Weekly Updates from the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)

Weekly Updates from the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)

The German Parliament, the Bundestag, is currently engaged in heated debates on several key legislative matters. Here's a rundown of the most significant developments:

1. The Federal Government's Action Plan The Bundestag is debating the federal government's action plan this week. The plan aims to further strengthen vocational education and promote digital procedures.
2. Digitalization of the Justice System Simultaneously, the German government's draft bill for further digitization of the justice system is being concluded. This includes simplifying electronic communication with courts and enabling parties to participate in criminal appeals via video conference.
3. Vocational Education Vocational education is gaining importance due to the skills shortage and the digital and socio-ecological transformation. The draft bill aims to reduce bureaucracy and make vocational training achievements more visible.
4. Building Statistics Act Amendment An amendment to the Building Statistics Act is now planned to improve the data basis and thus the possibilities for political steering. It is proposed to collect and publish building starts and completions monthly and quarterly.
5. Capital Investor Model Proceedings Act (KapMuG) The KapMuG, introduced in 2005, is set to expire on August 31, 2024. A Draft Bill of the Federal Government to amend the KapMuG is being debated this week. The reformed KapMuG will include the crypto sector and investment information in crowdfunding projects.
6. Homelessness The federal government, states, and municipalities will examine whether their housing subsidies adequately consider the target group of homeless people. The National Action Plan against Homelessness aims to bring together all levels to overcome homelessness in Germany for the first time. A National Forum against Homelessness has been established as an umbrella organization for all actors.
7. Queer Life Action Plan The "Queer Life" Action Plan is a key framework driving legal and social reforms enhancing LGBTIQ+ rights and protections in Germany. Despite progress on paper, societal acceptance issues and political resistance underscore that implementation and lived equality remain works in progress.
8. Reformed KapMuG The reformed KapMuG will accelerate the model procedure at the Higher Regional Courts by shortening statutory deadlines and avoiding duplicate work between the regional court and the Higher Regional Court. Criminal charges can be filed via email or online form in the future.
9. Construction Statistics Currently, building completions are only available annually and are not published until May of the following year, and building permits are only available annually. The new annual surveys of building starts, completions, and permits will enable more short-term observation of construction activity. No data on social housing or barrier-free housing is currently available in official statistics. It is planned to collect and publish data on these aspects annually, and new features such as barrier-free housing will be added.
10. Cross-Border Vocational Training Germany and France signed an agreement on cross-border vocational training last year. The agreement aims to facilitate the mobility of apprentices and trainees between the two countries.
11. Self-Determination Act The Self-Determination Act, effective since November 2024, allows trans, inter, and non-binary individuals to change their gender entries by self-declaration—a major step forward in recognizing gender identity rights.
12. Blood Donation Ban The lifting of the decades-old blood donation ban affecting gay, bisexual, and trans* people, starting September 2025, signifies concrete improvements in health-related rights and reductions of discriminatory practices.

References: [1] The Queer Life Action Plan [2] The Self-Determination Act [3] The Rainbow Map [4] The KapMuG

1. The Bundestag is deliberating on science and environmental-science, focusing on the digitalization of the justice system.
2. In the realm of education and self-development, vocational education is being emphasized due to the lack of skilled workers and the digital and socio-ecological transformation.
3. The Bundestag is discourse about the amendment to the Building Statistics Act, aiming to improve data for political decision-making.
4. The draft bill for the amendment of the KapMuG, expiring in 2024, is under debate, with plans to include the crypto sector and investment information in crowdfunding projects.
5. Politics and general-news are intertwined in discussions about housing subsidies and their adequacy for homeless individuals.
6. The implementation of the Queer Life Action Plan, driving legal and social reforms for LGBTIQ+ rights, faces challenges as societal acceptance issues and political resistance persist.
7. Finance is a Concern as the reformed KapMuG is being debated, with intentions to accelerate model procedure at the Higher Regional Courts.
8. Technology is a significant aspect of the planned amendments to the justice system, allowing parties to participate in criminal appeals via video conference.
9. The Bundestag is discussing the Cross-Border Vocational Training agreement between Germany and France, aimed at encouraging mobility among apprentices and trainees.
10. In the future, education and self-development will likely see improvements with the Self-Determination Act, which permits trans, inter, and non-binary individuals to change their gender entries by self-declaration.
11. General-news and politics are closely tied in the debate on the lifting of the blood donation ban affecting gay, bisexual, and trans* people starting in 2025.

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