2024-08-03 09:42:41
In Germany this week we have some news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you may not have heard about. It is published every Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the subscription box in this article.
German cities see an increase in citizenship applications
It has been over a month since the citizenship laws were changed. People who are naturalized in Germany can now keep their original passport, while previously many non-EU nationals had to renounce their nationality to become German. Residents can also apply to become German after five years of living in the country instead of the previous eight.
Everyone expects that the number of applications will rise after the law change. But new figures were reported this week for some people into just as many foreign residents are taking holes to become German.
From July 27th to July 21st, Berlin received over 5,000 applications, according to figures compiled by the German news agency DPA. By comparison, there were only 1,707 applications at the same time last year in Berlin – that equates to an increase of about 193 percent.
According to figures compiled by Bild newspaper, around 2,031 people submitted applications in Hamburg in the past four weeks, compared to 1,153 at the same time a year ago.
Other parts of Germany have also seen a spike in the need for innovation.
Applicants should be prepared for a long and drawn out process. CITIZEN OFFICES We have been struggling with huge backlogs for a year.
Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. German applicants in the capital face long waits. Photo: alliance art/dpa | Jonathan Penschek
Many managers are trying to deal with the problems by bringing in new employees and improving processes.
The process of obtaining citizenship in Germany can take anywhere from a few months to many years in other cases.
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Recently some good news from Berlin, though. The immigration office there says it has significantly reduced processing times for applications with its new digital system introduced earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the new law this week should result in the management of tasks in Germany become easier. The Internet Access Reform Act sets the framework for further reform of the authorities and is central to user-friendly and fully digital processes, according to the government.
It should mean fewer trips to local authority offices by allowing people to file bureaucracy online – and it’s certainly been a long time coming.
Summer ‘silly season’ and closures
We’re in August and you’ve already noticed it – the streets are quiet and few people seem to be around. July and August are months when Europeans often take long vacations.
In Germany, that means local businesses – such as restaurants, cafes and shops – close for weeks at a time. You will find notices on the doors and windows telling the customer that they are ‘on holiday’ (at rest).
Now start again’winter’ (summer slump), also known as ‘silly season’ in English. It is often used by the media during the holidays when it is difficult to find stories because many people are away, including politicians.
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Another good German word for this time is ‘the Pickle season’, which means ‘pickle time’. It dates back to the 18th century, when pickles from the Spreewald region in Brandenburg would stock the shelves in Berlin during the late summer (more on pickles below!)
READ ALSO: 8 ways to enjoy summer like a German
Local delicacies galore
This picture of local German snacks shows how different the food offering is here in Deutschland. How many have you tried?
This is the map that makes me miss Germany the most! Source: pic.twitter.com/J6PWdSirfO
– Simon Kuestenmacher (@simongerman600) July 31, 2024
Pickle Mania in Spreewald
Speaking of local favorites, I’m happy to accept the humble ones Cucumber on a recent trip to Lübbenau in Brandenburg.
The Spreewald region is famous for its winding waterways, pickles and the various dips and oils that come with them.
The Spreewald is so rich in biodiversity that the area was given the title of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1991. Around 50,000 people live in the area in 37 villages and the towns of Lübben, Lübbenau and Vetschau.
Just over an hour from Berlin by train, Lübbenau is the perfect place to enjoy a nature retreat.
An athlete’s statue outside a tourist shop in Lübbenau, Spreewald. Photo: Rachel Loxton
After some water sports or a boat ride, you should tuck into a well-deserved meal.
Spreewald produces around 50 percent of Germany’s pickles – and they sure know how to make the most of them.
You will find all kinds Cucumber delicacy, from the selection of pickles, bread and cats (the cucumber plants – a gherkin pickled with mustard seeds – is delicious) to cucumber soup – and also cucumber lemonade
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