Germany has launched NIWIS, a national low-water information system, as severe drought conditions persist. The platform aggregates data from hundreds of monitoring stations on river, groundwater, and soil moisture levels. The Environment Ministry reports Germany has lost 60 billion cubic meters of water in 25 years, equivalent to the volume of five major lakes. Economic damages from low water could reach €625 billion by 2050. A proposed law to protect natural infrastructure (NATIF) remains stalled in inter-ministerial coordination.

Rhineland-Palatinate Minister-President Gordon Schnieder apologized for the state's failure to protect citizens during the catastrophic 2021 Ahr Valley flood, which killed over 130 people. At a memorial event, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also spoke, with Steinmeier linking the disaster to climate change and calling for better preparedness. The reconstruction is ongoing, with only €6.2 billion of the €30 billion federal fund disbursed so far.

Uber has announced a public takeover of Berlin-based Delivery Hero at €41.50 per share, valuing the company at €12.7 billion. The deal, under negotiation since May, expands Uber's platform to 99 countries. Uber will acquire Delivery Hero's operations in 50 markets, while SSW Partners will acquire operations in 14 other markets, including Turkey, for around €1.4 billion. Uber has committed to investing €2 billion in Germany for local staff, autonomous vehicles, and automotive partnerships. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2027 and will face complex regulatory scrutiny.

A 16-year-old former student is in custody after stabbing two 13-year-old girls at a gymnasium in Schongau, Bavaria. The Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Extremism and Terrorism has taken over the investigation, citing evidence of an extremist motive. The suspect was already known to authorities for previous threats and glorification of school shootings.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig presented a 26-point action plan against tax and financial crime. Key measures include ending automatic penalty exemption for voluntary self-disclosure, reclassifying tax evasion as a felony, creating a joint center for tax investigation, extending document retention to 15 years, and introducing mandatory electronic cash registers in cash-intensive sectors. The government expects additional revenue of €1 billion next year.

German Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) is advancing a reform to limit the state child maintenance advance to children up to age 16, affecting about 80,000 children and saving 245 million euros at the federal level. The draft law, part of broader budget consolidation agreed between federal and state governments, is set to enter cabinet coordination in July. Prien defends the plan as a unanimous decision of all state premiers. Criticism persists from the SPD coalition partner and state leaders, including former family minister and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Minister President Manuela Schwesig, who opposed the cut. Additionally, Kanzleramtsminister Thorsten Frei proposed a gross income cap of 4,500–5,000 euros for eligibility.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Finland to assess NATO's northern flank security. He toured the closed Finnish-Russian border, which Helsinki shut in 2023 after Russia weaponized migration, and a border patrol vessel. Wadephul expressed understanding for Finland's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines, citing the threat from Russia. He praised Finland's comprehensive civil defense preparations, including underground shelters for 4.8 million people, and acknowledged Germany's neglect of civil defense since the Cold War. The visit underscored close German-Finnish cooperation on Baltic Sea security and hybrid threats from Russia.

The German cabinet approved the financial plan for the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF), a special fund financing climate and energy transition measures. The government plans to cut micro-projects and introduce social scaling in subsidies for e-cars and heat pumps. A controversial element is the diversion of 2.7 billion euros in 2027 (13 billion by 2030) from emissions trading revenues from the KTF to the general budget to plug fiscal gaps, drawing criticism from Greens and environmental groups who accuse the coalition of undermining climate action.

Five years after the catastrophic July 2021 flood that killed 135 people in Germany's Ahr Valley, reconstruction is underway with billions in state and federal funding. Measures include a new 480-meter retaining wall in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, redesigned bridges, restored floodplains, and plans for 17 new retention dams up to 25 meters high at a projected cost of over €1.5 billion. The effort aims to build back better against future extreme floods, though full implementation will take decades. Local residents are also taking individual precautions such as flood barriers and sandbags.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) re-elected co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla at its federal congress in Erfurt in July 2026, strengthening its hardline wing. Now, the federal leadership, led by Weidel and Chrupalla, has demanded that the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) state board cancel and restart the entire candidate selection process for the 2027 state election, citing chaos, threats, and pressure on delegates during a meeting in Marl. The move aims to prevent a legal challenge to the party's state list and to defuse a power struggle between factions supporting Weidel and Chrupalla. The NRW state leadership, led by Martin Vincentz, has signaled it will defy the demand, with the convention set to resume on Friday.

Germany's second 'Relief Cabinet' session approved a package of measures to cut bureaucracy by €600 million per year. The package includes lifting truck driving bans on non-uniform public holidays across federal states, abolishing environmental badges for electric cars, reducing mandatory equipment inspections to only risk-potential cases, digitizing medical referrals (with electronic prescriptions by September 2029), enabling video conferences with job centers, and allowing binding agreements via email with the Federal Employment Agency. The government aims to reduce bureaucratic costs by 25% (€16 billion) by the end of the legislative term and is analyzing 25,000 citizen suggestions from the 'Einfach machen' portal. Business associations welcomed the steps but urged more ambitious 'game-changers', particularly systematic reduction of reporting and documentation obligations.

In an interview, geographer Thomas Roggenkamp warns that Germany is well-prepared for small and medium floods but lacks experience with extreme events like the 2021 Ahr Valley disaster. He argues that climate change will make such extreme floods more frequent, requiring better early warning systems, retention basins, and a shift in planning away from relying solely on historical data.

The German government's planned reform of statutory health insurance introduces budgeting for psychotherapeutic services, replacing the current demand-driven billing system. Psychotherapy associations warn that this will exacerbate already long waiting times, as practices may limit sessions or prioritize private patients. Health economist Michael Wessels argues the reform improves cost predictability and quality assurance. The reform also abolishes minimum fees and appropriateness reviews, creating uncertainty for practitioners. Ongoing therapies are expected to continue, but new patients may face longer delays.

Germany's head of armaments, Carsten Stawitzki, criticized the EU's push for a single European defense market, arguing it stifles technological competition. He advocated for funding multiple competing prototypes, citing Ukraine's wartime procurement model. Germany is opening a BAAINBw office in Brussels to influence EU regulations, while prioritizing rapid national procurement to deter a potential Russian attack by 2029.

Five years after the catastrophic Ahr Valley flood that killed 135 people, Germany continues to address shortcomings in civil protection revealed by the disaster. The state of Rhineland-Palatinate has installed over 850 new sirens, acquired rescue helicopters with winches, and established a new state office for fire and disaster protection. However, the Ahrweiler district only recently adopted an alarm and evacuation plan. The former district administrator faced investigation for negligent homicide but charges were dropped, sparking criticism from victims' families.

Severely low water levels on the Rhine, Elbe, and Danube rivers are disrupting freight and passenger shipping in Germany. Cargo vessels are forced to carry lighter loads, increasing transport costs and requiring more ships. A hotel ship ran aground in Bonn. The situation highlights infrastructure vulnerability to climate conditions.