Parliamentary gathering in Germany this week
The German Bundestag is set to discuss a series of significant bills this week, including the ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada, the expansion of renewable energies, and the extension of the German Armed Forces mandate in Kosovo.
CETA Ratification
The Bundestag will hold the first reading of the CETA ratification bill this week, with Germany yet to fully ratify the agreement at the national level. CETA, if fully ratified, would offer expanded market access, tariff reductions, investment opportunities, and regulatory cooperation between Canada and the EU, including Germany. However, the agreement faces political, regulatory, and public challenges that have delayed its complete adoption.
Renewable Energy Expansion
The Bundestag will also debate the Renewable Energy Act (EEG), which aims to prioritise renewable energies and raise the expansion target for renewable energies to 80 percent of Germany's gross electricity consumption by 2030. Additionally, a draft bill to increase and accelerate the expansion of onshore wind turbines will be discussed, setting binding area targets for the federal states for the first time.
Kosovo Mandate Extension
The Bundestag will advise on a government application for the extension of the German Armed Forces mandate in Kosovo, where they have been engaged in the framework of the NATO-led international security presence for over 20 years.
COVID-19 Protection Act and Vaccination Ordinance
A draft bill for a COVID-19 Protection Act will be discussed in the first reading this week, extending the legal basis for the Federal Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination and testing ordinances until the end of 2022. The vaccination ordinance will continue to apply until the end of 2023 in pharmacies, dental and veterinary practices.
Other Developments
- The Expert Commission on Research and Innovation (EFI) has submitted a report to the Bundesregierung with recommendations for a new, comprehensive research and innovation strategy.
- The coalition factions are making the format of virtual annual general meetings possible in the future for corporations and related legal forms.
- The draft bill to improve trade and investment opportunities between the EU and Canada through CETA will be debated this week, particularly through regulated market access for goods and services and better investment protection through an independent investment court.
- Croatia has fulfilled all four required convergence criteria for the introduction of the euro as a means of payment and can join the European Economic and Monetary Union starting from January 1, 2023, subject to approval from the EU finance ministers.
- The 2022 Federal Report on Research and Innovation (BuFI) will be presented to the Bundestag this week, detailing Germany's research and innovation policy.
- The draft bill for a COVID-19 Protection Act will be discussed in the first reading this week, extending the legal basis for the Federal Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination and testing ordinances until the end of 2022.
- The vaccination ordinance will continue to apply until the end of 2023 in pharmacies, dental and veterinary practices.
- The Bundestag is extending the application period of the corresponding regulation in the rules of procedure (GO-BT) to continue to enable digital participation in committee meetings.
- The coalition factions are making efforts to improve the participation of women, marginalized groups, and the younger generation, and to protect human rights activists, journalists, trade unionists, environmentalists, and representatives of indigenous or Afro-Colombian communities.
- States will be given a legal basis to issue their own regulations on hygiene and infection protection in the care sector to better protect vulnerable groups.
These developments underscore the German government's commitment to advancing key policy areas, from trade and renewable energy to digital participation and human rights.
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