Volume of eight billion euros Immediate climate program decided

Status: 23.06.2021 12:01 p.m.

The federal cabinet has launched an emergency program for climate protection. The program has a volume of eight billion euros – the promotion of energy-efficient buildings is the largest item. The federal government has decided on a so-called immediate program for climate protection worth a good eight billion euros. The program is part of the federal budget for 2022, presented by Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz. The climate finance plan is intended to help promote the switch to climate-friendly technologies and to achieve the federal government’s new climate targets.

Largest amount for energy-efficient buildings

The package of measures includes around three dozen funding programs for investments, for example in the building, energy and transport sectors, most of which will be allocated to the years 2022 and 2023. With 4.5 billion euros in the next two years, the largest sum is to go into promoting energy-efficient buildings. A total of one billion euros will also be earmarked for climate-friendly social housing in the coming years; 150 million euros should be available for this in 2022. The plan also includes the plan to raise the minimum energy standards for new buildings.

Hundreds of millions for climate protection contracts

The federal government intends to provide another larger amount – 650.2 million euros – for climate protection agreements with industry. These contracts are state funding programs that are intended to offset the additional costs for climate-friendly production, for example for the use of green hydrogen. The steel industry is to receive 100 million euros for converting its blast furnaces to hydrogen-based production processes. The total funding for industry amounts to 860 million euros. There are also more than a billion more for traffic. For example, more than 300 million euros have been budgeted for the expansion of the cycling infrastructure.

Scholz speaks of “money well invested”

After the cabinet decision, the Federal Finance Minister spoke of a “clear signal”: Germany should “become a pioneer in climate protection”. He praised the plan as “money well spent”. Man-made climate change is “the greatest challenge of our time”, continued Scholz.

In the past two years, the federal government had already invested more than 80 billion euros in climate protection projects. The financial plan that has now been adopted is a template for the coming legislative period. Only then can the Bundestag deal with it again within the framework of budget deliberations and adopt the program

Draft budget of the federal government Cabinet approves of high New debt

Status: 23.06.2021 12:18 p.m.

The federal government will also take on massive debts in the coming year. The cabinet approved the draft budget, which provides for new borrowing of almost 100 billion euros for 2022. The debt brake will be suspended again for this. The federal cabinet has approved the government draft for the federal budget for 2022. Once again, the approved budget is shaped by the consequences of the Corona crisis. According to the draft, the federal government wants to incur more new debts in the coming year than previously planned. A net borrowing of 99.7 billion euros is planned, as can be seen from a cabinet proposal. The high level of new borrowing is justified with additional spending as a result of the corona pandemic, for example for corporate aid and to stabilize social contributions.

Debts grow to 470 billion euros

In the benchmarks presented in March, the Ministry of Finance had expected a net borrowing of 81.5 billion euros for 2022. Tax revenues remain below pre-crisis levels. This would mean that the mountain of debt accumulated by the corona pandemic between 2020 and 2022 would grow to around 470 billion euros. However, there are now plans to increase spending on climate protection and health, for example. The federal government had already taken on billions in new debts in 2020 and 2021. The budget plans are, so to speak, subject to change, because the new Bundestag elected in autumn has to pass the budget. There could therefore still be significant changes.

Debt brake suspended again

According to the draft, the debt brake anchored in the Basic Law will also be suspended in the coming year against the background of the Corona crisis. It stipulates that the federal government may only take out new loans to a very small extent – a maximum of 0.35 percent of economic output. According to the draft, the federal government no longer wants to make use of the exemption from 2023. In the afternoon, Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wants to present his budget plan

Business support Only a few corona aid accessed

Status: 06/17/2021 10:08 a.m.

The federal government had made available 150 billion euros for companies as corona aid in grant programs – according to the Ifo Institute, just 24 percent of this was accessed. Companies in Germany have so far called on much less Corona aid than planned by the federal government. “Only a fraction of the budgeted aid was paid out to the companies affected by the corona pandemic,” said Selina Schulze-Spüntrup, researcher at the Ifo Institute. “That also has to do with the fact that some of the eligibility requirements were formulated quite strictly to rule out abuse.” According to the information, the federal government provided 150 billion euros in grant programs. Of this, 24 percent have so far been accessed. For emergency aid from the federal government, 50 billion euros were estimated, according to Ifo, less than a third of it was used.

Bridging aids were also not exhausted

In the case of the subsequent bridging aid, too, the money paid out was well below the budgeted amount: According to economic researchers, it was 6 percent for bridging aid I, around 10 percent for bridging aid II, and a good 28 percent for bridging aid III.

56 percent of the available funds were paid out of the November aid, 33 percent of the December aid. The state-owned KfW Bank has so far pledged 46 billion euros from its special program.

Employees spied on for years Million fine for Ikea in France

Status: 15.06.2021 1:44 p.m.

For years, Ikea had spied out unpleasant employees in France and created customer profiles. Two former managers have now been found guilty – and the furniture store has to pay a fine of more than one million euros. In the process of spying on staff and customers, Ikea was fined one million euros in France. The judges at the court in Versailles found that the French Ikea subsidiary had carried out espionage between 2009 and 2012 to investigate unpleasant employees and create profiles of disgruntled customers. Unions accused Ikea France of fraudulently collecting personal data, particularly through illegally obtained police files, and of divulging personal information without permission. Company lawyers denied that the company had any “general espionage” strategy.

“It’s a symbol”

Abel Amara, a former Ikea employee who helped expose the crackdown, called the ruling a major step in citizens’ defense. “I am glad that there is justice in France,” he said. A trade union lawyer, Solène Debarre, expressed hope that the verdict “will shake some companies”. “A million isn’t much for Ikea, but it’s a symbol,” said Debarre.

December 18, 2017

Private security company took care of the data

The disclosure sheet “Canard enchaîné” reported in 2012 about a systematic spying. The security department of the French Ikea subsidiary commissioned a private security company in 2003 to provide the company with some confidential data on staff and applicants – such as information on possible criminal records or bank statements. Similar information is said to have been requested from customers who were involved in a legal dispute with Ikea. The FO union then filed a complaint against unknown persons about the illegal use of personal data.

Probation and fine

The manager, who was responsible for risk management at the time, admitted in court that 530,000 to 630,000 euros had been allocated annually for such investigations. The instructions to his department had come from the former CEO of Ikea France, Jean-Louis Baillot. This denied the allegations, but was sentenced to a fine of 50,000 euros and two years in prison. Another former responsible received 18 months probation and a fine of 10,000 euros. Of the other 13 defendants, some were acquitted, while others were also given parole. The Swedish group distanced itself from the alleged practices. After the investigation began in 2012, Ikea fired four managers and changed its internal policies. Several civil suits by unions and 74 employees are pending. After the judgment, the company said it had taken note of the decision. You now allow us to look ahead.

Ex-manager in the diesel scandal 288 million euros in damages for VW

As of: 06/09/2021 4:07 p.m.

The diesel scandal is getting expensive for former VW managers: ex-boss Winterkorn and other former top people have to pay 288 million euros in compensation to Volkswagen – and still expect lawsuits. Former CEO Martin Winterkorn and three other ex-top managers are paying record compensation to Volkswagen because of the diesel scandal. In the final agreement, an amount of just under 288 million euros had been agreed, the company said. However, the majority of the sum is covered by specialized liability insurance.

270 million euros from insurance companies

The former CEO Winterkorn personally pays 11.2 million euros. Ex-Audi boss and VW board member Rupert Stadler is to transfer 4.1 million euros himself. With him and Winterkorn it is about the violation of stock corporation law due diligence. The former Porsche board member Wolfgang Hatz also contributes 1.5 million euros, the former Audi manager Stefan Knirsch 1 million euros. The managers’ insurers generate 270 million euros. In addition to the lawyers of the former managers, more than 30 insurers were involved in the negotiations.

No agreement with Hackenberg

Both the personal payments and the insured coverage would result in “by far the highest sum that such a consortium has ever put on the table in Germany,” said negotiators. VW had also demanded compensation from ex-head of development Ulrich Hackenberg. However, he was not ready to reach an agreement, which is why legal steps should now be prepared against him.

General assembly has to decide

Volkswagen decided in March to hold Winterkorn, Stadler and other former executives in the group financially responsible for breaches of stock corporation law during the diesel scandal. The payments, which have now been agreed with the ex-managers, could put a provisional end in the years of processing individual responsibilities in the emissions affair. VW announced that the supervisory board had already approved the agreement on Saturday. The final decision still has to be made by the general meeting, which will be convened for July 22nd.

Charge of false testimony

However, the VW group and the ex-managers have agreed on the compensation outside of the civil or criminal litigation. However, further questions have to be clarified before the courts themselves in ongoing or upcoming proceedings. For example, the Berlin public prosecutor’s office brought charges against Winterkorn for making a false statement in the Bundestag’s investigative committee into the emissions affair. The authority announced that he should have “deliberately given false information” to the question at which point in time he was informed about the use of software to manipulate the emission values. Winterkorn also has to answer before the Regional Court of Braunschweig – because of the diesel scandal itself. There it is a charge of commercial and gang fraud. Winterkorn has already rejected the allegation.

So far, the scandal has cost VW 32 billion euros

The diesel scandal caught up with Volkswagen and other German car manufacturers in autumn 2015. VW admitted relatively early on that it had installed software in certain diesel engines that only reduced nitrogen oxide emissions on the test bench, but not in road traffic. There have been several trials around the world. Consumer advocates also dealt with the origin of the scandal. As a result, VW had to pay compensation and court costs of around 32 billion euros.

From Peter Mücke, ARD Studio New York The most expensive sneakers of all time cost $ 1.8 million, the equivalent of around one and a half million euros. The US rapper Kanye West had worn the black leather shoes “Yeezy 1” at the 2008 Grammy Awards. A marketing coup by the manufacturer Nike, which until then had only named sneakers after athletes. Allegedly, the musician is said to have helped design the sneaker, which was then named after his nickname: Yeezy.

Limited edition available since 2009

The shoe came onto the market in a limited edition in 2009, followed by a successor model in 2012. After that, Kanye West ended its collaboration with Nike on the grounds that it did not get enough of the income. He is now under contract with German competitor Adidas. The pair “Yeezy 1” worn by West previously belonged to shoe collector Ryan Chang, who has now put them up for auction. The new owner is the sneaker investment platform “Rares”. There, buyers can acquire shares in rare sports shoes, similar to how shareholders can acquire shares in a company.

Previous record for Michael “Air” Jordan

Historical sneakers had recently repeatedly fetched high prices at auctions. Previous record holder: Michael Jordan basketball shoes for $ 615,000. Kanye West’s sneakers have now changed hands for three times the sum.