German Embassy in Tehran Suspends All Visa Services Amid Security Concerns
Munich Security Conference Turns City Centre Into ‘Fortress’—5,000 Police and Transport Restrictions for Delegates
EU Unveils First-Ever Visa Strategy—Germany, France, Spain and Italy to Synchronise Digital Entry Systems
Latest News
Row in Saxony-Anhalt Over Whether Young Ukrainian Refugees Should Return Home
Saxony-Anhalt’s premier has called for young Ukrainian men in Germany to return home and aid reconstruction, drawing a swift rebuke from his own labour minister, who says their skills are vital to the local economy. The spat adds uncertainty to the status of roughly 1.2 million Ukrainians living and working in Germany under EU Temporary Protection.
German Cities Warn Cuts to Integration Courses Will Slow Labour Market Entry for Newcomers
The German Association of Cities says federal budget cuts that limit publicly funded integration courses to mandatory participants will undermine language acquisition and delay newcomers’ entry into the workforce. Municipalities fear higher welfare costs, while employers may need to cover private training to secure talent.
Lufthansa Restores Schedule After Dual Pilot-Cabin-Crew Strike Grounds 100,000 Travellers
Flights at Germany’s biggest airline are back on schedule after a one-day strike by both pilot and cabin-crew unions cancelled nearly 800 services on 12 February. Frankfurt handled a record 1,160 take-offs and landings on Friday to clear the backlog. Companies should expect further collective-bargaining turbulence this spring and keep alternative routing options ready.
Munich Security Conference Triggers 5,000-Officer Operation and Temporary Airspace Closure
The Munich Security Conference (13–15 February) has prompted Germany’s biggest security deployment of the year, including a temporary no-fly zone, rolling motorway closures and rerouted surface transport around the city centre. Business travellers should expect airport slot constraints and allow extra time for hotel transfers.
Security Incident Halts All Departures at Cologne/Bonn Airport
Federal Police temporarily closed Cologne/Bonn Airport’s entire departures area on the morning of 13 February after an un-screened passenger entered the secure zone. Flights were suspended for roughly two hours before normal operations resumed, causing delays across the domestic and short-haul European network.