Overview

• Berlin–Hamburg rail services are suspended from August 1 to April 2026 for a complete modernization, with passenger and freight traffic rerouted and bus replacements provided.
• German authorities now accept only digitally captured passport and ID photos, discontinuing paper prints to strengthen document security.
• EU cybersecurity requirements for all new internet-connected devices take effect August 1, and transparency obligations for general-purpose AI models under the AI Act start on August 2.
• Feed-in tariffs for newly installed photovoltaic systems drop by 1 percent and local public transport fares rise in several regions, adjusting energy incentives and transit costs.
• From August 1, pensioners pay the full 3.6 percent long-term care insurance contribution on their retirement income to bolster social insurance funding.