Bild: MPs allowed to fly business class again! / Abgeordnete dürfen wieder Business fliegen!
FAZ: Merz advocates using Russian funds for Ukraine / Merz wirbt für die Nutzung von russischem Geld für die Ukraine
Funke: Overcrowded emergency rooms: Berlin ranks second nationwide / Überfüllte Notaufnahmen: Berlin bundesweit auf Platz zwei
Handelsblatt: Turning point for DAX dividends / Trendwende bei Dax-Dividenden
RND: Ahead of Friedrich Merz’s visit to Israel: Is the Palestinian Authority redirecting EU aid money to terrorists? / Vor Israel-Besuch von Friedrich Merz: Leitet die Palästinenser-Behörde EU-Hilfsgelder an Terroristen weiter?
SZ: Deadlock for the coalition / Hängepartie für die Koalition
Tagesspiegel: Kremlin meeting ends without result: Rutte expects allies to provide new billions for US weapons / Kreml-Treffen ergebnislos: Rutte erwartet von Alliierten neue Milliarden für US-Waffen
taz: By the skin of their teeth / Mit Hängen und Würgen
Welt: Left Party clears the way for the coalition’s pension package / Linke macht Weg frei für das Rentenpaket der Koalition
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov on Thursday in Florida. The president’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, will also take part in the meeting. Witkoff and Kushner had previously spoken in Moscow with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin about possibilities for ending the war in Ukraine. rnd.de, handelsblatt.com
- Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky reports what he sees as successful talks in Geneva and Florida. At the same time, he emphasizes the need to continue exerting pressure on Russia and ties the success of the efforts to a combination of constructive diplomacy and consistent pressure on the aggressor.
- US president Donald Trump describes a meeting between his envoys and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin as „fairly“ good but leaves the further development open. He cannot predict what outcome the talks will produce, Trump told journalists.
EU plan for Russian assets: The European Commission has developed a model to use frozen Russian central bank assets to provide loans to Ukraine. Up to 210 billion euros could be mobilized, of which—according to estimates—up to 90 billion euros could flow as so-called reparation loans by the end of 2027. The Commission stresses that legal and financial safeguards will limit risks for member states, while Belgium continues to resist due to possible liability risks. Assets in Germany, France, Sweden and Cyprus are also to be included in the planned mechanism. This expands the circle of affected countries, as Belgium had so far been at the center of the debate.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz explicitly supports the Commission’s proposal. In a guest article for the FAZ, he argues that the roughly 165 billion euros in frozen funds would be sufficient to cover Ukraine’s financial and weapons needs for the next two years. The plan, he says, is in line with international law. faz.net
NATO states increase weapons aid through US purchases: Germany, Norway, Poland, the Netherlands and Canada have announced new arms deliveries to Ukraine. Germany intends to provide around 200 million dollars. Procurement is taking place via the so-called Purl mechanism, in which member states purchase US weapons and pass them on to Kyiv. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is also pushing for monthly purchases of at least one billion dollars beyond 2026 to strengthen Ukraine’s defense with interceptor missiles and other systems.
Left Party parliamentary group will abstain in the vote on the pension package, making it easier for the black-red coalition of CDU, CSU and SPD to pass the law. If all 64 Left Party MPs abstain, the required majority would fall to 284 votes; the coalition has 328 votes. Parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek said they did not want to risk the stabilization of the pension level failing due to the coalition’s unstable majority situation and accused the Union of playing power games at the expense of pensioners. zdfheute.de, tagesspiegel.de, handelsblatt.com
- Finance minister Lars Klingbeil does not want to rely on the Left Party for pension issues.
- Bundestag refrains from voting on pension commission; a Bundestag resolution is not necessary for this. Annoyance among young CDU/CSU MPs.
Bremen’s interior senator Ulrich Mäurer advocates a ban on fireworks at New Year’s Eve at the conference of interior ministers. He referred to the strain on police, fire brigades and animals as well as environmental and injury consequences. Mäurer sees growing willingness among interior ministers to address the issue and calls for states or municipalities to be able to impose their own bans on private fireworks. The police union and environmental groups also support the proposal. rnd.de
- Measures for more safety at so-called high-risk football matches: decisions on personalized tickets or AI-assisted surveillance are not expected; the work of the federal-state working group on violence in football has not yet been completed.
Bundeswehr activates first Arrow-3 system: At the air base in Schönewalde/Holzdorf, on the border between Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, initial operational capability was granted for the Israeli Arrow-3 defense system. The system is part of long-range missile defense and can intercept enemy missiles at altitudes of over 100 kilometers. It was developed by Israel and the US and is to be fully operational by 2030. Schönewalde/Holzdorf is the first of three planned locations in Germany. nd.de, tagesschau.de
Dispute in the Bundestag over anti-AfD protests in Giessen: The AfD spoke of a „witch hunt“ in a heated exchange and complained of left-wing extremist violence. Representatives of other parties emphasized the importance of civil society engagement but condemned the violent riots. n-tv.de
Health minister Nina Warken hopes for agreement on health insurance savings package. After her bill was blocked in the Bundesrat, she is seeking a rapid agreement with the states on stable health insurance contributions. She had planned a savings package of two billion euros. Preparations for the mediation committee of Bundestag and Bundesrat are already underway. boerse.de
Digital ministry receives veto right on federal IT projects: The chancellery and finance ministry agreed to grant digital minister Karsten Wildberger’s ministry a right of approval. The aim is more centralized control, coordinated standards and the avoidance of duplicate developments. Wildberger sees this as a tool to strengthen the federal IT’s ability to act.
Justice minister Stefanie Hubig wants stronger regulation of index rents. A draft law is planned for this year to limit rents indexed to inflation. Such rental agreements can become a cost trap due to rising consumer prices. After extending the rent cap, Hubig also wants to revise regulations for short-term rental contracts and furnished housing. rnd.de
Car assistance systems planned to prevent „dooring“ accidents: Carmakers are to equip vehicles with door-opening warning systems and automatic stop systems to better protect cyclists and e-scooter users. The transport ministry said the black-red coalition is working on the issue with high priority, as cyclists are particularly at risk when passing parked cars. The German Cyclists’ Association supports the plans and notes it has been calling for such requirements for years.
Economy ministry approves funding for startup involving Guttenberg: Around 300,000 euros have been approved for GovRadar under the „Central Innovation Programme for SMEs,“ reports Der Spiegel. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is involved in the company and is also the partner of economy minister Katherina Reiche. The ministry did not directly answer whether Reiche knew about the process and said it had no direct contact with the company. Both Guttenberg and GovRadar stress he had no influence on the funding.
Labor minister Bärbel Bas insists on collective bargaining coverage and social partnership despite criticism. On ntv, Bas defended her widely discussed statements at the Juso federal conference. She recounted how much the boos at the employers’ day had affected her. „Both sides“—employers and she—had felt misunderstood during her speech. She reaffirmed her stance: she wants to fight against the erosion of collective bargaining agreements and for reliable social partnership. From her point of view, collective bargaining coverage of only 49 percent endangers social cohesion.
Other reports:
- Agreement between SPD and CDU: application by Berlin’s government could trigger proceedings to ban the AfD.
- Deficit of almost 30 billion: Finance minister Lars Klingbeil wants to provide municipalities with further aid.
- Economy ministry plans reform of offshore wind farm tendering.
- Bundestag approves arms purchases worth 2.5 billion euros – including for the new G95 assault rifle.
- FDP presents study: Bas’ pension package benefits wealthy pensioners significantly more.
- Cabinet approves accession to UN high seas protection agreement.
- Interior committee approves ten-year ban in cases of deception in naturalization procedures.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz praises Berlin’s progress on professional qualification recognition: On his inaugural visit, Merz praised the work of the black-red senate, especially the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. Berlin, he said, is ahead of other states in this area. Merz and governing mayor Kai Wegner also discussed the future capital city agreement, which regulates federal financial support for capital city responsibilities. Wegner is pushing in the new negotiations for a new distribution of responsibilities, as conditions have changed significantly—for example due to the increase in demonstrations.
Further news:
- Saxony: BSW politician Sabine Zimmermann accuses Left Party and Greens of „incitement against the right“.
- Brandenburg: Number of crimes in schools has risen significantly in recent years.
- Berlin: Computer scientist Fatma Deniz becomes new president of TU Berlin; Geraldine Rauch voted out.
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Green politician Christine Fanenbruck becomes new deputy mayor in Bad Salzuflen after the ousting of AfD politician Sabine Reinknecht.
- Brandenburg: Plans presented for faster asylum procedures.
- Bavaria: Municipalities accuse state government of fueling new desires for privatization of water supply.
- Baden-Württemberg: AfD MP Daniel Lindenschmid shouts at CDU politician in parliament: „Just shut your mouth for a second.“
- Rhineland-Palatinate: Dispute over CDU reporting portal on violence in schools.
EU agrees to phase out Russian natural gas by November 2027. For member states without sea access, a two-month transitional period applies for short-term supply contracts. Imports of Russian LNG are to be banned starting January 2027. The goal is to end dependence on Russian energy completely.
Other reports:
- Former EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini rejects corruption allegations; all three suspects released.
- EU states relax genetic engineering rules for food.
- European Commission wants to stockpile lithium and rare earths for industry.
- EU misses hydrogen targets: green energy carrier is still four times too expensive.
- EU states call for comprehensive data retention by 2026.
- EU trilogue on new travel regulations concluded.
Federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasizes friendship between Germany and Great Britain: At the state banquet at Windsor Castle, Steinmeier called for closer alignment between Germany and the UK. Brexit was a deep break, but the friendship between the two countries has endured. The goal now must be to put the partnership on a new footing and strengthen its „infrastructure.“ At the start of his three-day state visit, Steinmeier was welcomed with military honors by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. On Thursday, he will speak before the British Parliament in London.
Beamtenbund threatens warning strikes in state public service: After the fruitless start of collective bargaining in the public sector of the federal states, the Beamtenbund has announced possible warning strikes. Chairman Volker Geyer sharply criticized the employers and accused them of having no concept. Verdi and the Beamtenbund are demanding seven percent more pay, but at least 300 euros per month. The employers reject the demand as unaffordable; talks are scheduled to continue in mid-January.
Poverty report shows deep social inequality: Almost two-thirds of people affected by poverty in Germany do not feel they are an equal part of society. According to the poverty and wealth report adopted by the cabinet, many are also dissatisfied with their health. More than half complain about limited opportunities in the labor market and restricted mobility. The report is based on an online survey of around 4,000 people with current or past poverty experience.
Further news:
- Bitkom survey: Large majority of companies demand GDPR reform.
- New study: Heating costs rose again last year.
- Emergency rooms treat more patients than ever before.
- Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume wants to push ahead with austerity measures.
- Significant increase in registrations of fully electric cars in November.
- New dual leadership at Madsack: Lina Timm and Denni Klein head the RND.
- Eva-Maria Bauch, CEO of Mediengruppe Oberfranken, and NDR director Hendrik Lünenborg join the dpa supervisory board.
- Women’s Football European Championship to take place in Germany in 2029.
If you’re new to Germany, you may have noticed something curious: even strikes seem organized. Warning strikes aren’t sudden chaos; they’re practically scheduled—complete with press statements, clear time windows, and often even shuttle plans for commuters.
That’s because in Germany, strikes are seen as a structured part of democracy, not a disruption of it. They’re meant to put pressure on employers, yes, but in a way that keeps society functioning. It’s protest with a calendar invite.
So when the Beamtenbund threatens Warnstreiks, don’t imagine France-style shutdowns. Think more:
“Dear public, we will be inconveniencing you—briefly—this Thursday. Thank you for your understanding.”