainment","business","business_general","hate_speech_and_cyberbullying_high_and_medium_risk","hate_speech_and_cyberbullying_high_medium_and_low_risk","hobbies_and_interests","hobbies_and_interests_painting","law_government_and_politics","law_government_and_politics_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":"\/culture\/2025\/01\/10\/new-german-court-sparks-row-over-return-of-nazi-looted-art","lastModified":1736496127},{"id":2724136,"cid":8961434,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250110_E3SU_57476204","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY POLITICIS MUSK WEIDEL DEBATE by Liv and Tamsin","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"The Musk effect: Could the X owner actually impact Germany\u2019s election?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"The Musk effect: Could the X owner actually impact Germany\u2019s election?","titleListing2":"The Musk effect: Could the X owner actually impact Germany\u2019s election?","leadin":"The tech billionaire\u2019s comments online have caused Germany\u2019s government to claim he was \u2018interfering\u2019 in the country\u2019s upcoming elections \u2013 but it's unclear yet if his efforts would have a substantial impact on the vote\u2019s outcome.","summary":"The tech billionaire\u2019s comments online have caused Germany\u2019s government to claim he was \u2018interfering\u2019 in the country\u2019s upcoming elections \u2013 but it's unclear yet if his efforts would have a substantial impact on the vote\u2019s outcome.","keySentence":"","url":"the-musk-effect-could-the-x-owner-actually-impact-germanys-election","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/10\/the-musk-effect-could-the-x-owner-actually-impact-germanys-election","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"South African-born tech billionaire Elon Musk caused a stir in the German political establishment shortly before Christmas when he boldly claimed \u201conly the AfD can save Germany\u201d \u2014 right at the start of a tense election campaign to select the country\u2019s new government.\n\nDespite rebukes from German politicians \u2014 some of whom compared Musk to Russian President Vladimir Putin \u2014 the owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX doubled down on his comments and published an op-ed supporting the party in the country\u2019s Welt am Sontag newspaper.\u00a0\n\nSeveral weeks later, he hosted a live discussion on X with the far-right AfD\u2019s candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel.\n\nThe AfD, or Alternative for Germany, is officially classified as a suspected extremist organisation in Germany. Other parties have traditionally shunned it due to their member\u2019s extreme views and association with neo-Nazi organisations.\n\nThe decision to publish Musk\u2019s op-ed sparked fierce debate within Germany, with critics arguing it was a step closer to normalising a party that for years has been deemed too extreme to work with, even among Europe\u2019s other far-right groups with which it is more ideologically aligned.\n\nDespite this, others say that Musk\u2019s contributions might not translate into more votes for the AfD in Germany\u2019s elections on 23 February.\n\nA recent Forsa poll suggested that, although the AfD is polling over 20%, voting intention has been steady since the start of 2024. The poll shows the AfD is actually several percentage points lower \u2014 at 19% \u2014 than it was at the same time last year.\n\nIs Musk allowed to promote the AfD?\n\nMusk\u2019s comments provoked a backlash and even a response from the German Chancellor himself, who told Stern magazine, \u201cDon\u2019t feed the troll\u201d as Musk directed a barrage of insults at the leader.\n\nIn another speech, the government said that Musk\u2019s comments amounted to \u201celection interference\u201d.\n\nHowever, it\u2019s unclear whether Musk\u2019s promotion of the AfD could be considered interference \u2014 at least not in a way in which legal action could be brought against him. Outwardly, unless his statements involved insults, slander, or incitement to hatred, he would be protected by freedom of expression.\n\nThe situation becomes more complex if Musk or the company he owns, X, actively advertises the AfD. According to legal expert Aurel Eschmann from NGO Lobby Control, the live space hosted between Musk and Weidel could count as an illegal party donation.\u00a0\n\n\u201cIt's not the interview itself that would be an illegal party donation, otherwise many media formats would be a party donation, but the reach that the platform gives as you can buy boosts there for your own posts,\u201d Eschmann told Euronews.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\u201cMusk is not just a user who has many followers on X, he is the owner of the platform. There is alot of evidence his posts are artificially gaining reach for all users on the platform, even those who don\u2019t follow him.\u201d\u00a0\n\nData from the Bundesdatenschau, a team of data scientists that tracks the number of impressions on X posts, shows that Weidel's average post has reached 1 million impressions in the last two weeks \u2014 an enormous increase from her average impressions for the last twelve months, which were under 200,000.\u00a0\n\nIf Musk\u2019s live space for the AfD would be considered an illegal party donation under German law, the Bundestag would be required to investigate, according to Eschmann.\n\nAdvertisements for the party could also include deliberately manipulating the algorithm to favour the AfD\u2019s posts, yet Musk himself has repeatedly denied that the algorithm is manipulated to promote content that he favours.\u00a0\n\nHowever, a study from the Queensland University of Technology indicates that his own posts during the US election saw a sudden increase in views and engagement.\u00a0\n\nAs part of European officials assessing the legality of Musk\u2019s contributions on the platform, his conversation with Weidel on X has also been included in an ongoing probe launched by the European Commission into the platform on whether the discussion violates the EU\u2019s Digital Services Act.\n\nCould Musk make a financial donation to the AfD?\n\nMusk funnelled millions into US President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s campaign through his super Political Action Committee (PAC). However, German law would prevent Musk from making a substantial financial donation to the AfD, as donations to German parties from outside the EU are limited to a maximum of 1,000, a spokesperson from the Interior Ministry confirmed to Euronews.\u00a0\n\nOn top of this, parties in Germany must report single donations exceeding \u20ac50,000 to the president of the German Bundestag. High campaign donations such as those in the US are unusual in Germany: the AfD has not received a single official donation of over \u20ac35,000 in its history.\n\nHowever, if Musk was motivated to financially donate to the AfD, he could find a loophole by donating to an association or a \u201cVerein,\u201d which is allowed to collect donations over time and give them to political parties directly or through advertising, Eschmann said.\u00a0\n\n\u201cThere are more opaque \u2018Verein\u2019 constructions he could use, Tesla Germany might be an option. You would have to take a closer look to see if that wouldn\u2019t be possible. It just shows the German system is not prepared or set up for this kind of influence,\u201d Eschmann explained.\u00a0\n\nThe AfD has also been previously accused, alongside other political parties, of raising funds through shadowy means.\u00a0\n\nThis included allegedly benefiting from an illegal \u20ac6 million advertising campaign between 2016 and 2018 via a shell company in Switzerland, which paid for \u201cseveral thousand posters,\u201d among other advertisements for the party.\n\nCould he influence voters?\n\nMusk has 211.4 million followers on X and the ability to reach people across the world with his opinions. Experts imagine that he could have some impact online by tapping into voters who are dissatisfied with the current German government; however, it\u2019s currently too early to tell.\n\n\u201dMusk could have some impact because there is a general kind of dissatisfaction in Germany with the lack of digitalisation, bureaucracy, the economic crisis,\u201d Philipp David Darius, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Digital Governance, said.\u00a0\n\n\u201cI imagine he could have some impact on legitimising the AfD\u2019s opinions to those who are more liberal leaning. Perhaps some people would see him as having this entrepreneurial charisma.\u201d\n\nMore critical in shifting public opinion in Germany, Darius said, is Musk\u2019s influence on tech entrepreneurs such as Mark Zuckerberg, who recently announced he was rolling back on fact-checkers on his Meta platforms in favour of a community notes style system practised on X.\u00a0\n\nA 2023 study by public broadcaster ARD showed that only 8% of Germans use X daily, with most Germans favouring Instagram (35%) and Facebook (33%), both owned by Meta.\n\n\u201cLess content moderation on X and other platforms could have implications for what content is visible to voters. Additionally, the amplification of misinformation and negative content about rival parties such as the Greens could have repercussions for their voter support, even if it doesn\u2019t gain the AfD more votes,\u201d Darius said.\n\nRecent polling doesn\u2019t indicate that Musk has won the AfD a vast influx of new votes, at least not yet.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to draw causal connections between people reading something online and changing their opinion,\u201d Matthias Kettemann from the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society said.\n\n\u201cIf you look at the AfD\u2019s results in the last election, I don\u2019t think voters of the AfD would need Musk to certify the validity of their opinions, although it certainly doesn\u2019t hurt them that he approves of them.\u201d\n\nMore wide-reaching in Germany itself, Kettemann explained, was the decision by Welt to publish an op-ed with Musk and the subsequent fall-out. \u201cI think that the actions of Elon Musk contribute to a polarisation of the political discourse.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe fact that Musk is trying to influence the political process is already influencing it simply through this feeling that we might not be able to trust how X regulates content around the election,\u201d he told Euronews.\n\nMusk often justifies his comments online as an act of free speech. Kettemann pointed out that there are differences in the US and European contexts regarding what is allowed under the right to freedom of speech, which is called freedom of expression in European law.\n\n\u201cThere are limits to that freedom of speech, especially the European context.\u00a0 If you look at the European Convention on Human Rights there is the freedom of expression but that freedom of expression can be limited through laws that relate to securing a different societal value such as the rights of others or public health or democracy,\u201d Kettemann explained.\n\n\u201cEvery individual has the right to free speech, but that also comes with responsibilities. Especially when you are a powerful actor.\u201d\n\n","htmlText":"<p>South African-born tech billionaire Elon Musk caused a stir in the German political establishment shortly before Christmas when he boldly claimed \u201conly the AfD can save Germany\u201d \u2014 right at the start of a tense election campaign to select the country\u2019s new government.<\/p>\n<p>Despite rebukes from German politicians \u2014 some of whom compared Musk to Russian President Vladimir Putin \u2014 the owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX doubled down on his comments and published an op-ed supporting the party in the country\u2019s Welt am Sontag newspaper.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Several weeks later, he hosted a live discussion on X with the far-right AfD\u2019s candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel.<\/p>\n<p>The AfD, or Alternative for Germany, is officially classified as a suspected extremist organisation in Germany. Other parties have traditionally shunned it due to their member\u2019s extreme views and association with neo-Nazi organisations.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to publish Musk\u2019s op-ed sparked fierce debate within Germany, with critics arguing it was a step closer to normalising a party that for years has been deemed too extreme to work with, <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//05//23//european-parliaments-id-party-requests-to-expel-far-right-afd/">even among<\/a> Europe\u2019s other far-right groups with which it is more ideologically aligned.<\/p>\n<p>Despite this, others say that Musk\u2019s contributions might not translate into more votes for the AfD in Germany\u2019s elections on 23 February.<\/p>\n<p>A recent Forsa poll suggested that, although the AfD is polling over 20%, voting intention has been steady since the start of 2024. The poll shows the AfD is actually several percentage points lower \u2014 at 19% \u2014 than it was at the same time last year.<\/p>\n<h2>Is Musk allowed to promote the AfD?<\/h2><p>Musk\u2019s comments provoked a backlash and even a response from the German Chancellor himself, who told Stern magazine, \u201cDon\u2019t feed the troll\u201d as Musk directed a barrage of insults at the leader.<\/p>\n<p>In another speech, the government said that Musk\u2019s comments amounted to \u201celection interference\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>However, it\u2019s unclear whether Musk\u2019s promotion of the AfD could be considered interference \u2014 at least not in a way in which legal action could be brought against him. Outwardly, unless his statements involved insults, slander, or incitement to hatred, he would be protected by freedom of expression.<\/p>\n<p>The situation becomes more complex if Musk or the company he owns, X, actively advertises the AfD. According to legal expert Aurel Eschmann from NGO Lobby Control, the live space hosted between Musk and Weidel could count as an illegal party donation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt's not the interview itself that would be an illegal party donation, otherwise many media formats would be a party donation, but the reach that the platform gives as you can buy boosts there for your own posts,\u201d Eschmann told Euronews.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMusk is not just a user who has many followers on X, he is the owner of the platform. There is alot of evidence his posts are artificially gaining reach for all users on the platform, even those who don\u2019t follow him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8960680\" 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//2025//01//09//elon-musk-and-germanys-far-right-chief-host-online-chat-the-eu-warns-could-be-illegal/">Germany's far-right AfD chief pushes back on Nazi claims in chat with Elon Musk on X<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Data from the Bundesdatenschau, a team of data scientists that tracks the number of impressions on X posts, shows that Weidel's average post has reached 1 million impressions in the last two weeks \u2014 an enormous increase from her average impressions for the last twelve months, which were under 200,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If Musk\u2019s live space for the AfD would be considered an illegal party donation under German law, the Bundestag would be required to investigate, according to Eschmann.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisements for the party could also include deliberately manipulating the algorithm to favour the AfD\u2019s posts, yet Musk himself has repeatedly denied that the algorithm is manipulated to promote content that he favours.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, a study from the Queensland University of Technology indicates that his own posts during the US election saw a sudden increase in views and engagement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As part of European officials assessing the legality of Musk\u2019s contributions on the platform, his conversation with Weidel on X has also been<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2025//01//06//eu-commission-to-add-musks-german-afd-interview-to-ongoing-platform-probe/"> included<\/a> in an ongoing probe launched by the European Commission into the platform on whether the discussion violates the EU\u2019s Digital Services Act.<\/p>\n<h2>Could Musk make a financial donation to the AfD?<\/h2><p>Musk funnelled millions into US President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s campaign through his super Political Action Committee (PAC). However, German law would prevent Musk from making a substantial financial donation to the AfD, as donations to German parties from outside the EU are limited to a maximum of 1,000, a spokesperson from the Interior Ministry confirmed to Euronews.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On top of this, parties in Germany must report single donations exceeding \u20ac50,000 to the president of the German Bundestag. High campaign donations such as those in the US are unusual in Germany: the AfD has not received a single official donation of over \u20ac35,000 in its history.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8952100\" 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//next//2025//01//06//eu-commission-to-add-musks-german-afd-interview-to-ongoing-platform-probe/">EU Commission to add Musk\u2019s German AfD interview to ongoing platform probe<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, if Musk was motivated to financially donate to the AfD, he could find a loophole by donating to an association or a \u201cVerein,\u201d which is allowed to collect donations over time and give them to political parties directly or through advertising, Eschmann said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are more opaque \u2018Verein\u2019 constructions he could use, Tesla Germany might be an option. You would have to take a closer look to see if that wouldn\u2019t be possible. It just shows the German system is not prepared or set up for this kind of influence,\u201d Eschmann explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The AfD has also been previously accused, alongside other political parties, of raising funds through shadowy means.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This included allegedly benefiting from an illegal \u20ac6 million advertising campaign between 2016 and 2018 via a shell company in Switzerland, which paid for \u201cseveral thousand posters,\u201d among other advertisements for the party.<\/p>\n<h2>Could he influence voters?<\/h2><p>Musk has 211.4 million followers on X and the ability to reach people across the world with his opinions. Experts imagine that he could have some impact online by tapping into voters who are dissatisfied with the current German government; however, it\u2019s currently too early to tell.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dMusk could have some impact because there is a general kind of dissatisfaction in Germany with the lack of digitalisation, bureaucracy, the economic crisis,\u201d Philipp David Darius, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Digital Governance, said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI imagine he could have some impact on legitimising the AfD\u2019s opinions to those who are more liberal leaning. Perhaps some people would see him as having this entrepreneurial charisma.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More critical in shifting public opinion in Germany, Darius said, is Musk\u2019s influence on tech entrepreneurs such as Mark Zuckerberg, who recently announced he was rolling back on fact-checkers on his Meta platforms in favour of a community notes style system practised on X.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A 2023 study by public broadcaster ARD showed that only 8% of Germans use X daily, with most Germans favouring Instagram (35%) and Facebook (33%), both owned by Meta.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLess content moderation on X and other platforms could have implications for what content is visible to voters. Additionally, the amplification of misinformation and negative content about rival parties such as the Greens could have repercussions for their voter support, even if it doesn\u2019t gain the AfD more votes,\u201d Darius said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8695618,8934934\" 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//09//02//afds-historic-win-four-key-takeaways-from-eastern-germanys-pivotal-state-elections/">AfD's historic win: Four key takeaways from eastern Germany's pivotal state elections<\/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//27//german-president-dissolves-parliament-and-announces-february-election-date/">German president dissolves parliament and announces February election date<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Recent polling doesn\u2019t indicate that Musk has won the AfD a vast influx of new votes, at least not yet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to draw causal connections between people reading something online and changing their opinion,\u201d Matthias Kettemann from the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you look at the AfD\u2019s results in the last election, I don\u2019t think voters of the AfD would need Musk to certify the validity of their opinions, although it certainly doesn\u2019t hurt them that he approves of them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More wide-reaching in Germany itself, Kettemann explained, was the decision by Welt to publish an op-ed with Musk and the subsequent fall-out. \u201cI think that the actions of Elon Musk contribute to a polarisation of the political discourse.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe fact that Musk is trying to influence the political process is already influencing it simply through this feeling that we might not be able to trust how X regulates content around the election,\u201d he told Euronews.<\/p>\n<p>Musk often justifies his comments online as an act of free speech. Kettemann pointed out that there are differences in the US and European contexts regarding what is allowed under the right to freedom of speech, which is called freedom of expression in European law.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are limits to that freedom of speech, especially the European context.\u00a0 If you look at the European Convention on Human Rights there is the freedom of expression but that freedom of expression can be limited through laws that relate to securing a different societal value such as the rights of others or public health or democracy,\u201d Kettemann explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery individual has the right to free speech, but that also comes with responsibilities. Especially when you are a powerful actor.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736492759,"updatedAt":1736510411,"publishedAt":1736494886,"firstPublishedAt":1736494886,"lastPublishedAt":1736494886,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/14\/34\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f372cdf0-280b-5a87-a60c-70647fb6ca22-8961434.jpg","altText":"FILE - Part of the Twitter page of Elon Musk is seen on the screen of a computer in Sausalito, Calif., on Monday, April 25, 2022. ","caption":"FILE - Part of the Twitter page of Elon Musk is seen on the screen of a computer in Sausalito, Calif., on Monday, April 25, 2022. 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GERMANY FDP LINDNER CAKE","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":5},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's Liberal Democrat leader victim of patisserie attack","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany's Liberal Democrat leader mobbed with cake","titleListing2":"Germany's Liberal Democrat leader becomes victim of patisserie attack #NoComment","leadin":"During a campaign speech on Thursday 9 January, Liberal Democrat leader and former German finance minister Christian Lindner was the target of a politically motivated prank attack.","summary":"During a campaign speech on Thursday 9 January, Liberal Democrat leader and former German finance minister Christian Lindner was the target of a politically motivated prank attack.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-liberal-democrat-leader-victim-of-patisserie-attack","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/01\/10\/germanys-liberal-democrat-leader-victim-of-patisserie-attack","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"German police have identified the woman who threw the cake as a 34-year-old member of the Left Party.\n\nShe has been charged with alleged assault and insult, a police spokesman said.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>German police have identified the woman who threw the cake as a 34-year-old member of the Left Party.<\/p>\n<p>She has been charged with alleged assault and insult, a police spokesman said.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736443301,"updatedAt":1736484664,"publishedAt":1736484320,"firstPublishedAt":1736484320,"lastPublishedAt":1736484345,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/08\/84\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6c5659cb-66a8-5c33-b1b9-2270045b7633-8960884.jpg","altText":"The leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Christian Lindner, is mobbed by a woman in Greifswald, Germany, 09.01.2025.","caption":"The leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Christian Lindner, is mobbed by a woman in Greifswald, Germany, 09.01.2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Stefan Sauer\/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":9417,"slug":"political-crisis","urlSafeValue":"political-crisis","title":"Political crisis","titleRaw":"Political crisis"},{"id":9979,"slug":"politics","urlSafeValue":"politics","title":"Politics","titleRaw":"Politics"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2716454},{"id":2720528},{"id":2721148}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"bODo_KWa6fw","dailymotionId":"x9c3k56"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NC\/SU\/25\/01\/09\/en\/250109_NCSU_57472975_57473054_60000_183002_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":7709858,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NC\/SU\/25\/01\/09\/en\/250109_NCSU_57472975_57473054_60000_183002_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":11887266,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"AP - EBU - EURONEWS","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"No Comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"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":{"id":1863,"urlSafeValue":"greifswald","title":"Greifswald"},"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":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isAutomatic":1,"isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"fr","storyId":8960884,"online":1},"path":"\/video\/2025\/01\/10\/germanys-liberal-democrat-leader-victim-of-patisserie-attack","lastModified":1736484345},{"id":2723804,"cid":8960680,"versionId":16,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250110_E3SU_57472170","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY MUSK WEIDEL","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's far-right AfD chief pushes back on Nazi claims in chat with Elon Musk on X","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"AfD leader pushes back on Nazi claims in chat with Elon Musk on X","titleListing2":"Germany's AfD leader pushes back on Nazi claims in chat with Elon Musk ","leadin":"The tech billionaire hosted an online discussion with the far-right party's leader Alice Weidel, an event the European Commission warned could have legal repercussions.","summary":"The tech billionaire hosted an online discussion with the far-right party's leader Alice Weidel, an event the European Commission warned could have legal repercussions.","keySentence":"","url":"elon-musk-and-germanys-far-right-chief-host-online-chat-the-eu-warns-could-be-illegal","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/09\/elon-musk-and-germanys-far-right-chief-host-online-chat-the-eu-warns-could-be-illegal","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"X owner Elon Musk invited Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) onto his platform on Thursday evening for a discussion covering everything from energy policy to the party's neo-Nazi associations \u2014 a chat the European Commission has said its watchdogs will be monitoring.\n\n\"Weidel is the leading candidate to run Germany,\" Musk proclaimed at the start of the discussion, even though polls differ on whether she is in fact pulling ahead. A poll by public broadcaster ZDF on 20 December puts her in fourth place with 16% of the vote, the same figure as sitting Chancellor Olaf Scholz and behind rivals Friedrich Merz and Robert Habeck.\n\nMeanwhile, the latest poll by YouGov on 8 January puts her party in second place, with 21% of the national vote. A recent Forsa poll shows the party polling around the same amount as this time last year, with 19%.\n\nOther parties have ruled out the possibility of working with the AfD, meaning Weidel's chance of becoming chancellor are all but zero.\n\nIn her discussion with Musk, Weidel wasted no time criticising former Chancellor Angela Merkel, in particular her decision to close Germany's nuclear power plants.\n\n\"You don\u2019t need to be very smart to realise that you cannot run an industrial country with just wind and solar,\u201d Weidel said.\n\nMusk responded by saying he is a fan of solar and wind energy but that there should be \"some form\" of fossil fuel energy and nuclear energy.\n\nThe two bonded over removing German bureaucratic hurdles as the discussion turned to Musk's Tesla factory in Brandenburg, just outside of Berlin. \"I had a lot of local support,\" Musk said \u2014 though in reality, locals lodged over 400 objections to the opening of the plant when it was announced.\n\nAfD politicians, in fact, were among the factory's staunchest opponents: Lars Guenther, the then regional AfD candidate in Brandenburg, called the plant a \"catastrophe for the people in this region\".\n\nMeanwhile, Weidel repeated the AfD's familiar stance of strict controls on immigration, something Musk is increasingly fixated on. She claimed that the German government is collecting record levels of income tax but \"throwing money out the window\" by assisting foreigners who are entering Germany.\n\nWithout citing a source for her statistic, she claimed that 57% of people arriving across Germany's borders \"throw away their passports\", appearing to conflate legal immigrants with asylum seekers who discard their passports upon arrival in an attempt to reduce the risk of immediate deportation. \n\nAs the discussion turned to Israel, Weidel asked Musk how he would solve the conflict in the Middle East, admitting she \"didn't know how she would solve this conflict\". Musk then asks if she supports the state of Israel to which Weidel said \"Yes, of course.\"\n\n\"Different to Nazis\"\n\nDuring the discussion between the pair, Weidel said her party stands for the opposite of what Hitler stood for, claiming Hitler was a \"socialist\" despite the Nazi leader being openly anti-communist. \n\n\u201cThey state funded private companies and then they asked for huge taxes and nationalised the entire industry, and the biggest success after that terrible era in our history was to label Adolf Hitler as right and conservative, he was exactly the opposite,\u201d she said.\n\nHistorians in Germany were quick to fact-check Weidel about her claim which the Head of the Munich Institute for Contemporary History, Andreas Wirsching, described as \"historically fundamentally false\" to Welt TV.\n\n\"Under Hitler's responsibility, not only tens of thousands of Communists were persecuted, imprisoned in concentration camps and murdered, but also countless Social Democrats and trade unionists,\" Wirsching said. \n\nThe AfD has been rocked by scandals in recent years about its association with neo-Nazi organisations and symbols. Chairman of the AfD parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament Bj\u00f6rn H\u00f6cke has been convicted twice for knowingly using a Nazi slogan at a rally. \n\nThe party is classified as a suspected extremist organisation and its youth wing, which the party has tried to jettison, has been labelled an extremist group by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.\n\nMusk has come under fierce criticism from Germany's political establishment for promoting the AfD. The German government described it as \"interference\" and some politicians compared Musk to Russian President Vladimir Putin. \n\nMusk left little up to the imagination on who he supported and how far he took the criticism seriously, telling his audience: \"People need to get behind the AfD, or things are going to get very much worse for Germany.\"\n\nBut so far, it is unclear whether Musk's support for the AfD will have a tangible impact on Germany's upcoming election.\n\nIs the discussion legal? \n\nThe European Commission has included the conversation in its ongoing probe into X's compliance with the Digital Services Act, the EU's new digital rulebook designed to clean up social media platforms and protect users from online harm. \n\nThe commission has said Musk has the right to express his opinion, but that its watchdogs will be monitoring whether he is amplifying hate speech or pushing election misinformation. \n\nOn top of the EU's concerns, German NGO Lobby Control have pointed out that Musk and Weidel's discussion could constitute an illegal party donation under German law. Party donations from non-EU countries are prohibited in the country up to an amount of \u20ac1,000, a spokesperson from the Interior Ministry pointed out to Euronews. \n\n\"According to the Political Parties Act, which was reformed at the beginning of 2024, election advertising by third parties is considered a party donation,\" Aurel Eschmann from Lobby Control said.\n\n\"The interview is expected to be played out much more broadly than posts from regular users. In this respect, one can definitely speak of political advertising here, because X usually sells such a reach for a lot of money.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>X owner Elon Musk invited Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) onto his platform on Thursday evening for a discussion covering everything from energy policy to the party's neo-Nazi associations \u2014 a chat the European Commission has said its watchdogs will be monitoring.<\/p>\n<p>\"Weidel is the leading candidate to run Germany,\" Musk proclaimed at the start of the discussion, even though polls differ on whether she is in fact pulling ahead. A poll by public broadcaster ZDF on 20 December puts her in fourth place with 16% of the vote, the same figure as sitting Chancellor Olaf Scholz and behind rivals Friedrich Merz and Robert Habeck.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the latest poll by YouGov on 8 January puts her party in second place, with 21% of the national vote. A recent Forsa poll shows the party polling around the same amount as this time last year, with 19%.<\/p>\n<p>Other parties have ruled out the possibility of working with the AfD, meaning Weidel's chance of becoming chancellor are all but zero.<\/p>\n<p>In her discussion with Musk, Weidel wasted no time criticising former Chancellor Angela Merkel, in particular her decision to close Germany's nuclear power plants.<\/p>\n<p>\"You don\u2019t need to be very smart to realise that you cannot run an industrial country with just wind and solar,\u201d Weidel said.<\/p>\n<p>Musk responded by saying he is a fan of solar and wind energy but that there should be \"some form\" of fossil fuel energy and nuclear energy.<\/p>\n<p>The two bonded over removing German bureaucratic hurdles as the discussion turned to Musk's Tesla factory in Brandenburg, just outside of Berlin. \"I had a lot of local support,\" Musk said \u2014 though in reality, locals lodged over 400 objections to the opening of the plant when it was announced.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\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//96//06//80//808x539_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.jpg/" alt=\"Alice Weidel, federal spokesperson of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party attends the presentation of her candidacy for Chancellor in the 2025 federal elections in Berlin.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/384x256_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/640x427_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/750x500_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/828x552_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/1080x720_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/1200x800_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/1920x1281_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.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\">Alice Weidel, federal spokesperson of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party attends the presentation of her candidacy for Chancellor in the 2025 federal elections in Berlin.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Carsten Koall\/(c) Copyright 2024, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>AfD politicians, in fact, were among the factory's staunchest opponents: Lars Guenther, the then regional AfD candidate in Brandenburg, called the plant a \"catastrophe for the people in this region\".<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Weidel repeated the AfD's familiar stance of strict controls on immigration, something Musk is increasingly fixated on. She claimed that the German government is collecting record levels of income tax but \"throwing money out the window\" by assisting foreigners who are entering Germany.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8942666\" 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//next//2025//01//04//germany-accused-musk-of-interfering-in-upcoming-elections-where-else-has-he-weighed-in/">Germany accused Elon Musk of interfering in upcoming elections. Where else has he weighed in?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Without citing a source for her statistic, she claimed that 57% of people arriving across Germany's borders \"throw away their passports\", appearing to conflate legal immigrants with asylum seekers who discard their passports upon arrival in an attempt to reduce the risk of immediate deportation. <\/p>\n<p>As the discussion turned to Israel, Weidel asked Musk how he would solve the conflict in the Middle East, admitting she \"didn't know how she would solve this conflict\". Musk then asks if she supports the state of Israel to which Weidel said \"Yes, of course.\"<\/p>\n<h2>\"Different to Nazis\"<\/h2><p>During the discussion between the pair, Weidel said her party stands for the opposite of what Hitler stood for, claiming Hitler was a \"socialist\" despite the Nazi leader being openly anti-communist. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey state funded private companies and then they asked for huge taxes and nationalised the entire industry, and the biggest success after that terrible era in our history was to label Adolf Hitler as right and conservative, he was exactly the opposite,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Historians in Germany were quick to fact-check Weidel about her claim which the Head of the Munich Institute for Contemporary History, Andreas Wirsching, described as \"historically fundamentally false\" to Welt TV.<\/p>\n<p>\"Under Hitler's responsibility, not only tens of thousands of Communists were persecuted, imprisoned in concentration camps and murdered, but also countless Social Democrats and trade unionists,\" Wirsching said. <\/p>\n<p>The AfD has been rocked by scandals in recent years about its association with neo-Nazi organisations and symbols. Chairman of the AfD parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament Bj\u00f6rn H\u00f6cke has been convicted twice for knowingly using a Nazi slogan at a rally. <\/p>\n<p>The party is classified as a suspected extremist organisation and its youth wing, which the party has tried to jettison, has been labelled an extremist group by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8952100\" 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//next//2025//01//06//eu-commission-to-add-musks-german-afd-interview-to-ongoing-platform-probe/">EU Commission to add Musk\u2019s German AfD interview to ongoing platform probe<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Musk has come under fierce criticism from Germany's political establishment for promoting the AfD. The German government described it as \"interference\" and some politicians compared Musk to Russian President Vladimir Putin. <\/p>\n<p>Musk left little up to the imagination on who he supported and how far he took the criticism seriously, telling his audience: \"People need to get behind the AfD, or things are going to get very much worse for Germany.\"<\/p>\n<p>But so far, it is unclear whether Musk's support for the AfD will have a tangible impact on Germany's upcoming election.<\/p>\n<h2>Is the discussion legal?<\/h2><p>The European Commission has included the conversation in its ongoing probe into X's compliance with the Digital Services Act, the EU's new digital rulebook designed to clean up social media platforms and protect users from online harm. <\/p>\n<p>The commission has said Musk has the right to express his opinion, but that its watchdogs will be monitoring whether he is amplifying hate speech or pushing election misinformation. <\/p>\n<p>On top of the EU's concerns, German NGO Lobby Control have pointed out that Musk and Weidel's discussion could constitute an illegal party donation under German law. Party donations from non-EU countries are prohibited in the country up to an amount of \u20ac1,000, a spokesperson from the Interior Ministry pointed out to Euronews. <\/p>\n<p>\"According to the Political Parties Act, which was reformed at the beginning of 2024, election advertising by third parties is considered a party donation,\" Aurel Eschmann from Lobby Control said.<\/p>\n<p>\"The interview is expected to be played out much more broadly than posts from regular users. In this respect, one can definitely speak of political advertising here, because X usually sells such a reach for a lot of money.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736438074,"updatedAt":1736526460,"publishedAt":1736452848,"firstPublishedAt":1736452848,"lastPublishedAt":1736526460,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Elon Musk arrives at an event in Los Angeles, April 13, 2024.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Elon Musk arrives at an event in Los Angeles, April 13, 2024.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3c726697-020d-540f-8ff5-387fd5798240-8960680.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":576},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/06\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_263b18c2-d4c8-504c-9ad6-c0853d5b4eb2-8960680.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"paternoster","twitter":null,"id":2940,"title":"Tamsin Paternoster"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"},{"urlSafeValue":"afd-alternative-fur-deutschland","titleRaw":"AfD Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland","id":17832,"title":"AfD Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland","slug":"afd-alternative-fur-deutschland"},{"urlSafeValue":"alice-weidel","titleRaw":"Alice Weidel","id":17974,"title":"Alice Weidel","slug":"alice-weidel"},{"urlSafeValue":"elon-musk","titleRaw":"Elon Musk","id":13814,"title":"Elon Musk","slug":"elon-musk"},{"urlSafeValue":"german-election-2025","titleRaw":"German election 2025","id":30264,"title":"German election 2025","slug":"german-election-2025"},{"urlSafeValue":"digital-services-act-dsa","titleRaw":"Digital Services Act (DSA)","id":30020,"title":"Digital Services Act (DSA)","slug":"digital-services-act-dsa"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":2,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2726964},{"id":2727480},{"id":2727784}],"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 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":["84111001","84112003","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["law_gov_t_and_politics_immigration","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\/2025\/01\/09\/elon-musk-and-germanys-far-right-chief-host-online-chat-the-eu-warns-could-be-illegal","lastModified":1736526460},{"id":2723736,"cid":8960354,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250109_E3WB_57471343","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Ramstein Ukraine Aid Pistorius (web)","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Ramstein: Germany pledges more tanks, missiles, and air defence for Ukraine","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Ramstein: Germany pledges tanks, missiles, and air defence for Ukraine","titleListing2":"The German Defence Minister has pledged additional military aid to Ukraine at today's meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Ramstein.","leadin":"The German Defence Minister has pledged additional military aid to Ukraine at today's meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Ramstein.","summary":"The German Defence Minister has pledged additional military aid to Ukraine at today's meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Ramstein.","keySentence":"","url":"ramstein-germany-pledges-more-tanks-missiles-and-air-defence-for-ukraine","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/09\/ramstein-germany-pledges-more-tanks-missiles-and-air-defence-for-ukraine","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"At today\u2019s Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has confirmed that Germany will continue its support for Ukraine even after the federal elections in February.\n\n\"Ukraine can count on Germany, regardless of the outcome of the election on February 23\", Pistorius said.\n\nSpeaking at a press conference after the meeting, Pistorius highlighted Germany\u2019s contribution to protecting the largest logistics hub supporting Ukraine. \"In the coming weeks, we will deploy two Patriot missile units and a total of 200 soldiers to Poland\", he announced. The Bundeswehr soldiers are expected to remain in Poland for six months as part of a NATO mission.\n\nWhile Pistorius did not unveil a large-scale aid package for Ukraine, he pledged to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with three additional IRIS-T SLM and SLS air defence systems, along with 13 more Gepard tanks.\n\nHe also intends to supply additional missiles for the IRIS-T systems in the near future. These missiles are part of ongoing production and were originally allocated for the German Bundeswehr.\n\nContact Group to continue under Trump Presidency\n\nAnother key topic at the meeting was the impending Trump presidency in the United States. Pistorius emphasised the importance of continuing the Ukraine Contact Group meetings in Ramstein under Trump's leadership.\n\nBut whether these meetings will actually persist, remains uncertain. However, should the new U.S. administration choose to discontinue the format, \"it will need to continue in another form\", Pistorius asserted.\n\nZelenskyy places hope in Trump Presidency\n\nUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his expectations for the incoming U.S. President, who is set to take office on January 20.\n\nIn light of the leadership transition, Zelenskyy also called for strengthened cooperation. \"With Trump's inauguration on January 20, we enter a period where we must work more closely together and achieve better results as a team\", he said during today's Ukraine Contact Group meeting.\n\nSpeaking on a podcast with Russian-American host Lex Fridman earlier this week, Zelenskyy described Trump as a pivotal figure in the effort to stop Putin.\n\nTymofiy Mylovanov, former Ukrainian Minister of Economic Development and president of the Kyiv School of Economics, told\u00a0Euronews he believed there will be a serious effort by the Trump administration to get a peace deal without selling out Ukraine. \"The aid will continue as a part of strengthening leverage over Putin and enforcement of the deal\", he predicted.\n\nAccording to Mylovanov, the EU and Germany will at the same time have to step up after Trump assumes office: \"Trump has made it clear that Ukraine is the EU's problem and Germany is the key power in the EU no matter how the local politics looks at the moment.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>At today\u2019s Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has confirmed that Germany will continue its support for Ukraine even after the federal elections in February.<\/p>\n<p>\"Ukraine can count on Germany, regardless of the outcome of the election on February 23\", Pistorius said.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Pistorius highlighted Germany\u2019s contribution to protecting the largest logistics hub supporting Ukraine. \"In the coming weeks, we will deploy two Patriot missile units and a total of 200 soldiers to Poland\", he announced. The Bundeswehr soldiers are expected to remain in Poland for six months as part of a NATO mission.<\/p>\n<p>While Pistorius did not unveil a large-scale aid package for Ukraine, he pledged to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with three additional IRIS-T SLM and SLS air defence systems, along with 13 more Gepard tanks.<\/p>\n<p>He also intends to supply additional missiles for the IRIS-T systems in the near future. These missiles are part of ongoing production and were originally allocated for the German Bundeswehr.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6943359375\">\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//96//03//54//808x561_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.jpg/" alt=\"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. \" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/03\/54\/384x267_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/03\/54\/640x444_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/03\/54\/750x521_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/03\/54\/828x575_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/03\/54\/1080x750_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/03\/54\/1200x833_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/03\/54\/1920x1333_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.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\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Marijan Murat\/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2><strong>Contact Group to continue under Trump Presidency<\/strong><\/h2><p>Another key topic at the meeting was the impending Trump presidency in the United States. Pistorius emphasised the importance of continuing the Ukraine Contact Group meetings in Ramstein under Trump's leadership.<\/p>\n<p>But whether these meetings will actually persist, remains uncertain. However, should the new U.S. administration choose to discontinue the format, \"it will need to continue in another form\", Pistorius asserted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8956378\" 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//2025//01//08//german-politicians-rebuke-trump-over-nato-defence-spending-demand/">German politicians rebuke Trump over NATO defence spending demand<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2><strong>Zelenskyy places hope in Trump Presidency<\/strong><\/h2><p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his expectations for the incoming U.S. President, who is set to take office on January 20.<\/p>\n<p>In light of the leadership transition, Zelenskyy also called for strengthened cooperation. \"With Trump's inauguration on January 20, we enter a period where we must work more closely together and achieve better results as a team\", he said during today's Ukraine Contact Group meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on a podcast with Russian-American host Lex Fridman earlier this week, Zelenskyy described Trump as a pivotal figure in the effort to stop Putin.<\/p>\n<p>Tymofiy Mylovanov, former Ukrainian Minister of Economic Development and president of the Kyiv School of Economics, told\u00a0Euronews he believed there will be a serious effort by the Trump administration to get a peace deal without selling out Ukraine. \"The aid will continue as a part of strengthening leverage over Putin and enforcement of the deal\", he predicted.<\/p>\n<p>According to Mylovanov, the EU and Germany will at the same time have to step up after Trump assumes office: \"Trump has made it clear that Ukraine is the EU's problem and Germany is the key power in the EU no matter how the local politics looks at the moment.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736434020,"updatedAt":1736443350,"publishedAt":1736443342,"firstPublishedAt":1736443342,"lastPublishedAt":1736443342,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/01\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_42fb5247-75f1-5995-b51c-375cc91bc573-8960156.jpg","altText":"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. ","caption":"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Marijan Murat\/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":626},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/03\/54\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b5c57d42-a204-5735-aa42-c388281982e2-8960354.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":711}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2922,"urlSafeValue":"urbancik","title":"Johanna Urbancik","twitter":"johannaurbancik"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":26698,"slug":"russia-ukraine-invasion","urlSafeValue":"russia-ukraine-invasion","title":"Russia's invasion of Ukraine","titleRaw":"Russia's invasion of Ukraine"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":288,"slug":"ukraine","urlSafeValue":"ukraine","title":"Ukraine","titleRaw":"Ukraine"},{"id":19400,"slug":"volodymyr-zelensky","urlSafeValue":"volodymyr-zelensky","title":"Volodymyr Zelenskyy","titleRaw":"Volodymyr Zelenskyy"},{"id":11900,"slug":"donald-trump","urlSafeValue":"donald-trump","title":"Donald Trump","titleRaw":"Donald Trump"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2722162},{"id":2721562},{"id":2724190}],"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":2220,"urlSafeValue":"wiesbaden","title":"Wiesbaden"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122009","80222009","84031001","84032011","84111001","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","business","business_logistics","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\/2025\/01\/09\/ramstein-germany-pledges-more-tanks-missiles-and-air-defence-for-ukraine","lastModified":1736443342},{"id":2723636,"cid":8960030,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250109_E3SU_57470060","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY DRESDEN BOMB EVACUATION","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Thousands evacuated in Dresden after World War II bomb found during bridge demolition","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Thousands evacuated in Dresden after discovery of World War II bomb","titleListing2":"A major evacuation has been launched in Dresden after the discovery of an unexploded bomb. The city was the site of some of the most devastating bombing campaigns of the Second World War.","leadin":"The city of Dresden was the site of some of the most devastating bombing campaigns of the Second World War.","summary":"The city of Dresden was the site of some of the most devastating bombing campaigns of the Second World War.","keySentence":"","url":"10000-people-evacuated-in-germany-after-discovery-of-wwii-bomb","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/09\/10000-people-evacuated-in-germany-after-discovery-of-wwii-bomb","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Some 10,000 people were evacuated from the German city of Dresden on Thursday after the discovery of a bomb dating from World War II.\n\nThe device was discovered on Wednesday during the demolition of the Carola Bridge near the historic centre. Authorities decided to defuse it on-site and emergency accommodation was set up to host those who had to leave their homes.\n\nThe 250-kilogram unexploded bomb may have been part of the infamous 1945 bombing of Dresden, in which British and American air forces dropped around 4,000 bombs on the city, generating firestorms and killing some 25,000 people. \n\nThe Carola Bridge, which spans the river Elbe, was so badly damaged when it collapsed in September that it had to be completely demolished and replaced with a new bridge. \n\nAccording to the town hall, the accident was caused by corrosion. No people were injured.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Some 10,000 people were evacuated from the German city of Dresden on Thursday after the discovery of a bomb dating from World War II.<\/p>\n<p>The device was discovered on Wednesday during the demolition of the Carola Bridge near the historic centre. Authorities decided to defuse it on-site and emergency accommodation was set up to host those who had to leave their homes.<\/p>\n<p>The 250-kilogram unexploded bomb may have been part of the infamous 1945 bombing of Dresden, in which British and American air forces dropped around 4,000 bombs on the city, generating firestorms and killing some 25,000 people. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8723228\" 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//09//11//major-bridge-partially-collapses-into-river-in-dresden/">Major bridge partially collapses into river in German city of Dresden<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Carola Bridge, which spans the river Elbe, was so badly damaged when it collapsed in September that it had to be completely demolished and replaced with a new bridge. <\/p>\n<p>According to the town hall, the accident was caused by corrosion. No people were injured.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736426272,"updatedAt":1736434930,"publishedAt":1736430448,"firstPublishedAt":1736430448,"lastPublishedAt":1736432284,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/96\/00\/30\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5572d573-55fd-5537-b41e-7b4f5eeb13c9-8960030.jpg","altText":" Bomb was discovered during the demolition of the partially collapsed Carola Bridge in Dresden.","caption":" Bomb was discovered during the demolition of the partially collapsed Carola Bridge in Dresden.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"EBU","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":960,"height":540}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2726,"urlSafeValue":"armstrong-r","title":"Rory Elliott Armstrong","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":2726,"urlSafeValue":"armstrong-r","title":"Rory Elliott Armstrong","twitter":null}]},"keywords":[{"id":1812,"slug":"dresden","urlSafeValue":"dresden","title":"Dresden","titleRaw":"Dresden"},{"id":4814,"slug":"world-war-ii","urlSafeValue":"world-war-ii","title":"World War II","titleRaw":"World War II"},{"id":14648,"slug":"bomb","urlSafeValue":"bomb","title":"bomb","titleRaw":"bomb"},{"id":13516,"slug":"evacuation","urlSafeValue":"evacuation","title":"evacuation","titleRaw":"evacuation"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"iml195UxmMM","dailymotionId":"x9c28g4"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/25\/01\/09\/en\/250109_E3SU_57470060_57470877_38760_151839_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":38760,"filesizeBytes":4985517,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/25\/01\/09\/en\/250109_E3SU_57470060_57470877_38760_151839_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":38760,"filesizeBytes":7687341,"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":{"id":1812,"urlSafeValue":"dresden","title":"Dresden"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122009","80222009"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","human_made_disasters_high_and_medium_risk","human_made_disasters_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\/2025\/01\/09\/10000-people-evacuated-in-germany-after-discovery-of-wwii-bomb","lastModified":1736432284},{"id":2722792,"cid":8957810,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250108_E3SU_57461610","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"EUROPE SYRIAN REFUGEES","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"What does al-Assad's fall from power in Syria mean for EU asylum policies?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Should EU member states freeze Syrian asylum applications?","titleListing2":"What does al-Assad's fall from power in Syria mean for EU asylum policies?","leadin":"Several EU member states have suspended asylum claims from Syrians following the collapse of the Assad regime. Euronews spoke with a Syrian refugee in Berlin to hear a story of how moving to Europe changed his family's life.","summary":"Several EU member states have suspended asylum claims from Syrians following the collapse of the Assad regime. Euronews spoke with a Syrian refugee in Berlin to hear a story of how moving to Europe changed his family's life.","keySentence":"","url":"what-does-the-fall-of-the-assad-regime-mean-for-eu-member-states-and-their-asylum-policies","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/09\/what-does-the-fall-of-the-assad-regime-mean-for-eu-member-states-and-their-asylum-policies","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Fadi Zaim loves Berlin and loves Germany. The co-owner of the Jasmin catering company, based in Germany's capital, arrived as a Syrian refugee in Germany in 2013. \n\nOriginally born in Damascus, Fadi feels at home in Berlin, and has even catered for former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. \n\nHe has built a successful business over the past 12 years, and despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Damascus, he tells Euronews he wouldn't go back.\n\n\"I love Berlin. I love Germany because, truly, we had many great people with big hearts who opened up the whole city,\" he says, stirring tahini into chickpeas to make his \"best in Berlin\" hummus and explaning that he feels like he is part of the Berlin community that supported him.\n\n\"They supported us in learning the language and starting a business.\"\n\nFadi is a success story. His family moved from the Syrian capital after the nightmarish trajectory of the country's civil conflict became clear. His family was granted a visa thanks to a special program involving the German government and the UN, under which 500 families were invited.\n\nWhen he first came to Berlin, Fadi was enrolled in a school \u2014 but after repeatedly telling his teacher how exceptional Syrian food is, he was invited to cook for 50 people. \n\nSince he didn't have experience of cooking for so many people at once, he asked for help from his mother, whose hobby back in Damascus had been cooking for large groups of people as a volunteer.\n\nThe guests were pleased with their meal, and a second request for catering came in. And that is how Fadi accidentally started his catering company with his mother in Berlin.\n\n\"Germany has done many great things, at least based on my own experience and what I see in terms of support for non-profit organisations,\" he says. \"I\u2019ve worked with many accelerators that support small businesses and help people access government funding and learn the German language.\"\n\n\"They provide support for apprenticeships, all the things that the job centre offers. They provide guidance, but there just needs to be a push, a little pressure from the government on companies and the private sector.\"\n\nBut early in December, after al-Assad fled to Russia as opposition forces took control of Damascus, Germany decided to pause asylum applications from Syrians. As many as 47,000 applicants are thought to be affected by the decision.\n\nNonetheless, Fadi believes it's still not safe to return to Syria.\n\n\"Al-Assad was in power in Syria for 50 years, and now he is gone. But the challenge right now is for the government to identify and clean out the remnants of al-Assad\u2019s old regime, because it persists.\" \n\n\"The asylum process is ongoing, but it is still not safe to return just because the government is gone, al-Assad is gone.\"\n\nThe systems that were in place under al-Assad are still there, and it will take a while for changes to be implemented, he argues.\n\nFadi is positive about Germany's integration processes; after all, he owes his successful business to them, and he doesn't think they should end because al-Assad is no longer in power.\n\n'Don't stop integration'\n\n\"Many people have integrated into Germany, from Syria and other countries, but there are also those who have not integrated properly,\" Fadi explains. \"I believe that there should be more engagement from the authorities here to offer a strong integration program for refugees, so they can integrate into the job market more quickly.\"\n\n\"However, some people are not doing anything at all, and there needs to be a clear program to reintegrate them to their homes. But not for everyone \u2014 and the process [of integrattion] should not be stopped.\"\n\nOver the weekend, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said Syrians who do not work should return to Syria. Fadi pointed out that in many cases, this puts the onus in the wrong place.\n\n\"I know many people who want to enter the job market, but they always face challenges with implementation. Many people work in the medical field, in hospitals, delivery services, or the restaurant industry.\"\n\n\"But still, there are people who, for example, are working in IT or are still looking for work. They constantly face the challenge of finding secure employment from the company\u2019s side. This is where the city can provide support because they need skilled workers. But this requires a trial period.\"\n\nThe successful caterer suggests a trial period, pointing out Germany's labour shortage. According to Germany's Federal Employment Agency, as many as 700,000 positions are currently open.\n\n\"There also needs to be government support to ensure people can enter the job market.\"\n\nA new Syria?\n\nIn Italy, which has processed fewer Syrian asylum requests than any other EU member state, the government has decided to pause applications altogether. Human Rights organisations have condemned the move.\n\nRiccardo Noury, spokesperson for Amnesty International Italy, points out to Euronews that Italy was the first EU country to reopen its embassy in Damascus, a signal that the country's situation is stable \u2014 even though, in his opinion, that is not yet the reality.\n\n\"That\u2019s why the decision to freeze asylum requests for an unlimited time is simply reckless. And it\u2019s in contrast with a EU directive dating back to 2013 and with a decree approved in Italy in 2008,\" Noury said.\n\nAnd it's not just Italy: France, Belgium, Austria, Greece, and Sweden have all announced a temporary freeze on Syrian asylum claims. But with the country facing an uncertain future, NGOs are requesting that France in particular take exceptional measures.\u00a0\n\nSecretary General of the NGO Relief for Syrian Refugees, Frederic Anquetil, is urging the French government to allow refugees to return home without losing their status.\n\n\u201cExceptional legal provisions exist to allow the return of refugees protected by international law, without them losing their refugee status,\" he explains. \"So we're asking the French government to implement this mechanism so that all the Syrian people planting seeds of freedom and democracy, who took asylum in France, can return to their country and sow these ideas.\"\n\nHe also underlines that the full nature of the caretaking government in Syria is still an unknown, and suggested European governments should wait before making decisions that affect Syrians already within their borders.\n\n\"Today, it may be safe for some people, but in three months, we don't know what will happen,\" he tells Euronews. \"So, we repeat: vigilance and caution. We'll judge by the actions of the Syrian authorities, by the first decrees and laws that are going to be instituted.\"\n\n\"We have to be cautious, that refugees who have been granted international protection must retain their status for a year, two years, maybe even three years, until the results of the elections scheduled four years from now.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Fadi Zaim loves Berlin and loves Germany. The co-owner of the Jasmin catering company, based in Germany's capital, arrived as a Syrian refugee in Germany in 2013. <\/p>\n<p>Originally born in Damascus, Fadi feels at home in Berlin, and has even catered for former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. <\/p>\n<p>He has built a successful business over the past 12 years, and despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Damascus, he tells Euronews he wouldn't go back.<\/p>\n<p>\"I love Berlin. I love Germany because, truly, we had many great people with big hearts who opened up the whole city,\" he says, stirring tahini into chickpeas to make his \"best in Berlin\" hummus and explaning that he feels like he is part of the Berlin community that supported him.<\/p>\n<p>\"They supported us in learning the language and starting a business.\"<\/p>\n<p>Fadi is a success story. His family moved from the Syrian capital after the nightmarish trajectory of the country's civil conflict became clear. His family was granted a visa thanks to a special program involving the German government and the UN, under which 500 families were invited.<\/p>\n<p>When he first came to Berlin, Fadi was enrolled in a school \u2014 but after repeatedly telling his teacher how exceptional Syrian food is, he was invited to cook for 50 people. <\/p>\n<p>Since he didn't have experience of cooking for so many people at once, he asked for help from his mother, whose hobby back in Damascus had been cooking for large groups of people as a volunteer.<\/p>\n<p>The guests were pleased with their meal, and a second request for catering came in. And that is how Fadi accidentally started his catering company with his mother in Berlin.<\/p>\n<p>\"Germany has done many great things, at least based on my own experience and what I see in terms of support for non-profit organisations,\" he says. \"I\u2019ve worked with many accelerators that support small businesses and help people access government funding and learn the German language.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"They provide support for apprenticeships, all the things that the job centre offers. They provide guidance, but there just needs to be a push, a little pressure from the government on companies and the private sector.\"<\/p>\n<p>But early in December, after al-Assad fled to Russia as opposition forces took control of Damascus, Germany decided to pause asylum applications from Syrians. As many as 47,000 applicants are thought to be affected by the decision.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, Fadi believes it's still not safe to return to Syria.<\/p>\n<p>\"Al-Assad was in power in Syria for 50 years, and now he is gone. But the challenge right now is for the government to identify and clean out the remnants of al-Assad\u2019s old regime, because it persists.\" <\/p>\n<p>\"The asylum process is ongoing, but it is still not safe to return just because the government is gone, al-Assad is gone.\"<\/p>\n<p>The systems that were in place under al-Assad are still there, and it will take a while for changes to be implemented, he argues.<\/p>\n<p>Fadi is positive about Germany's integration processes; after all, he owes his successful business to them, and he doesn't think they should end because al-Assad is no longer in power.<\/p>\n<h2>'Don't stop integration'<\/h2><p>\"Many people have integrated into Germany, from Syria and other countries, but there are also those who have not integrated properly,\" Fadi explains. \"I believe that there should be more engagement from the authorities here to offer a strong integration program for refugees, so they can integrate into the job market more quickly.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"However, some people are not doing anything at all, and there needs to be a clear program to reintegrate them to their homes. But not for everyone \u2014 and the process [of integrattion] should not be stopped.\"<\/p>\n<p>Over the weekend, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said Syrians who do not work should return to Syria. Fadi pointed out that in many cases, this puts the onus in the wrong place.<\/p>\n<p>\"I know many people who want to enter the job market, but they always face challenges with implementation. Many people work in the medical field, in hospitals, delivery services, or the restaurant industry.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"But still, there are people who, for example, are working in IT or are still looking for work. They constantly face the challenge of finding secure employment from the company\u2019s side. This is where the city can provide support because they need skilled workers. But this requires a trial period.\"<\/p>\n<p>The successful caterer suggests a trial period, pointing out Germany's labour shortage. According to Germany's Federal Employment Agency, as many as 700,000 positions are currently open.<\/p>\n<p>\"There also needs to be government support to ensure people can enter the job market.\"<\/p>\n<h2>A new Syria?<\/h2><p>In Italy, which has processed fewer Syrian asylum requests than any other EU member state, the government has decided to pause applications altogether. Human Rights organisations have condemned the move.<\/p>\n<p>Riccardo Noury, spokesperson for Amnesty International Italy, points out to Euronews that Italy was the first EU country to reopen its embassy in Damascus, a signal that the country's situation is stable \u2014 even though, in his opinion, that is not yet the reality.<\/p>\n<p>\"That\u2019s why the decision to freeze asylum requests for an unlimited time is simply reckless. And it\u2019s in contrast with a EU directive dating back to 2013 and with a decree approved in Italy in 2008,\" Noury said.<\/p>\n<p>And it's not just Italy: France, Belgium, Austria, Greece, and Sweden have all announced a temporary freeze on Syrian asylum claims. But with the country facing an uncertain future, NGOs are requesting that France in particular take exceptional measures.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Secretary General of the NGO Relief for Syrian Refugees, Frederic Anquetil, is urging the French government to allow refugees to return home without losing their status.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExceptional legal provisions exist to allow the return of refugees protected by international law, without them losing their refugee status,\" he explains. \"So we're asking the French government to implement this mechanism so that all the Syrian people planting seeds of freedom and democracy, who took asylum in France, can return to their country and sow these ideas.\"<\/p>\n<p>He also underlines that the full nature of the caretaking government in Syria is still an unknown, and suggested European governments should wait before making decisions that affect Syrians already within their borders.<\/p>\n<p>\"Today, it may be safe for some people, but in three months, we don't know what will happen,\" he tells Euronews. \"So, we repeat: vigilance and caution. We'll judge by the actions of the Syrian authorities, by the first decrees and laws that are going to be instituted.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"We have to be cautious, that refugees who have been granted international protection must retain their status for a year, two years, maybe even three years, until the results of the elections scheduled four years from now.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736345399,"updatedAt":1736416391,"publishedAt":1736399112,"firstPublishedAt":1736399112,"lastPublishedAt":1736416391,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/95\/78\/10\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0ec56739-214e-57e9-8cc7-b21320e46f33-8957810.jpg","altText":"Damascus in January 2025","caption":"Damascus in January 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":6963,"height":4642}],"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":2082,"slug":"rome","urlSafeValue":"rome","title":"Rome","titleRaw":"Rome"},{"id":412,"slug":"paris","urlSafeValue":"paris","title":"Paris","titleRaw":"Paris"},{"id":15206,"slug":"suriyeli-multeciler","urlSafeValue":"suriyeli-multeciler","title":"Syrian refugees","titleRaw":"Syrian 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GERMANY PANDAS","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Berlin Zoo's new play area for baby pandas","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Berlin Zoo's new play area for baby pandas","titleListing2":"Berlin Zoo's new play area for baby pandas","leadin":"Berlin Zoo's five-month-old twin pandas, Leni and Lotti, have been exploring their new playroom.","summary":"Berlin Zoo's five-month-old twin pandas, Leni and Lotti, have been exploring their new playroom.","keySentence":"","url":"berlin-zoos-new-play-area-for-baby-pandas","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/01\/08\/berlin-zoos-new-play-area-for-baby-pandas","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Born in 2024, the sisters are now old enough to leave their small playpen for a more spacious and stimulating environment.\n\nIn their new play area, Leni and Lotti have plenty of room to crawl, climb and explore under the watchful eye of their 11-year-old mother, Meng Meng.\n\nZoo staff hope that this transition will support the healthy development of the pandas as they continue to grow and thrive.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Born in 2024, the sisters are now old enough to leave their small playpen for a more spacious and stimulating environment.<\/p>\n<p>In their new play area, Leni and Lotti have plenty of room to crawl, climb and explore under the watchful eye of their 11-year-old mother, Meng Meng.<\/p>\n<p>Zoo staff hope that this transition will support the healthy development of the pandas as they continue to grow and thrive.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736353596,"updatedAt":1736364426,"publishedAt":1736364155,"firstPublishedAt":1736364155,"lastPublishedAt":1736364155,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/95\/82\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_aa5e1488-f6b2-5590-aae7-933060c4c872-8958278.jpg","altText":"Five-month-old twin panda sisters explore their new play area at Berlin Zoo in Germany, 07.01.2025","caption":"Five-month-old twin panda sisters explore their new play area at Berlin Zoo in Germany, 07.01.2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Capture d'\u00e9cran d'une vid\u00e9o AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":1734,"slug":"berlin","urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin","titleRaw":"Berlin"},{"id":13014,"slug":"panda","urlSafeValue":"panda","title":"Panda","titleRaw":"Panda"},{"id":13016,"slug":"zoo","urlSafeValue":"zoo","title":"zoo","titleRaw":"zoo"},{"id":16072,"slug":"animal-welfare","urlSafeValue":"animal-welfare","title":"animal welfare","titleRaw":"animal welfare"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2682280},{"id":2718600},{"id":2718650}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"AFLRIG3QdvU","dailymotionId":"x9c0plc"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NC\/SU\/25\/01\/08\/en\/250108_NCSU_57463158_57463464_60000_174754_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":7673540,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NC\/SU\/25\/01\/08\/en\/250108_NCSU_57463158_57463464_60000_174754_en.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":12030148,"expiresAt":0}],"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":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"No Comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"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":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"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":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isAutomatic":1,"isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"fr","storyId":8958278,"online":1},"path":"\/video\/2025\/01\/08\/berlin-zoos-new-play-area-for-baby-pandas","lastModified":1736364155},{"id":2722812,"cid":8957858,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250108_ECSU_57461837","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"BUSINESS GERMANY WINTER RECESSION","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Factory activity levels slump in Germany - winter recession pending?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Factory activity levels slump in Germany - winter recession pending?","titleListing2":"Factory activity levels slump in Germany - winter recession pending?","leadin":"A winter recession could be on the cards for Germany as factory activity levels slumped in November, according to data released on Wednesday by the Federal Statistical Office.","summary":"A winter recession could be on the cards for Germany as factory activity levels slumped in November, according to data released on Wednesday by the Federal Statistical Office.","keySentence":"","url":"factory-activity-levels-slump-in-germany-winter-recession-pending","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2025\/01\/08\/factory-activity-levels-slump-in-germany-winter-recession-pending","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany could experience a winter recession, as disappointing factory activity levels in November deepened its ongoing manufacturing crisis.\u00a0\n\nNew orders across Europe's biggest economy fell by 5.4% between October and November with the steep decline amounting to a loss worth more than \u20ac50m. This was worse than the previous month\u2019s 1.5% fall, while also being the steepest drop since August 2024.\u00a0\n\nNovember\u2019s figure was mainly pulled down by a 58.4% plunge in aircraft, train and ship orders, which was a sharp reversal from the robust order levels seen in October.\u00a0\n\nForeign demand from outside the eurozone was also considerably dampened, with demand from within the eurozone also falling -3.8%.\u00a0\n\nFactory orders also declined -1.2% for basic metals, along with -7.2% for pharmaceuticals. Similarly, both consumer and capital goods saw weaker factory output.\u00a0\n\nOn the other hand, orders inched up 1.7% for the chemical industry, with machinery orders also rising 1.2%. Domestic order also increased by 3.8%, with orders from September to November also being 1.7% higher than in the previous three months.\u00a0\n\nCould Germany face a winter recession?\u00a0\n\nGermany\u2019s economy has continued to struggle significantly in the last several months, with dampened demand and weak consumer sentiment considerably hampering growth.\n\nAs such, the possibility of a winter recession has become even more pronounced lately, however, the country\u2019s next two gross domestic product (GDP) reports will be crucial in determining whether it will officially be in recession. Germany\u2019s next GDP figures are due to be released on 15 January.\u00a0\n\nThe country\u2019s lacklustre retail sales could also exacerbate the risk of a winter recession. Month-on-month retail sales for November came in at -0.6%, down from October\u2019s -0.4%, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This also missed analyst expectations of a 0.5% growth.\u00a0\n\nNon-food retail sales dropped -1.8% in November, with mail order and e-commerce retail sales falling -1.2%. However, retail sales in the food sector inched up 0.1%.\u00a0\n\nOn the other hand, year-on-year retail sales grew 2.5% in November, ahead of October\u2019s 2.4%, as well as market expectations of 1.9%.\u00a0\n\nCarsten Brzeski, an ING economist, said as reported by The Telegraph: \u201cThere is still no trend reversal in sight for the German industry. It\u2019s bottoming out at best. At the same time, disappointing retail sales suggest that the rebound in private consumption in the third quarter is unlikely to continue in the fourth quarter.\n\n\u201cUnless Christmas shopping brings a positive surprise, private consumption is set to drop and ongoing political and policy uncertainty combined with re-accelerating inflation make any substantial rebound in consumption unlikely.\u201d\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany could experience a winter recession, as disappointing factory activity levels in November deepened its ongoing manufacturing crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>New orders across Europe's biggest economy fell by 5.4% between October and November with the steep decline amounting to a loss worth more than \u20ac50m. This was worse than the previous month\u2019s 1.5% fall, while also being the steepest drop since August 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>November\u2019s figure was mainly pulled down by a 58.4% plunge in aircraft, train and ship orders, which was a sharp reversal from the robust order levels seen in October.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Foreign demand from outside the eurozone was also considerably dampened, with demand from within the eurozone also falling -3.8%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Factory orders also declined -1.2% for basic metals, along with -7.2% for pharmaceuticals. Similarly, both consumer and capital goods saw weaker factory output.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, orders inched up 1.7% for the chemical industry, with machinery orders also rising 1.2%. Domestic order also increased by 3.8%, with orders from September to November also being 1.7% higher than in the previous three months.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8867574,8952452\" 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//11//22//modest-growth-in-the-german-economy-helps-avoid-recession/">Modest growth in the German economy helps it avoid a recession <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//01//06//markets-react-as-inflation-in-germany-climbs-to-11-month-high/">Markets react to Germany's surprise inflation climb to 11-month high<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Could Germany face a winter recession?<\/h2><p>Germany\u2019s economy has continued to struggle significantly in the last several months, with dampened demand and weak consumer sentiment considerably hampering growth.<\/p>\n<p>As such, the possibility of a winter recession has become even more pronounced lately, however, the country\u2019s next two gross domestic product (GDP) reports will be crucial in determining whether it will officially be in recession. Germany\u2019s next GDP figures are due to be released on 15 January.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The country\u2019s lacklustre retail sales could also exacerbate the risk of a winter recession. Month-on-month retail sales for November came in at -0.6%, down from October\u2019s -0.4%, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This also missed analyst expectations of a 0.5% growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Non-food retail sales dropped -1.8% in November, with mail order and e-commerce retail sales falling -1.2%. However, retail sales in the food sector inched up 0.1%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, year-on-year retail sales grew 2.5% in November, ahead of October\u2019s 2.4%, as well as market expectations of 1.9%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Carsten Brzeski, an ING economist, said as reported by The Telegraph: \u201cThere is still no trend reversal in sight for the German industry. It\u2019s bottoming out at best. At the same time, disappointing retail sales suggest that the rebound in private consumption in the third quarter is unlikely to continue in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnless Christmas shopping brings a positive surprise, private consumption is set to drop and ongoing political and policy uncertainty combined with re-accelerating inflation make any substantial rebound in consumption unlikely.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736346243,"updatedAt":1736365641,"publishedAt":1736349767,"firstPublishedAt":1736349767,"lastPublishedAt":1736349767,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/95\/78\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3e0b2b00-8f61-5605-abc1-c274af047423-8957858.jpg","altText":"Robotic arms working in a car plant","caption":"Robotic arms working in a car plant","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Canva","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2872,"urlSafeValue":"lahiri","title":"Indrabati Lahiri","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":29042,"slug":"factory","urlSafeValue":"factory","title":"factory","titleRaw":"factory"},{"id":8711,"slug":"recession","urlSafeValue":"recession","title":"Recession","titleRaw":"Recession"},{"id":10677,"slug":"german-economy","urlSafeValue":"german-economy","title":"German economy","titleRaw":"German economy"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2722694},{"id":2722380}],"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","84112001","84201001","84202001"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","law_government_and_politics","law_government_and_politics_general","negative_news_financial","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\/2025\/01\/08\/factory-activity-levels-slump-in-germany-winter-recession-pending","lastModified":1736349767},{"id":2722342,"cid":8956378,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"250108_E3SU_57457158","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMAN POLITICIANS CALL 5% DEFENCE TARGET 'MADNESS'","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German politicians rebuke Trump over NATO defence spending demand","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German politicians rebuke Trump over NATO defence spending demand","titleListing2":"German politicians criticise Trump over NATO defence spending demand","leadin":"US President-elect Donald Trump said NATO member states should increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP and criticised Europe's contributions.","summary":"US President-elect Donald Trump said NATO member states should increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP and criticised Europe's contributions.","keySentence":"","url":"german-politicians-rebuke-trump-over-nato-defence-spending-demand","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/01\/08\/german-politicians-rebuke-trump-over-nato-defence-spending-demand","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Several politicians in Germany have pushed back against US President-elect Donald Trump's suggestion that NATO's European members should spend 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, more than double the current target.\n\nOn Tuesday evening, Trump said that NATO nations were spending too little on defence and complained that \"Europe is in for a tiny fraction of the money that we're in\".\n\n\"They can all afford it, but they should be at 5%\u00a0not 2%,\" Trump\u00a0told reporters at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.\n\nNone of the alliance's 32 members are currently spending 5% of GDP on defence, according to NATO data. Poland is the biggest spender by share of GDP at 4.12%, followed by Estonia at 3.43% and the US at 3.38%.\n\nRalf Stegner, a member of Germany's Social Democrat Party (SPD) party, called Trump's comments \"delusional and absolutely insane\" in a post on Facebook. \n\n\"We don't need more weapons in the world, but fewer,\" Stegner told Politico. \n\nMarcus Faber, chairman of the defence committee in Germany's parliament, agreed that 5% was too high. Faber said that NATO countries would have to agree on a new goal beyond 2%, but stated that the target should be 3% and decided by consensus.\n\nFree Democratic Party (FDP) politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman said: \"We are not at a bazaar here.\"\n\n\"Trump, who sees himself as a dealmaker, naturally also hopes that the increased financial commitment of the European partners will benefit US industry in particular. But please don't make up a number out of thin air,\" Strack-Zimmerman said. \n\nTrump's latest call for NATO members to increase their defence spending is nothing new. During his first presidency, he repeatedly threatened to pull out of the military alliance if European allies failed to boost their spending.\n\nThe EU's NATO members have increased their defence spending in recent years, largely as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.\n\nNATO estimated that 23 (including 16 from the EU) of its 32 members would meet its goal of spending 2% of GDP in 2024, up from just six countries in 2021. Italy, Belgium, and Spain are among those who are yet to reach the 2% threshold. \n\nGermany will hit the 2% target for the first time this year, after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised a complete overhaul of the country's military in 2022, breaking years of taboo against the country investing heavily in its military. \n\nDespite this, officials and reports have repeatedly suggested that Germany's military is unfit for purpose. An annual report released by parliament in March 2024 found that the Bundeswehr was \"aged and shrinking\" and severely lacked equipment and personnel. \n\nThe general consensus in Germany's political establishment is that the nation should either maintain or increase its military spending \u2014 with several parties promoting a spending boost as part of their campaigns for the upcoming election set for 23 February. \n\nGreen party chancellor candidate Robert Habeck told Spiegel magazine that Germany should aim for 3.5% in upcoming years. \n\n\"Geopolitically, it is foreseeable that we \u2013 Germany and Europe \u2013 will have to take more responsibility for our security, anything else would be na\u00efve in view of the positioning of the USA,\" Habeck said. \n\nFriedrich Merz, leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democrat Union (CDU) and the man tipped to succeed Scholz as chancellor, on Wednesday said the country would spend more on defence but he would not be drawn on a specific spending target.\n\n\"The 2, 3 or 5% (targets) are basically irrelevant, the decisive factor is that we do what is necessary to defend ourselves,\" Merz told broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.\n\nNATO's new chief, Mark Rutte, has warned that the 2% target is insufficient, and said in December that citizens of NATO member states should accept \"sacrifices\" including cuts to their pensions, health and security systems in order to boost military spending in Europe. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Several politicians in Germany have pushed back against US President-elect Donald Trump's suggestion that NATO's European members should spend 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, more than double the current target.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday evening, Trump said that NATO nations were spending too little on defence and complained that \"Europe is in for a tiny fraction of the money that we're in\".<\/p>\n<p>\"They can all afford it, but they should be at 5%\u00a0not 2%,\" Trump\u00a0told reporters at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>None of the alliance's 32 members are currently spending 5% of GDP on defence, according to NATO data. Poland is the biggest spender by share of GDP at 4.12%, followed by Estonia at 3.43% and the US at 3.38%.<\/p>\n<p>Ralf Stegner, a member of Germany's Social Democrat Party (SPD) party, called Trump's comments \"delusional and absolutely insane\" in a post on Facebook. <\/p>\n<p>\"We don't need more weapons in the world, but fewer,\" Stegner told Politico. <\/p>\n<p>Marcus Faber, chairman of the defence committee in Germany's parliament, agreed that 5% was too high. Faber said that NATO countries would have to agree on a new goal beyond 2%, but stated that the target should be 3% and decided by consensus.<\/p>\n<p>Free Democratic Party (FDP) politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman said: \"We are not at a bazaar here.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"Trump, who sees himself as a dealmaker, naturally also hopes that the increased financial commitment of the European partners will benefit US industry in particular. But please don't make up a number out of thin air,\" Strack-Zimmerman said. <\/p>\n<p>Trump's latest call for NATO members to increase their defence spending is nothing new. During his first presidency, he repeatedly threatened to pull out of the military alliance if European allies failed to boost their spending.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8908194,8920994\" 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//12//nato-chief-asks-european-citizens-to-make-sacrifices-to-boost-defence-spending/">NATO chief asks European citizens to 'make sacrifices' to boost defence spending<\/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//19//lithuanian-president-touts-5-of-gdp-on-defence-in-coming-years/">Lithuanian President touts 5% of GDP on defence in 'coming years'<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The EU's NATO members have increased their defence spending in recent years, largely as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.<\/p>\n<p>NATO estimated that 23 (including 16 from the EU) of its 32 members would meet its goal of spending 2% of GDP in 2024, up from just six countries in 2021. Italy, Belgium, and Spain are among those who are yet to reach the 2% threshold. <\/p>\n<p>Germany will hit the 2% target for the first time this year, after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised a complete overhaul of the country's military in 2022, breaking years of taboo against the country investing heavily in its military. <\/p>\n<p>Despite this, officials and reports have repeatedly suggested that Germany's military is unfit for purpose. An annual report released by parliament in March 2024 found that the Bundeswehr was \"aged and shrinking\" and severely lacked equipment and personnel. <\/p>\n<p>The general consensus in Germany's political establishment is that the nation should either maintain or increase its military spending \u2014 with several parties promoting a spending boost as part of their campaigns for the upcoming election set for 23 February. <\/p>\n<p>Green party chancellor candidate Robert Habeck told Spiegel magazine that Germany should aim for 3.5% in upcoming years. <\/p>\n<p>\"Geopolitically, it is foreseeable that we \u2013 Germany and Europe \u2013 will have to take more responsibility for our security, anything else would be na\u00efve in view of the positioning of the USA,\" Habeck said. <\/p>\n<p>Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democrat Union (CDU) and the man tipped to succeed Scholz as chancellor, on Wednesday said the country would spend more on defence but he would not be drawn on a specific spending target.<\/p>\n<p>\"The 2, 3 or 5% (targets) are basically irrelevant, the decisive factor is that we do what is necessary to defend ourselves,\" Merz told broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.<\/p>\n<p>NATO's new chief, Mark Rutte, has warned that the 2% target is insufficient, and<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//12//12//nato-chief-asks-european-citizens-to-make-sacrifices-to-boost-defence-spending/"> said<\/a> in December that citizens of NATO member states should accept \"sacrifices\" including cuts to their pensions, health and security systems in order to boost military spending in Europe. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1736325361,"updatedAt":1736333687,"publishedAt":1736333609,"firstPublishedAt":1736333609,"lastPublishedAt":1736333609,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/95\/63\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a858ec95-99cd-5463-b2b7-81f7dc2d20b0-8956378.jpg","altText":"Slovakian soldiers stand by a gun of the Mantis (Modular, Automatic and Network Capable Targeting and Interception System) air defense weapon system.","caption":"Slovakian soldiers stand by a gun of the Mantis (Modular, Automatic and Network Capable Targeting and Interception System) air defense weapon system.","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 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