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In an interview with Handelsblatt, entrepreneur Martin Herrenknecht paints a stark picture of the state of Germany as a business location. He criticizes bureaucracy, China strategy, infrastructure, and the labor market equally. “Other countries are laughing at us,” warns the CEO, describing a republic bogged down in bureaucracy while competitors act more decisively. His analysis […]

Thyssenkrupp is temporarily suspending electric steel production. The relevant plants will be shut down from mid-December. This means electric steel production will be temporarily suspended, even though the material remains indispensable for key industrial applications. According to internal assessments, around 1,200 jobs related to electric steel production are at serious risk. At the same time,

The German mechanical engineering sector will experience a profound crisis of confidence in 2025. Numerous companies will lose faith in the political leadership as the business climate deteriorates once again and key reform initiatives fail to materialize. Furthermore, bureaucracy is paralyzing many businesses, while innovation is less frequently originating in Germany. This mixture of frustration

Poland is pushing ahead with its new nuclear power plant as a key project in its national energy transition, and the EU has approved crucial state funding for it. The European Commission has thus given the green light to a project that strengthens Poland’s position in the European energy market and simultaneously initiates a profound

Despite ideal conditions for solar and wind power, Spain is struggling with a growing imbalance. A high proportion of gas, significant overproduction, unstable electricity prices, and increasing grid congestion are putting immense pressure on the energy system. This combination creates a structural imbalance. A surplus of green energy is driving tariffs down so drastically that

The European Commission is focusing its efforts on new corporate taxes to cover rising expenditures. This move comes as several member states oppose higher contributions. Brussels is also aiming for increased EU own resources, relying on structural reforms to the financial framework. Defense financing is also coming into focus due to rising geopolitical risks. In

The EU is celebrating the supposed end of the combustion engine ban as a breakthrough. In reality, this decision is a sham. The combustion engine ban, the stricter fleet targets, new rules for company cars, and the emphasis on e-fuels remain key control instruments. The impression of relief is deceptive. The measure primarily serves to

Many homeowners fear they will no longer be able to afford the costs of their property and therefore fear losing it. A recent survey reveals the extent of this concern: 16 percent see their financing as seriously at risk, a figure that rises to 24 percent among low-income families. Increasing interest rate pressure is driving

A battery fire on an electric truck transporting hazardous materials led to a complete closure of the A46 near Haan for several hours. The incident involved a hazardous materials transport using a modern high-voltage battery, prompting emergency services to completely close the A46. The electric truck caught fire after an accident, and the battery fire

Markus Söder is calling for a return to nuclear power, presenting himself as a champion of modern reactor technology. He justifies this by citing an allegedly existing Small Modular Reactor in Canada, using it as an argument for new nuclear power in Germany. However, this claim does not stand up to scrutiny. Not a single

Voith’s industrial restructuring is hitting Heidenheim hard. The company plans to cut 2,500 jobs as part of a comprehensive corporate reorganization. The job cuts, strategic realignment, rising energy costs, and increasing competitive pressure form the economic basis for this decision. Heidenheim is symbolic of the challenges facing Germany as an industrial location, as its mechanical

The state-owned company Deutsche Bahn plans to purchase Chinese electric buses, directly contradicting political demands for greater economic patriotism. Especially during a period of weak economic growth, leading politicians are calling for industrial responsibility, while the state-owned company is placing orders in China of all places. This decision simultaneously strains the debate surrounding electric buses,

The Czech population strongly supports the expansion of nuclear energy. According to a representative Ipsos survey, 77 percent of citizens favor the further development of nuclear power. At the same time, 93 percent agree with the goal of ensuring the country’s energy independence. Against this backdrop, the planned construction of two APR1000 pressurized water reactors

The European Commission is working on a plan that will fundamentally restructure company cars across Europe, as only purely electric vehicles are to be permitted from 2030 onwards. Gasoline, diesel, and hybrid vehicles will thus lose their eligibility for new registrations in company fleets. This step not only affects businesses but also the leasing market,

After protracted negotiations, automotive supplier Musashi and the IG Metall union reached an agreement on a comprehensive package, but this agreement offers no future for Hann. Münden. Despite the compromise, the plant will close, resulting in massive job losses. Around 190 people will lose their jobs in the town situated at the confluence of three