News

Friedrich Merz stands on the stage at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. While delegations discuss climate goals, Germany is experiencing a gradual decline in its industry. Climate policy resembles a staged event more than a strategy, as the growing deindustrialization reveals the consequences of excessive subsidies. The Chancellor presents his country as a role model, even […]

Europe is facing an economic tipping point. According to BASF CEO Markus Kamieth, emissions trading is developing into a major risk for industry. While climate policy in Brussels is creating new burdens, companies are struggling with rising energy prices, a growing industrial crisis, and the threat of deindustrialization. CO₂ emissions trading is particularly burdensome for

The German economy is under unprecedented pressure in decades. At the steel summit in the Chancellery, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, together with representatives from industry and labor unions, sought solutions to the energy crisis. But instead of sustainable strategies, a familiar pattern prevails: subsidies, rising costs, and paralyzing bureaucracy. A growing number of companies are complaining

German family businesses are on the brink of a dangerous situation. According to a recent survey, one in four companies is planning job cuts – a clear warning sign for the entire economy. Many of these traditional businesses, however, hesitate much longer than large corporations because they typically employ highly qualified staff whom they have

More and more municipal utilities are offering citizen participation through subordinated loans to finance their energy transition projects. The reason lies in a lack of equity capital: many local providers cannot manage the expansion of solar fields, wind farms, and power grids on their own. Banks are acting cautiously, and international markets remain closed –

Germany is in the midst of an energy transition that, according to many experts, is degenerating into an expensive planned economy. EON CEO Leonhard Birnbaum speaks openly of a misguided development that jeopardizes Germany’s industrial base. He argues that current climate policy is not based on market principles but rather on centralized state control. The

The German Armed Forces’ digital radio system is emblematic of the failure of one of the most expensive modernization projects in the German defense industry. Around 20 billion euros are being invested in the digitalization of land-based operations, but the expected benefits have failed to materialize. In addition, the project is devouring over 150 million

The EU Commission is debating internally a possible tax on sugar and salt – officially in the name of public health, but in reality to close gaps in the EU budget. What is presented as a health-promoting measure reveals itself upon closer inspection as a new lever for raising tax revenue. Instead of considering reforms

Germany is hurtling at breakneck speed towards an economic abyss. A combination of a stagnating economy, dangerous dependence on subsidies, exploding energy costs, and rampant bureaucracy is increasingly putting the pillars of industry under pressure. Traditional value creation is faltering because companies are no longer able to operate freely but are instead trapped in a

In Ningbo, China, the ninth unit of the Beilun power plant went online, a milestone for China’s coal industry. With a total capacity of 7.34 gigawatts, the plant is considered the country’s largest coal-fired power plant – a clear signal of energy security in a growing industrial nation. Nevertheless, German media outlets report almost exclusively

The Federal Employment Agency is struggling with massive payment difficulties. These liquidity problems stem from a deficit totaling nine billion euros over the next two years. A weak economy, rising expenditures, and dwindling reserves are exacerbating the situation. In addition to these payment difficulties, four other factors are compounding the problem: a persistent financial crisis,

Great Britain is planning a mileage-based road tax for electric cars, which is scheduled to come into effect in 2028. This new form of road tax is a response to declining revenue from fuel taxes. Estimates suggest the measure will cost drivers up to £250 annually. Experts warn of negative effects on the acceptance of

The AI ​​boom has reached Europe, but in Germany, this digital surge is quickly encountering physical limitations. Frankfurt is the hub for data centers, but the power supply is dwindling while demand is increasing. AI growth here is colliding with an energy crisis, grid overload, and political obstacles. Nuclear power is lacking, and the infrastructure

The Rehden gas storage facility is emblematic of the current challenges facing Germany’s gas supply. With a fill level of only around 27 percent, Germany’s largest gas storage facility sends a worrying signal, as this state-owned storage system is supposed to contribute significantly to energy security. Rehden, once nationalized to protect against an energy crisis,

Helsinki is planning to use a compact reactor for climate-neutral heat supply. The municipal energy company Helen is relying on a technology that is compatible with the existing district heating system. A mini-reactor is intended to stabilize heating output and promote the energy transition. At the same time, the output of CO2-free heat will increase