The Local Germany

'Until now it hasn't been talked about': Who were the East German victims of the Iron Curtain?

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 16:19:55 +0200

August 19th marks the 30th anniversary of a pivotal event that led to the fall the Iron Curtain. We remember the East Germans who tried to escape via the Bulgarian border in the years leading up to the end of communism.

Germany to extradite suspect in Bulgarian journalist killing: court

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 11:33:13 +0200

A German court said Friday that a man suspected of the rape and murder of Bulgarian television journalist Viktoria Marinova would be extradited to Bulgaria in the coming days.

Update: Suspect arrested in Germany over killing of Bulgaria journalist

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 10:44:44 +0200

Police in Germany have arrested a man in connection with the rape and brutal murder of Bulgarian journalist Viktoria Marinova, Bulgarian officials said Wednesday.

Ansbach suicide bomber was interviewed by Bulgarian TV

Thu, 28 Jul 2016 10:48:57 +0200

A Syrian who blew himself up outside a German music festival at the weekend was interviewed twice by Bulgarian television while living there in 2013, footage showed on Wednesday.

EU's poorest countries 'could join Schengen'

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 09:18:08 +0100

Germany on Monday said it was open to talks on allowing Romania and Bulgaria into the passport-free Schengen zone, which has been a delicate subject among European countries.

'Unemployed EU citizens can be expelled'

Thu, 27 Mar 2014 10:25:00 +0100

Germany has raised the prospect of expelling EU citizens who fail to find work and have no job prospects in the country.

Thousands exit Germany for Bulgaria and Romania

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:31:00 +0100

EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of Bulgarians and Romanians are leaving Germany each month to return home, putting into doubt fears of a mass immigration from eastern Europe to the country.

'Immigration flood hasn’t happened'

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 11:24:00 +0100

The supposed flood of Romanians arriving in Germany this January has not happened, the country's embassy in Berlin has told The Local.

'Jobless migrants must get German benefits'

Fri, 10 Jan 2014 10:49:00 +0100

UPDATE: The EU Commission believes Germany must make it easier for immigrants to claim unemployment benefit, according to reports on Friday. It comes as a poll shows support for the EU is at a record high in Germany.

Group to tackle benefit migrant fears

Thu, 09 Jan 2014 09:25:00 +0100

Germany's cabinet decided on Wednesday to set up a special committee tasked with tackling the potential problem of eastern European immigrants exploiting the benefit system.

Germany mulls Bulgaria, Romania migrant influx

Sun, 05 Jan 2014 09:53:00 +0100

Europe's top economy Germany is grappling with how to handle immigration from poor EU members Romania and Bulgaria now that their citizens can seek work anywhere within the bloc.

'Fingerprints for foreigners' sparks outcry

Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:19:00 +0100

The debate over Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants arriving in Germany reached a more sinister level on Friday, when one leading Conservative politician called for finger prints to be taken to stop eastern Europeans getting benefits.

MPs spar over eastern EU immigration fears

Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:45:00 +0100

Hours before immigration restrictions on people from Romania and Bulgaria coming to Germany are lifted, politicians are arguing over attempts to discourage those with poor work prospects from coming to the country.

Minister calls for 'poverty migrant' crackdown

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 18:41:00 +0200

Germany's interior minister said on Tuesday that Germany should be tougher on “poverty migrants", just days after hundreds of refugees were killed in an accident off the Italian coast.

Germany to Bulgaria: cut oligarch ties

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:31:00 +0200

German and French ambassadors to Bulgaria urged the country's leaders on Monday to sever links with oligarchs, as thousands continued to protest against corruption among the political elite.

Minister: time to throw out illegal immigrants

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:33:00 +0200

Germany's interior minister called on Friday for a tougher approach towards immigrants who appear to be in Germany just for the social support system. It was time, he said, to throw people out.

Migration increases as euro crisis bites

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:18:00 +0200

Germany is attracting ever more migrants as conditions at home worsen and the German job market continues to be strong, official figures revealed.

Interior minister: We need populism

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:19:00 +0100

Facing election this year, German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich seems to have gone off-piste over immigration, warning that populist measures are necessary to avoid the threat of fascism, comments Hannah Cleaver.

No to passport-free travel for Bulgaria, Romania

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 19:25:00 +0100

Germany will veto Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen passport-free zone if the two countries push their membership at an EU meeting this week, German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich warned on Sunday.

German bank reclaims 50 trains from Bulgaria over payment row

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:41:00 +0200

Germany's state development bank KfW has claimed back 50 Siemens trains leased to Bulgaria's state railways company BDZ over delayed payments and an insurance row, a press report said on Friday.