The Bundestag elections and the possible governing coalitions are also decisive for Europe and Germany's role in the EU. The parties' election programs form the basis for the exploratory talks. Europe.Table examines the programs and possible lines of conflict with a focus on European, climate and digital policy. Today's starting point: the joint government program of the CDU and CSU.
By Timo Landenberger
The human rights organization ECCHR had filed criminal charges against several German textile brands and retailers with the Federal Prosecutor General in Karlsruhe. The accusation: companies such as Hugo Boss and Lidl are said to have directly or indirectly profited from forced labor of Uyghurs in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. The lawsuit is the harbinger of increasing pressure on companies doing business in China. Now the companies are reacting.
By Felix Lee
Behind the scenes in Berlin, France's president is campaigning for a reform of the Stability Pact. But his liberal party friends, of all people, are giving him a raw deal. The FDP's possible participation in government is viewed critically in Paris.
By Till Hoppe
Jan Hecker was one of Angela Merkel's closest confidants. The Chancellor purposely sent her chief foreign policy advisor to Beijing, so that Germany would be represented by an experienced and decisive diplomat. Hecker has now passed unexpectedly after only a few days in office.
By Michael Radunski
Germany's company car fleet is among the dirtiest in Europe. Companies have little incentive to provide their employees with environmentally friendly cars. Transport organizations are thus demanding more tax breaks for EVs from the German government and higher carbon fleet limits from the EU.
By Lukas Knigge
German European policy suffers from lengthy coordination processes. The possible governing parties want to change that after the Bundestag elections. The CDU wants to make the Chancellor's Office the control center – but there is resistance.
By Till Hoppe
Alibaba, Tencent, and other major corporations came under heightened scrutiny by Beijing regulators. They are trying to win back the favor of President Xi Jinping with donations worth billions. The latter wants to redistribute wealth with a major campaign. Some economists warn that he could push it too far.
By Redaktion Table
Michael Schaefer looks back on many aspects of the German-Chinese exchange: he was both German ambassador to Beijing and head of a major charitable foundation in Germany. In an interview with China.Table, he explains why dialogue is currently floundering – and what paths can lead out of this impasse. Schaefer was one of the initiators of "Zukunftsbrücke – Chinese-German Young Professional Campus", which celebrated its tenth anniversary this weekend with an event in Berlin. Finn Mayer-Kuckuk spoke with Schaefer.
By
The US's plan to house Afghan refugees on Asian military bases has sparked a heated debate in South Korea. The question is whether the presence of US troops in the country is still relevant. A convenient debate for China. Due to tensions with North Korea, Seoul increasingly looking towards China.
By Frank Sieren
China has a plastic problem. Trash is everywhere, and a modern waste and recycling management system are only just in the works. Beijing wants to counteract this issue with bioplastics. Huge production capacities are planned. However, the benefits of bioplastics without industrial composting are limited, and there is the added problem of a lack of facilities.
By Christiane Kuehl
