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TODAY IN GERMANY

Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

Tesla's German factory extension gets green light, storms in Bavaria, pro-Palestine protest group banned in North-Rhine Westphalia, investigation of far-right politician ramps up and more news from around Germany.

Published: 17 May 2024 08:02 CEST

Tesla's factory near Berlin, as photographed in January 2024. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christophe Gateau

Tesla’s German factory gets approval for extension

Tesla said its plans to extend its production site in Brandenburg near Berlin had been approved, overcoming strong opposition and protests from residents and environmental activists.

The US electric car manufacturer said it was “extremely pleased” that local officials in the town of Grünheide, where the factory is located, had voted to approve he extension.

Tesla opened the plant – its only production location in Europe – in 2022 at the end of a tumultuous two-year approval and construction process.

The carmaker had to clear a series of administrative and legal hurdles before production could begin at the site, including complaints from locals about the site’s environmental impact.

Plans to double capacity to produce a million cars a year at the site, which employs some 12,000 people, were announced in 2023.

The plant, which already occupies around 300 hectares (740 acres), was set to be expanded by a further 170 hectares.

But Tesla had to scale back its ambitions to grow the already massive site after locals opposed the plan in a non-binding poll.

Their concerns included deforestation required for the expansion, the plant’s high water consumption, and an increase in road traffic in the area.

In the new proposal, Tesla has scrapped plans for logistics and storage centres and on-site employee facilities, while leaving more of the surrounding forest standing.

Severe storms cause disruption in southern Germany

Storms hit parts of Germany on Thursday evening, causing damage in some areas.

In Nuremberg, Bavaria, many roads became flooded resulting in traffic chaos. Cars got submerged in water and bus routes were cancelled.

A number of cellars in households were also flooded due to the heavy rainfall. Another complicated operation had to be dealt with at the Technical University, where a large underground car park was submerged in water.

Emergency services dealt with 300 call-outs in Nuremberg alone in the first three hours of the storm. Call-outs continued late into the night.

Forces from Fürth and the district of Nürnberger Land were also called in to assist. According to initial information, no one was injured as a result of the weather. By the evening, the German Weather Service (DWD) had lifted all warnings.

Investigation of far-right MP ramps up

German officials said on Thursday they had raided properties as part of a bribery probe into an MP, who media report is a far-right AfD lawmaker accused of spreading Russian propaganda.

The investigation targets Petr Bystron, the number-two candidate for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in next month’s European Parliament elections, Der Spiegel news outlet reported.

Police, and prosecutors in Munich, confirmed on Thursday they were conducting “a preliminary investigation against a member of the German Bundestag on the initial suspicion of bribery of elected officials and money laundering”, without giving a name.

Properties in Berlin, the southern state of Bavaria and the Spanish island of Mallorca were searched and evidence seized, they said in a statement.

Last month, Bystron denied media reports that he was paid to spread pro-Russian views on a Moscow-financed news website, just one of several scandals that the extreme-right anti-immigration AfD is battling.

Pro-Palestine solidarity group banned as Foreign Minister urges protection of civilians in Rafah

North Rhine-Westphalia’s interior ministry has banned and dissolved the Palestine Solidarity Duisburg association and confiscated its assets. On Thursday around 50 police officers were called to raid several apartments of four officials of the association – laptops, mobile phones, club documents and cash had been confiscated.

The group was known for organising protests against what it calls Israeli “apartheid” and “genocide” against Palestinians. On its website, it had platformed other pro-Palestinian groups, including some Jewish organisations.

The association was also active on social media channels on Tiktok, Telegram, Facebook and Instagram, where it had previously complained about German police forces censoring its protests.

NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) explained the state’s justification for banning the group: “The association openly advocates any form of Palestinian resistance – including the armed struggle of the terrorist organisation Hamas against Israel.”

peace not war

Pro-Palestine demonstrators hold up placards during a “in solidarity with Gaza” rally in Duisburg, western Germany, on October 9, 2023. Gun battles raged on October 8, 2023 between Hamas militants and Israeli forces a day after the Islamist group launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, in a dramatic escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP)

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Thursday urged greater protection of civilians in Rafah, as the Israeli army intensified its operations around the southern city in Gaza.

Baerbock said in a statement she was “deeply concerned about the Israeli army’s current actions in Rafah”, and that hundreds of thousands of refugees in the city “no longer have any safe places to flee”.

Germany, a close ally of Israel’s, would “stand up for Israel’s security”, Baerbock said. But Germany’s support for Israel also meant “doing everything to ensure Israel does not lose itself in this war…We have underlined that military self-defence must be directed at the terrorists of Hamas and not at innocent Palestinian children, women and men.”

German team coach has selected 27 players for Euro 2024

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said he had struck the right balance his Euro 2024 squad.

Nagelsmann named 27 players for the home tournament, with the squad to be cut to 26 after friendlies against Ukraine on June 3 in Nuremberg and Greece four days later in Moenchengladbach.

At the announcement made in downtown Berlin just near the famous Brandenberg Gate, Nagelsmann said the 34-year-old Mueller — who he coached at club level during his stint as Bayern Munich manager — tied the group together.

“Thomas is a connector, he can connect the groups together. He can link the rappers with the yodellers.”

With reporting by DPA and Paul Krantz

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Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

German and G7 leaders agree to a $50 billion loan for Ukraine

G7 leaders were set to agree at an Italy summit Thursday on a new $50-billion loan for Ukraine, using profits from frozen Russian assets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flew in to join US President Joe Biden and leaders from Germany, Italy, Britain, France, Canada and Japan at a session of the Puglia talks dedicated to the war.

Top of the agenda was a plan for an urgent $50-billion loan to help Kyiv with defence, budgetary support and reconstruction after more than two years of war with Russia.

The loan would be secured against the future profits from interest on €300 billion ($325 billion) of Russian central bank assets frozen by Western allies.

“Good news from the G7: another $50 billion for Ukraine,” German Finance Minister Christian Lindner wrote on X.

He said the agreement showed Russian President Vladimir Putin our “unity, greatly helps Ukraine and relieves the burden on budgets”.

He added, “Now we are working on the details.”

Since the war began, the EU and its Member States provided nearly €100 bn to support Ukraine.

The paradigm shift is our €50 bn Ukraine Facility.

Thank you, @Bundeskanzler and @ZelenskyyUa, for hosting this meeting.

The EU stands with Ukraine for as long as it takes. pic.twitter.com/MJqDAIYhyY

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 11, 2024

Police in Saxony looking for suspected child killer

The homicide squad is still looking for the perpetrator following the discovery of the body of nine-year-old Valeriia in the forest near Döbeln, confirmed senior public prosecutor Ingrid Burghart on Thursday.

Investigators don’t want to share details about the cause of death or the ongoing investigation, but say they have theses on the motive.

According to reporting by “Bild”, the investigators have an ex-boyfriend of the girl’s mother in their sights. He is said to be in the Czech Republic. The Chemnitz public prosecutor’s office did not want to comment on this when asked by the German Press Agency.

The crime against Valeriia has shocked many people in her place of residence, which has a population of around 24,000. Many have laid candles, stuffed animals, pictures, angel figures and flowers near the child’s home to express their grief and bewilderment.

Questions still arise as to a delayed police search. A witness had heard screams on the outskirts of the city on the day of Valeriia’s disappearance, and later reported it to the police. Investigators say, however, that the initial report was not specific enough.

The public prosecutor’s office is also examining possible misconduct on the part of the school, which had not contacted Valeriia’s mother when the child did not arrive in her class.

Germany receives the most asylum applications worldwide after the USA

More people than ever before are fleeing violence, war, conflict and persecution worldwide. The UN refugee agency UNHCR reported on Thursday that in May, there were 120 million refugees worldwide, almost ten percent more than a year ago.

Among people who see no chance of returning home soon, the USA and Germany were the favoured destinations.

Baerbock meets a refugee child

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock plays with a child as she visits a temporary shelter for refugees. Photo by Karen MINASYAN / AFP

The USA recorded by far the most asylum applications, a total of 1.2 million. This was followed by Germany at a considerable distance with around 330,000 applications, ahead of Egypt, Spain and Canada.

“The dramatic increase in the number of refugees shows me very clearly: Right now we need more development cooperation, not less,” said Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD).

In the dispute over the 2025 federal budget, FDP representatives had called for significant cuts in humanitarian aid and development aid.

Development policy creates prospects for refugees on the ground and for their return to their homeland, explained Development Minister Schulze. “This is also in Germany’s interest.”

German climate activists end lengthy hunger strike in Berlin

A group of German environmental activists on Thursday ended a long-running hunger strike to force the government to do more to tackle the climate crisis.

The protest began in early March under the motto “starving until you tell the truth”, when the first member of the group, Wolfgang Metzeler-Kick, stopped eating.

The 49-year-old went on hunger strike for a total of 92 days and was admitted to hospital in early June — although he reportedly continued the action for several days afterwards.

Germany coach urges team to harness ‘privelege of pressure’

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his side needed to use the pressure of hosting Euro 2024 to their advantage ahead of Friday’s tournament opener against Scotland in Munich.

This summer’s hosts are three-time winners of the European Championship but have endured a poor time since reaching the semi-finals at Euro 2016.

Since that tournament, the Germans were eliminated twice at the group stage of the World Cup, and lost to England in the last 16 at the Euros in 2021.

Admitting to being a “little nervous” ahead of his first game coaching Germany at a major tournament, Nagelsmann said he told his players to embrace the pressure in front of their home fans.

Scotland’s defender #03 Andrew Robertson (2ndL), Scotland’s forward #11 Ryan Christie (Rear R) and teammates attend a MD-1 training session of Scotland’s national football team ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 football Championship at the team’s base camp in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on June 13th, 2024. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

“I think it’s normal that you feel a little bit of pressure before a tournament and before important games like these,” the 36-year-old told reporters on Thursday.

“Ultimately for me it’s the most important theme, when I speak with my players, that pressure is a form of privilege.

“We need to simply enjoy being on the pitch. That’s very important. Our players started playing when they were young. They love it (football).

“If you do it that way, you’re doing it right.”

FDP says more borrowing could be needed in 2024

FDP parliamentary leader Christian Dürr has raised the spectre of a revised budget for 2024, with the potential to borrow more money than previously planned.

Speaking on ZDF’s “Morgenmagazin” on Friday, Dürr likened the finance minister’s role to household budgeting, where income and expenditure are regularly reviewed. He mentioned that adjustments might be necessary, particularly in areas like defence, infrastructure and internal security.

Bild recently reported that the federal government is considering a supplementary budget for this year, with coalition sources indicating that the Ministry of Finance had briefed the coalition’s budget committee on these plans a few days ago.

“We are monitoring tax revenue developments and budget implementation closely and are prepared to act as needed,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance told DPA.

Germany’s economy is currently underperforming, allowing for increased net borrowing under the debt brake’s economic clause, potentially up to €11 billion, Dürr explained. Currently, the planned net borrowing for this year stands at €39 billion and falls within the cap on borrowing mandated by the debt brake.

SPD politician calls for extension of temporary border controls

SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Weise has spoken out in favour of maintaining additional border controls for several months after the Euro 2024 tournament is over.

“I don’t want to get used to it, because one of the greatest achievements of the European Union is the abolition of the barriers,” Wiese told Tagesspiegel on Friday.

“For reasons of security, however, I consider it necessary to extend the border controls for a certain period beyond the European Championships.”

Police carry out checks at the German-Polish border in Saxony. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Danilo Dittrich

Due to the Euro 2024, temporary controls will initially be in place at all of Germany’s internal Schengen borders until July 19th – five days after the final match of the tournament.

At the end of May, the Ministry of the Interior announced that stationary controls at the land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, which have been in place since the beginning of the year, would be extended by six months. The controls were initially put in place to stop undocumented migrants crossing the border.

“These controls have led to a reduction in irregular migration and, incidentally, a large number of wanted people with German passports were also caught,” said Wiese, adding that the security situation in Germany could be classed as “high-risk”.

“In recent weeks and months, the security authorities have repeatedly succeeded in recognising potential attackers at an early stage and taking them out of circulation,” the SPD politician added.

With reporting by dpa and Paul Krantz.

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