https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Almost half of European small and medium companies struggle to find workers with the skills they need but recruitment outside the EU remains “limited” and “too difficult”, a recent Eurobarometer survey published by the European Commission had shown. https://www.thelocal.de/20260603/how-companies-in-europe-are-struggling-to-recruit-workers-from-outside-the-eu Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:49:22 +0200 how-companies-in-europe-are-struggling-to-recruit-workers-from-outside-the-eu Around six million people visit Germany's Kölner Dom or Cologne Cathedral every year. Admission has so far been free – but from July this will change. https://www.thelocal.de/20260603/cologne-cathedral-to-charge-tourists-e12-for-entry Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:02:28 +0200 cologne-cathedral-to-charge-tourists-e12-for-entry A woman who suffered abuse over a period of 16 years is now trying to challenge Germany's five-year statute of limitations on those crimes. https://www.thelocal.de/20260603/german-alleged-rape-victim-challenges-time-limit-on-abuse-cases Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:53:28 +0200 german-alleged-rape-victim-challenges-time-limit-on-abuse-cases More people than ever are turning to Germany's Anti-Discrimination Agency, new figures show. The number of reports of discrimination rose to 13,067 in 2025 – around 15 percent more than the previous year. https://www.thelocal.de/20260603/more-intense-and-overt-germany-sees-rise-in-reports-of-racism Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:25:22 +0200 more-intense-and-overt-germany-sees-rise-in-reports-of-racism Two members of the far-right AfD are traveling to an economic forum in St. Petersburg this week, while critics accuse the party of representing Russia's interests more than Germany's. https://www.thelocal.de/20260602/alternative-for-germany-members-attend-russia-meeting-despite-criticism Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:41:36 +0200 alternative-for-germany-members-attend-russia-meeting-despite-criticism Nippon Connection, the world’s largest festival for Japanese cinema, is taking place in Frankfurt this week. We spoke to a fan in Germany to find out what's on and how to enjoy it. https://www.thelocal.de/20260602/nippon-connection-what-to-know-about-frankfurts-japanese-film-festival Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:51:55 +0200 nippon-connection-what-to-know-about-frankfurts-japanese-film-festival The European Commission on Tuesday asked nine countries in the Schengen area, including France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Denmark and Norway to phase out internal border checks, which have been reinstated in some cases for years. https://www.thelocal.de/20260602/eu-calls-on-nine-european-countries-to-scrap-internal-schengen-border-checks Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:10:21 +0200 eu-calls-on-nine-european-countries-to-scrap-internal-schengen-border-checks Record numbers are leaving Berlin, while international arrivals keep the city growing. But with only modest growth expected, the real story is how quickly its population – and character – are shifting. https://www.thelocal.de/20260520/record-number-of-departures-from-berlin-reveals-a-city-in-flux Wed, 20 May 2026 11:15:56 +0200 record-number-of-departures-from-berlin-reveals-a-city-in-flux Hamburg has withdrawn from the race to host the Summer Olympics in either 2036, 2040 or 2044 after residents rejected the idea at a referendum on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260601/hamburg-withdraws-olympics-bid-after-referendum-defeat Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:16:13 +0200 hamburg-withdraws-olympics-bid-after-referendum-defeat New smoking restrictions have come into force in Baden-Württemberg, extending bans to many outdoor spaces and adding the use of e-cigarettes. Here’s how the state's smoking rules have changed. https://www.thelocal.de/20260601/baden-wurttemberg-expands-smoking-bans-in-public-spaces Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:34:17 +0200 baden-wurttemberg-expands-smoking-bans-in-public-spaces On 'World No Tobacco Day', we take a look at Germany's smoking policies - where it's allowed, where it isn't, and why relaxed laws on lighting up can be a major culture shock for foreigners. https://www.thelocal.de/20240531/why-does-germany-still-have-such-lax-rules-on-smoking Fri, 31 May 2024 13:36:06 +0200 why-does-germany-still-have-such-lax-rules-on-smoking The finance ministers of the European Union's six biggest economies said Friday they had agreed on steps to better integrate financial markets and make investments flow seamlessly across the bloc. https://www.thelocal.de/20260530/biggest-eu-economies-agree-on-steps-for-financial-integration Sat, 30 May 2026 16:00:27 +0200 biggest-eu-economies-agree-on-steps-for-financial-integration A protest in Austria on Saturday against noise and pollution blocked one of Europe's most important highways connecting Germany and Italy but early reports showed traffic disruptions were not as bad as feared. https://www.thelocal.de/20260530/austria-protest-to-shut-key-european-highway Sat, 30 May 2026 10:53:09 +0200 austria-protest-to-shut-key-european-highway Flights were suspended for around an hour at Munich airport on Saturday due to a suspected drone sighting, police and airport authorities told AFP. https://www.thelocal.de/20260530/flights-suspended-at-munich-airport-due-to-drone-sighting Sat, 30 May 2026 10:26:18 +0200 flights-suspended-at-munich-airport-due-to-drone-sighting The German government Friday dismissed rumours that Chancellor Friedrich Merz's rivals were laying the groundwork to oust him as his popularity craters, reforms stall and the far right gains in strength. https://www.thelocal.de/20260530/chancellor-swap-rumours-swirl-about-german-leader-merzs-future Sat, 30 May 2026 08:39:06 +0200 chancellor-swap-rumours-swirl-about-german-leader-merzs-future A former German transport minister faces a perjury trial related to a failed scheme to charge foreign motorists highway tolls, a debacle that cost the government hundreds of millions of euros. https://www.thelocal.de/20260529/german-ex-minister-faces-perjury-charges-over-failed-car-toll-plan Fri, 29 May 2026 14:27:49 +0200 german-ex-minister-faces-perjury-charges-over-failed-car-toll-plan Americans in Germany - we want to hear from you. Take a minute to share your questions and offer advice on what Americans need to know about life in Germany or moving here. Tell us if there are any bureaucratic or cultural issues you need The Local to explore or explain. https://www.thelocal.de/20260522/american-readers-tell-us-the-main-obstacles-around-living-in-germany Fri, 22 May 2026 12:36:36 +0200 american-readers-tell-us-the-main-obstacles-around-living-in-germany Netflix and other streaming services on Thursday criticised a German plan requiring platforms to reinvest a share of locally generated revenue as part of efforts to support domestic film production. https://www.thelocal.de/20260528/netflix-criticises-german-plan-to-make-streamers-invest-more-locally Thu, 28 May 2026 16:48:24 +0200 netflix-criticises-german-plan-to-make-streamers-invest-more-locally Foreign residents would gain the right to vote after five years in Germany under a new proposal. The move potentially gives millions a political voice but has also sparked sharp political opposition. https://www.thelocal.de/20260528/left-party-calls-for-voting-rights-for-foreigners-in-germany Thu, 28 May 2026 12:40:37 +0200 left-party-calls-for-voting-rights-for-foreigners-in-germany In a significant legal shift, customers of businesses known to exploit workers could also face criminal liability going forward as Germany strengthens its human trafficking protections. https://www.thelocal.de/20260528/customers-on-the-hook-as-germany-tightens-human-trafficking-laws Thu, 28 May 2026 12:29:13 +0200 customers-on-the-hook-as-germany-tightens-human-trafficking-laws