68% of Germans Oppose Scrapping Rente mit 63
The Alterssicherungskommission submitted its recommendations to BMAS on June 23, 2026. One of the recommendations is to abolish Rente mit 63 (retirement at 63). It is the penalty-free early retirement
News
Employer Health Insurance Contributions Rise €561 in 2027
From January 1, 2027, employers can contribute up to roughly €561 a month toward an employee’s private health insurance premium. That is up from the current €508.59 cap. The increase
30,000-Signature Bitcoin Tax Petition Forces Bundestag Hearing
A petition against ending Germany’s tax-free crypto holding period hit 30,000 signatures within days, forcing a public Bundestag hearing on Finance Minister Klingbeil’s proposed tax reform.
What Record Stock Indices Mean for Your ETF Savings Plan
The MSCI World and MSCI ACWI IMI hit new record highs in August 2026, driven by easing US-Iran tensions, falling oil prices and strong tech earnings — here is what it means if you run an ETF savings plan in Germany.
New Rules Take Effect in Germany in August 2026
First-graders get a legal right to all-day care, AI content must be labeled, plastic packaging rules tighten, and homeowners get more heating flexibility — Germany’s August 2026 rule changes explained for expats.
Germany’s Bundestag Passes New Packaging Law
The Bundestag passed the Packaging Law Implementation Act (Verpackungsrecht-Durchführungsgesetz, VerpackDG) on June 11, 2026. The law replaces the existing Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz, VerpackG). It also implements the EU Packaging and
Germany Modernizes Its Arbitration Law
The German Cabinet approved a draft law on June 10, 2026 to modernise the rules governing arbitration proceedings (Schiedsverfahrensrecht). The draft law amends the Code of Civil Procedure (Zivilprozessordnung, ZPO).
Politically Motivated Crime in Germany Hits Record High in 2025
Germany recorded 85,837 politically motivated crimes (politisch motivierte Kriminalität, PMK) in 2025. It is the highest total since the statistics began in 2001. The number of crimes rose approximately 2%
Germany Must Provide Basic Benefits to Dublin Asylum Seekers
On June 4, 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that Germany cannot withhold clothing, household goods, or cash benefits from asylum seekers whose cases fall
Merz Addresses Bundestag on EU Council Agenda
On June 11, 2026, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) delivered a 20-minute government statement (Regierungserklärung) to the Bundestag. It was done ahead of the European Council meeting in Brussels on June