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Merz calls for a fresh start, yet concrete measures fail to materialize
On Wednesday evening in Arnsberg, at a CDU event, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a new departure for Germany. This message was also aimed at his own party, as speculation regarding a change in the chancellorship is undermining his authority. His appearance—marking the 80th anniversary of the Neheim-Hüsten Program—was intended to demonstrate strong leadership.…
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BASF Cost-Cutting Program CoreShift – Chemical Giant Plans Further Job Cuts
On May 20, 2026, the chemical group BASF announced the “CoreShift” cost-cutting program in Ludwigshafen, thereby confirming further job cuts within the corporation. The group aims to reduce cash-relevant fixed costs in its core business by up to 20 percent by 2029, compared to 2024 levels. The four core segments—Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition…
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From Skilled Worker Shortage to Hiring Freeze—Germany’s Labor Market Takes a Turn
In May 2026, Germany is experiencing a distinct shift in its labor market. The unemployment rate stands at 6.4 percent, and more than three million people are actively seeking work. Many companies are responding to a weak economy, high costs, industry-specific challenges, and automation by implementing hiring freezes. Entry-level professionals, university graduates, and job seekers…
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Evosoft Faces Closure – 377 Jobs at Siemens Subsidiary in Franconia at Risk
Siemens subsidiary Evosoft is reportedly set to cease operations. According to media reports, 377 jobs in Nuremberg and Erlangen are affected. This development impacts a region where Siemens is already restructuring several of its divisions. The decision appears not to be driven solely by current market conditions; new internal corporate rules regarding contract allocation may…
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Green Steel in Crisis – Germany’s Steelworks Struggle to Find Buyers
In Germany, the transformation of the steel industry has stalled because “green steel”—despite planned investments amounting to billions—is finding few customers willing to pay for it. Major steelworks in Duisburg, Bremen, Eisenhüttenstadt, Salzgitter, and the Saarland are affected. The situation is driven by high electricity costs, expensive hydrogen, and weak demand from key industrial sectors.…
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New Packaging Ordinance Burdens Manufacturers, Retailers, and SMEs with Increased Bureaucracy
Effective August 12, 2026, Brussels is tightening packaging regulations within the EU. At that time, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will become directly applicable in all Member States. In Germany, it will supersede key provisions of the existing Packaging Act. The EU justifies this move by citing the need to foster a circular…
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Solar Parks on Agricultural Land—Fertile Farmland Could Be Permanently Lost
An Italian soil study from 2022 provides the technical core of the debate surrounding solar farms on agricultural land: after just seven years of ground-mounted photovoltaics, researchers discovered significantly depleted soils beneath the modules. This calls into question the widespread assumption that farmland can be easily cleared and returned to agricultural use after 30 to…
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Bosch Sacrifices Its Home Market – 22,000 Jobs Cut So the Group Can Survive
In 2026, operating from its base in Gerlingen, Bosch is set to radically restructure its automotive business. Within its Mobility division in Germany, approximately 22,000 jobs are slated to be cut. The driving factors behind this move are weak financial results, substantial provisions, and the rapid transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. As…
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British Government Acknowledges Environmental Impact of Wind Turbines and Solar Parks
In the UK, internal government documents reveal significant environmental consequences resulting from the accelerated expansion of wind turbines and solar farms under Energy Minister Ed Miliband. The dossier came to light through requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act. It identifies risks to protected areas, landscapes, historic sites, biodiversity, and water resources. Furthermore, there…
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Despite Sanctions – UK Eases Imports of Russian-Origin Kerosene, Diesel, and LNG
On Wednesday, the UK is easing its sanctions rules in London regarding Russian-origin kerosene, diesel, and LNG, as the war in Ukraine strains oil supplies and drives up energy prices. The government is authorizing fuel imports provided that refineries in third countries have processed Russian crude oil. At the same time, it is creating temporary…
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Loan for China – Germany Funds Environmental Project with €70 Million
On May 19, 2026, Germany and China agreed upon a new environmental financing initiative in Berlin. To this end, the KfW is providing a loan of approximately 70 million euros. The funds are intended to improve water quality in the heavily polluted Hanjiang River. For decades, plastic waste, sewage, and contaminated stormwater runoff have been…
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Foreign Investment Continues to Decline – Germany Loses Ground in the Competition for Business Locations
In 2025, Germany once again records a decline in foreign investment. According to a recent EY analysis of Germany as a business location, foreign companies announced only 548 projects—representing a ten percent decrease. At the same time, this marks the eighth consecutive year of this negative trend. The figure has reached its lowest level since…
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Venator Closes Plant in Krefeld – Around 400 Jobs Lost at Chempark Uerdingen
In Krefeld-Uerdingen, the chemical company Venator is closing its site within the Chempark at the end of May, after the insolvency administrator failed to find a buyer and production there had already been halted since September 2025. Consequently, more than 380 employees will lose their jobs. This brings to an end a months-long search for…
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“I Don’t Need Figures” – Klingbeil Defends Multi-Billion-Euro Course on Renewable Energies
In Berlin, on May 20, 2026, Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil defended the government’s course on renewable energies in the Bundestag. The catalyst was a question posed by AfD MP Rainer Kraft during the government question hour. Kraft demanded to know the concrete impact of 100 billion euros in taxpayer funds on the rise…
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Broadcast Contribution Fee in Court – Model Lawsuit Could Save Taxpayers Money
A test case regarding the tax deductibility of the broadcasting contribution has been pending before the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Fiscal Court since 2026. The Taxpayers Association is supporting the lawsuit under file number 1 K 67/26. The case was triggered by a taxpayer who claimed a deduction of €220.32—contributions paid in 2024—in their income tax return. However,…