DE is the abbreviation for Germany, the 62nd largest country in the world. Officially the Federal Republic of Germany, Germany is a country located in Europe, bordering 9 countries – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland. Berlin is the capital city of Germany. Top 10 biggest cities are Berlin (population: 3,426,343), Hamburg (population: 1,739,106), Munich (population: 1,260,380), Cologne (population: 963,384), Frankfurt am Main (population: 649,989), Essen (population: 593,074), Stuttgart (population: 589,782), Dortmund (population: 588,451), Düsseldorf (population: 573,046), and Bremen (population: 546,490).
Country Profile
- Capital: Berlin
- Language: German
- Area: 357,578 km2
- Population: 83,019,211
- Currency: Euro (€) (EUR)
- Time zone: UTC+1
- Calling code: 49
- ISO 2-Letter Abbreviation: DE
- UN 3-Letter Abbreviation: DEU
- Internet TLD: .de
- State Government Website: http://bundesregierung.de
List of Germany Acronyms
The most commonly used abbreviations about Germany are DE which stands for Germany and EUR which means Euro (Germany currency). In the following table, you can see all acronyms related to Germany, including abbreviations for airport, city, school, port, government, and etc.
Acronym |
Meaning |
AGIG |
Accountants Group in Germany |
AEG |
Advanced Engineering from Germany |
EDDC |
Aerodrome Dresden, Germany |
EDDL |
Aerodrome Duesseldorf, Germany |
AGHCO |
Afghan-German Help Coordination Office |
AGTTP |
Afghan-German Technical Training Programme |
EDLW |
Airport Dortmund, Germany |
EDDV |
Airport Hannover, Germany |
EDDG |
Airport Muenster-Osnabrueck, Germany |
EDDM |
Airport Munich, Germany |
EDDS |
Airport Stuttgart, Germany |
AATG |
American Association of Teachers of German |
ACG |
American Council on Germany |
AICGS |
American Institute for Contemporary German Studies |
AJGLL |
American Journal of Germanic Linguistics and Literatures |
AGFHS |
Anglo-German Family History Society |
AGK |
Angry German Kid |
AIZ |
Anti Imperialistische Zelle (German: Anti-Imperialistic Cell; now defunct terrorist group) |
ALOG |
Art League of Germantown, Inc. |
AB |
Aschaffenburg, Germany |
AGA |
Asociación de Germanistas de Andalucía |
APEG |
Associacao Portuguesa de Estudos Germanisticos |
AGAS |
Association of German American Societies |
AGIS |
Association of German International Schools |
AGTV |
Association of German Teachers of Victoria |
AGAS |
Association of German-American Societies of Greater Washington, DC |
AGB |
Augsburg, Germany – Muehlhausen |
AGSS |
Austria Germany Slovenia Switzerland |
ASG |
Austria Switzerland Germany |
BIG-EU |
BACnet Interest Group-Europe (Germany) |
BING |
Barbershop In Germany |
BYU |
Bayreuth, Germany – Bindlacher Berg |
SXF |
Berlin, Germany – Schoenefeld |
BER |
Berlin, Germany – Schoenefeld |
TXL |
Berlin, Germany – Tegel |
THF |
Berlin, Germany – Tempelhof |
BGO |
Bismuth Germanate |
BGG |
Bond Van Gentse Germanisten |
BNJ |
Bonn, Germany – Train Main Railroad Station |
BWE |
Braunschweig Germany |
BWE |
Braunschweig, Germany |
BS |
Braunschweig, Germany |
BRE |
Bremen, Germany – Bremen |
BCCG |
British Chamber of Commerce Germany |
BRIXMIS |
British Commanders’-In-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany |
BFG |
British Forces Germany |
BFGHS |
British Forces Germany Health Service |
BOG |
British or German |
CEG |
Cahiers d’Etudes Germaniques |
CGSWDC |
Carolina German Shepherd Working Dog Club |
CVGS |
Center for Volga German Studies |
CIAER |
Centre of Integration, Affirmation and Emancipation of the Roma in Germany |
QSH |
City Code for the City of Seeheim, Germany |
CPG |
Cleaner Production Germany |
CNCG |
Clubul National de Ciobanesc German din Romania |
QKL |
Cologne, Germany – Train Main Railroad Station |
CGN |
Cologne/Bonn, Germany – Koeln/Bonn |
CAG |
Combat Arms Germany |
CSU |
Compact Sonar for U-Boats (German) |
GERMANY |
Condor Flugdienst GmbH, Germany |
DE |
Condor Flugdienst GmbH, Germany |
CFG |
Condor Flugdienst, Germany |
CCG |
Control Commission of Germany |
CBU |
Cottbus Germany |
DCD |
DAF Club Deutschland, eV (German car club) |
DAG |
Democrats Abroad Germany |
DMIGS |
Design Made in Germany |
DUK |
Deutschen UNESCO Kommission (German: German UNESCO Commission) |
DTTB |
Deutscher Tischtennis Bund German Table-Tennis Federation) |
DMGE |
Dimethyl Germanium |
DAB |
Direkt Anlage Bank, Germany |
DBCI |
DOOH Business Climate Index (Out-of-Home Video Advertising Bureau Europe; Germany) |
DTM |
Dortmund, Germany – Wickede |
DRS |
Dresden, Germany – Dresden |
DUS |
Dusseldorf, Germany – Dusseldorf |
QDU |
Dusseldorf, Germany – Main Train Station |
EGM |
East Germanic |
EGSPC |
Eastern German Shorthaired Pointer Club Inc. |
EGLS |
Eastside German Language School |
EGA |
Egyptian German Automotive Co. |
EGTI |
Egyptian German Telecommunication Industries |
EMGH |
Electronic Monumenta Germaniae Historica |
EPGSS |
Electroplated German Silver |
EFISGA |
England France Ireland Scotland Germany and Aboriginal Lands |
EFIGS |
English, French, Italian, German, Spanish |
ERF |
Erfurt, Germany – Erfurt |
EGTG |
Erik Goes to Germany |
ENTEC |
Euro NATO Training Engineer Centre (Munich, Germany) |
EUROEX |
Eurozone Ex-Germany |
XGI |
Exchange of German Internet-Webmasters |
FAGE |
Federacion Espanola de Germanistas y Profesores de Aleman en Espana |
FGS |
Federal German Ship |
FGN |
Federal Germany Navy |
GEORGIA |
Federal Republic Of Germany |
GE |
Federal Republic of Germany |
FRG |
Federal Republic of Germany |
FGI |
Federation of German Industry |
FASG |
Florida Association of Students of German |
FRA |
Frankfurt, Germany – Frankfurt International |
FSAG |
Free Software Association of Germany |
FFG |
Freedom Force Germany |
FFA |
French Forces in Germany |
FGI |
French, German and Italian |
FIGS |
French, Italian, German, Spanish |
FGBS |
French-German Brigade |
FGB |
French-German Brigade |
FDH |
Friedrichshafen, Germany – Friedrichshafen – Lowenthal |
GANS |
German Academy of Neurosurgery |
GAS |
German Academy of Science |
GASB |
German Accounting Standards Board |
GASC |
German Accounting Standards Committee |
GAC |
German Aerospace Centre |
GAA |
German Agro Action |
GAAC |
German Aid for Afghan Children |
GEADGE |
German Air Defense Ground Environment |
GAF |
German Air Force |
GAAC |
German American Academic Council |
GABA |
German American Business Association |
GABC |
German American Business Chamber |
GACCOM |
German American Chamber of Commerce |
GACA |
German American Citizens Association |
GAIC |
German American Internee Coalition |
GAPP |
German American Partnership Program |
GAPA |
German American Police Association |
GABI |
German Angioplasty Bypass Investigation |
GATE |
German Appropriate Technology Exchange |
GACP |
German Apsara Conservation Project |
GAI |
German Archaeological Institute |
GAFC |
German Armed Forces Command |
GA |
German Army |
GFL |
German as a Foreign Language |
GAAE |
German Association for Adult Education |
GAMM |
German Association for Mathematics and Mechanics |
GAP |
German Auto Parts, Inc. |
GBC |
German Blade Challenge |
GBR |
German Blue Ram |
GERBRITE |
German Bright Radar Indicator Tower Equipment |
GBAA |
German Business Aviation Association eV |
GCCV |
German Car Club of Victoria |
GCF |
German Car Fans, LLC |
GCC |
German Chaos Crew |
GC |
German Club |
GCCG |
German Code of Corporate Governance |
GCLA |
German Cognitive Linguistics Association |
GCF |
German Computer Freaks |
GCB |
German Conference on Bioinformatics |
GCGC |
German Corporate Governance Code |
GCFR |
German Council on Foreign Relations |
GDR |
German Democratic Republic |
GC |
German Democratic Republic |
GDM |
German Deutschmarks |
GDRS |
German Diabetes Risk Score |
GDA |
German Draughts Association |
GEG |
German Elite Ghosts |
GEZ |
German Elite Zocker |
GED |
German Emergency Doctors |
GECC |
German Energy Center & College |
GERES |
German Environmental Survey |
GEM |
German Equatorial Mount |
GESS |
German European School Singapore |
GEFMA |
German Facility Management Association |
GFR |
German Family Rockers |
GFK |
German Folks Klub |
GFCA |
German Football Coaches Association |
GFL |
German Football League |
GFLJ |
German Football League Juniors |
GFCA |
German FunClan Association |
GGR |
German Galaxy Rangers |
GGCS |
German Gastric Cancer Study |
GGSS |
German General Social Survey |
GGG |
German Goo Girls |
GHN |
German Hardware Network |
GHEG |
German Healthcare Export Group |
GHSF |
German High Seas Fleet |
GHI |
German Historical Institute |
GHT |
German Horse Team |
GIRA |
German Industrial Relations Association |
GICO |
German Industry and Commerce Office |
GINI |
German Infant Nutritional Intervention |
GIRT |
German Information Retrieval Test |
GISA |
German Information Security Agency |
GIGA |
German Institute of Global and Area Studies |
GIAMS |
German Institutional Asset Management Survey |
GICG |
German International Consulting Group |
GIPS |
German International Poetry Slam |
GICS |
German Internet Chess Server |
GJB |
German Jail Brothers |
GKC |
German Killer Commands |
GLK |
German Language Kit |
GLSC |
German Language School Conference |
GLTA |
German Language Teachers Association |
GLVC |
German Language Video Center |
GLL |
German Life & Letters |
GMAA |
German Maritime Arbitration Association |
GMSA |
German Market Startup Agency |
GMF |
German Marshall Fund |
GM |
German Measles |
GMLA |
German Medical Library Association |
GMTA |
German Medical Technology Alliance |
GMCC |
German Mid Cap Conference |
GMDS |
German Military Documents Section |
GMR |
German Military Representative |
GMLA |
German Money Laundering Act |
GNSG |
German National Support Group |
GNTB |
german national tourist board |
GN |
German Navy |
GENARS |
German Network for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance |
GNS |
German North Sea |
GOSR |
German Open Snooker Ranking |
GOL |
German Ordnance Level |
GPOH |
German Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Society |
GPS |
German Peace Society |
GPS |
German Philatelic Society |
GPP |
German Police Project |
GPID |
German Portal of Irish Dancing |
GPS |
German Potato Salad |
GPC |
German Primate Center |
GPK |
German Pro Killers |
GPB |
German Proficiency Badge |
GRC |
German Racing Club |
GRS |
German Radar Symposium |
GROI |
German Range Officer Institute |
GRF |
German Rebel Fighter |
GRC |
German Red Cross |
GSCI |
German Scientific Computing Initiative |
GSF |
German Scooter Forum |
GSM |
German Seamen’s Mission |
GSTF |
German Shania Twain Fanclub |
GS |
German Shepherd |
GSDM |
German Shepherd Degenerative Myelopathy |
GSD |
German Shepherd Dog |
GSDCA |
German Shepherd Dog Club of America |
GSDCQ |
German Shepherd Dog Club of Queensland, Inc. |
GSDCA |
German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia |
GSDL |
German Shepherd Dog League |
GSRNE |
German Shepherd Rescue of New England, Inc. |
GSSC |
German Shepherd Schutzhund Club |
GSH |
German Short Hair Pointer |
GSP |
German Shorthaired Pointer |
GS |
German Silver |
GESPCAN |
German Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect |
GSN |
German Society of Neurogenetics |
GSDL |
German Software Development Laboratory |
GSWA |
German South West Africa |
GSOC |
German Space Operations Center |
GSA |
German Speakers Association |
GSW |
German Stampede Wrestling |
GSR |
German Street Racing |
GSIS |
German Swiss International School |
GETT |
German Tactical Truck |
GTNC |
German Territorial Northern Command |
GTSC |
German Territorial Southern Command |
GTO |
German Toilet Organization |
GTMA |
German Trademark Act |
GTA |
German Trance Alliance |
GTI |
German Travel International |
GUC |
German University in Cairo |
GVT |
German Volume Training |
GVV |
German Volunteer Votetakers |
GWF |
German Web Fighters |
GWC |
German Welfare Council |
GWP |
German Wirehaired Pointer |
GWA |
German Wolf Association |
GWRI |
German Wool Research Institute |
GWAL |
German Workshop on Artificial Life |
GWTR |
German Workshop on Term Rewriting |
GWA |
German World Alliance |
GYA |
German Youth Activity |
GZC |
German Zocker Community |
GER |
German/Germany |
GEFA |
Germana Esperanta Fervojista Asocio |
GEJ |
Germana Esperanto Junularo |
GAAC |
German-American Academic Council Foundation |
GABC |
German-American Business Council |
GACC |
German-American Chamber of Commerce |
GAFA |
German-American Firefighters Association |
GAFOE |
German-American Frontiers of Engineering |
GAIS |
German-American International School |
GAM |
German-American Musicians Association |
GABCSA |
German-Austrian Business Council of South Australia |
GAFDA |
German-Austrian Folk Dance Association |
GBO |
German-Bash.org |
GCY |
German-Canadian Yearbook |
GOAC |
Germandat Obrera d’Acció Catòlica |
GM |
Germanic |
GLL |
Germanic Languages and Literatures |
GLAC |
Germanic Linguistics Annual Conference |
GAI |
Germanic-American Institute |
GIRT |
German-Indian Round Table |
GL |
Germanischer Lloyd |
GEORGIA |
Germanium |
GE |
Germanium |
GED |
Germanium Detector |
GLASS |
Germanium Lithium Argon Scanning System |
GODC |
Germanium Oxygen-Deficient Center |
GRT |
Germanium Resistance Thermometer |
GOI |
Germanium-On-Insulator |
GDR |
Germaniya Demokratik Respublikasi |
GCC |
Germanna Community College |
GNARP |
German-North American Resources Partnership |
GTA |
Germans to America |
GTN |
Germantown |
GA |
Germantown Academy |
GAAC |
Germantown Academy Aquatic Club |
GAGE |
Germantown Avenue, Gotta Eat |
GCC |
Germantown Cricket Club |
GFS |
Germantown Friends School |
GHS |
Germantown High School |
GPAC |
Germantown Performing Arts Center |
4U |
Germanwings |
DEU |
Germany |
DEU-2 |
Germany |
GERMANY |
Germany |
GM |
Germany |
DE |
Germany |
GOF |
Germany or Florida |
GAS |
Germany, Austria, Switzerland |
GSA |
Germany, Switzerland, Austria |
GGR |
Gesellschaft der Germanisten Rumäniens |
GSI |
Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (German Federal Research Institute f |
GGEA |
Ghanaian-German Economic Association |
GLBFG |
Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany |
HAM |
Hamburg, Germany – Fuhlsbuttel |
HAJ |
Hanover, Germany – Langenhagen |
HAQ-G |
Health Assessment Questionnaire into German |
HDB |
Heidelberg, Germany |
HZG |
Herman Ze German |
HPG |
High Purity Germanium |
IGHS |
Indiana German Heritage Society |
IGTR |
Indo German Tool Room |
IGBP |
Indo-German Bilateral Project |
IGCEDP |
Indo-German Changar Eco-Development Project |
IGIAT |
Indo-German Institute of Advanced Technology |
IEW |
Indogermanisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch |
IICG |
Industrial Initiative for Central Germany |
IGB |
Inner-German Border |
IBP |
Institut für Bauphysik (Stuttgart, Germany) |
IGB |
Institut für Grenzflächen- und Bioverfahrenstechnik, Stuttgart, Germany |
IRS |
Institute for Reactor Safety, Germany |
IGRS |
Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies |
INVEKOS |
Integriertes Verwaltungs- und Kontrollsystem (German: Integrated Administration and Control System |
IGS |
Internal German Service |
IU |
International University in Germany |
IIZ |
Internationales Interkommunales Zentrum (German: International Intercommunal Center; Grand Siegharts, Austria |
IGP |
Intrinsic-Germanium-Planar |
IG |
Inwent Germany |
IBGE |
Iso-Butyl Germane |
JAG |
Jaguar Association Germany |
JGFOS |
Japanese-German Frontiers of Science |
JGL |
Journal of Germanic Linguistics |
KA |
Karlsruhe, Germany |
KSF |
Kassel Germany |
KFG |
Katzen-Freunde Germania |
KEL |
Kiel, Germany – Holtenau |
KPCOFGS |
King Phillip Came Over From Germany Stoned |
KGLS |
King’s German Legion |
KGL |
King’s German Legion |
LEJ |
Leipzig, Germany – Leipzig |
GE-LI |
Lithium-Drifted Germanium |
LG |
Low German |
MIG |
Made in Germany |
MGSS |
Malaysian German Students Society |
MHG |
Mannheim, BW, Germany – Mannheim Airport |
MAEST |
Mannheim, Germany |
MA |
Mannheim, Germany |
MHG |
Middle High German |
MLG |
Middle Low German |
MGL |
Moenchengladbach, Germany |
MGH |
Monumenta Germania Historica |
FMO |
Muenster, Germany – Muenster |
MUC |
Munich, Germany – Franz Josef Strauss |
N8 |
Nacht (German: Good Night) |
NFBG |
National Franchisee Board Germany |
NSUK |
Nationale Schweizerische UNESCO Kommission (German: Swiss National Commission for UNESCO) |
NCG |
NetConnect Germany |
NATG |
Network of Australian Teachers of German |
NGC |
New German Cinema |
NHG |
New High German |
NIG |
New in Germany |
NGBG |
Nigerian-German Business Group |
NGM |
North Germanic |
NHEG |
Norwegian Hydro Energy in Germany |
NUE |
Nuremberg, Germany – Nuremberg |
OMGUS |
Office of Military Government for Germany-US |
OGM |
Old Germanic |
OHG |
Old High German |
OATG |
Ontario Association of Teachers of German |
OG |
Original German |
OUK |
Osterreichische UNESCO -Kommission (German: Austrian UNESCO Commission) |
PAD |
Paderborn, Germany – Paderborn |
PHCG |
Paint Horse Club Germany eV |
PGFA |
Pakistan-German Friendship Association |
PPG |
Palm Products Germany |
PKUM |
PC , Kommunikation Und Mehr (German: PC, Communication and More) |
PAG |
Pennsylvania German |
PROCOPA |
Peruvian-German Cooperative Program for Fisheries Investigations |
PG |
Pharmacopeia Germanica |
PMCG |
Power Maurer Clan Germany |
RDCCG |
Regional Data and Computing Center Germany |
RSNG |
Religion and Science Network Germany |
RGIT |
Representative of German Industry and Trade |
RGM |
Romisch-Germanisches Museum |
RAFG |
Royal Air Force Germany |
SCN |
Saarbruecken, Germany – Ensheim |
SRIG |
Sacro Romano Impero Germanico |
SGGT |
Safe German Guardrail Technology |
SEEG |
Sharp Electronics GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) |
SIGE |
Silicon Germanium |
SGCRP |
Sino-German Center for Research Promotion |
SG-JIRP |
Sino-German Joint Interdisciplinary Research Program |
SGAS |
Society for German-American Studies |
ZWS |
Stuttgart, Germany |
STRAND |
Stuttgart, Germany – Echterdingen |
STR |
Stuttgart, Germany – Echterdingen |
SSM |
Super Software Marketing, Eppelheim, Germany |
SWG |
Swiss German |
SGU |
Swiss German University |
TMG |
Tetramethylgermanium |
TGCI |
Thai-German Ceramic Industry, PCL |
GABC |
The German-American Business Council of Boston, Inc. |
TITUS |
Thesaurus Indogermanischer Text Und Sprachmaterialien |
TCG |
Treasury Center Germany |
TRNA |
TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. (German company subsidiary) |
TCGIS |
Twin Cities German Immersion School |
UPG |
Ultra-Pure Germanium |
UB |
Ungerman Bass |
ULG |
United Logistics Germany GmbH |
USHCG |
United States High Commissioner for Germany |
UMG |
University of Munster, Germany |
WGSU |
Wadi German Syrian University |
WVG |
Warner Vision Germany |
WGMC |
West Germanic |
WGM |
West Germanic |
WG |
West Germany |
GWT |
Westerland, Germany – Westerland |
ZQQ |
Wetzlar, Germany |
WGS |
White German Shepherd |
WGSD |
White German Shepherd Dog |
WVN |
Wilhelmshaven Germany |
WIGS |
Women in German Studies |
WDAG |
Working Dog Association Germany |
WCTAG |
World Chen Taiji Association, Germany |
YGA |
Young German Artists |
YIG |
Youth Incoming Germany |
ZGR |
Zeitschrift der Germanisten Rumäniens |
ZDG |
Zinc Doped Germanium |
ZGP |
Zinc–Germanium-Phosphide |
Geography
Germany consists of three different landscape areas: the northern German lowlands, with the coastal areas towards the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the mountain areas in the middle of the country and the high mountain landscape in the south, which make up the northernmost parts of the Alps. The variations in the landscape mean that the country has a varied climate. In the north there is a temperate coastal climate, with hot summers and mild winters. Further south, there is a typical central European inland climate, with greater variations between seasons.
Many rivers flow through Germany, and the largest rivers are the Danube, the Rhine and the Elbe. The rivers have been important for the country’s central role in European trade. Large parts of the country are heavily polluted due to emissions from the heavy industry, which has led to acid rain and poor soil. Particular areas in former East Germany are struggling with pollution after many years of poor environmental regulation. By pursuing an offensive climate policy, Germany has managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since the 1990s.
History
In the centuries BCE. lived Germans and Celts in today’s Germany, but between the years 50 BCE. – 400 possibly the Romans also conquered areas. Several peoples fought for land in the next centuries, before Otto I became German-Roman emperor in 962. This was the beginning of the German-Roman Empire, a collection of smaller units with more or less autonomy. The kingdom existed until the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century.
After repeated attempts to form unions between kingdoms in the 19th century, the German Empire was established in 1871, with Wilhelm I as emperor. The empire encompassed much of today’s Poland, and eventually also several colonies in Africa. After Germany took part in the losing side during World War I, the German empire collapsed. The empire was replaced by the Weimar Republic, which had to surrender large tracts of land and pay huge sums of war compensation during the war. The harsh conditions contributed to the rise of Nazism under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, in the early 1930s. In 1939, Germany started World War II by invading Poland. After losing World War II, Germany and Berlin were divided into four zones, and from 1949 divided into West Germany and East Germany. Germany was reunited as one country in 1990.
Society and politics
Since 1990, the West German Constitution of 1949 has been applicable to the entire country. The country is a federal republic and consists of 16 states with extensive self-government. The country’s formal head is the president, but in reality most of the power lies with the federal chancellor, who heads the government. The policy is dominated by the Christian Democratic CDU and the Social Democratic SPD, which has formed several coalition governments since Germany’s reunification.
The country is a stable democracy and has a well-developed welfare state. Immigration and refugee policy are important domestic policy issues in Germany. The country has received almost a million refugees since 2015, and opposition to this has led to the high immigration and anti-Islamist party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
Germany was a founding member of the European Union (EU), and today plays a key role in regional and international cooperation. In recent years, Germany has contributed to international military operations, for the first time since World War II.
Economics and Commerce
Germany is the world’s fourth largest economy, after the US, China and Japan. The size is primarily due to a very well-developed export industry, which produces everything from fine electronics and computer equipment to cars and industrial machines. The country is not rich in natural resources and must therefore import both energy and most of the raw materials into industry.
After the reunification in 1990, the country entered a period of strong economic decline. This was due to the enormous cost of the transition to modern market economics in former East Germany. From being one of the Western European economies with the biggest problems in the 1990s and early 2000s, Germany has had higher economic growth since 2010 than most of the other eurozone countries. Germany also has low unemployment. However, social and economic development is lower in the states of the former East Germany than in the states that previously belonged to West Germany. Unemployment is also far greater in the eastern part of the country. The coming wave of old age, and large government spending on pensions, could also be a future challenge for the German economy.
UN RPGs
The UN Association is offering a role-playing game for the 2019-20 school year in which students will try to resolve a conflict in the Security Council (Iran and the nuclear issue). Germany is a member of the Security Council, and the sections that follow are information related to this game.
Foreign policy and relations with other countries in the Security Council
As the reunited Germany has played an increasingly important role in Europe and the world, the expectations of the United States and others have been that the country should take on ever greater responsibility for global peace and security. However, this is disputed because. Germany’s historical role in the world wars of the 20th century. In 1994, the German Constitutional Court ruled that Germany could participate in international peace operations as long as they have a mandate from the UN Security Council. Germany is currently the fourth largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, and second largest donor to UN development assistance.
Germany has a close relationship with France because of the central role these two countries play in the EU. The relationship with Russia has traditionally been relatively good, but has cooled somewhat after Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014. Germany otherwise has good trade relations with China. Germany is an important member of NATO and has both US military bases and tactical nuclear weapons deployed on its territory.
Tips
Germany is one of the three major EU countries that negotiated the nuclear deal with Iran in 2015. The country is a strong supporter of the agreement surviving despite the withdrawal of the United States and Iran has begun to enrich more uranium than the agreement allows. Germany, together with France and the United Kingdom, is one of the key countries in deciding what the EU should think about the conflict as it develops.
For Germany, it is important that the nuclear agreement survives because it expresses a cooperation between the world’s great powers that in the long term can both dampen the contradictions in the Middle East and contribute to strengthening the control mechanisms in the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The country is therefore very confident that the inspections carried out by the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Iran are working as intended. Germany is a warm defender of the Non-Proliferation Agreement, and makes significant contributions to the control work carried out by the IAEA. Thanks to the IAEA, hundreds of contracts for inspections and inspections have been made, thousands of nuclear site visits have been made, and one million documents have been reviewed covering various countries’ civil nuclear programs. None of this would be possible without an IAEA organization.
Germany is one of the countries working to stack on its feet an alternative trade mechanism (INSTEX) so that Iran can continue to trade with Europe without companies in those countries being affected by US sanctions. INSTEX currently has arrangements to enable food and medicines to be traded with Iran in euros instead of dollars, but few companies have used them so far. Iran, for its part, is positive to INSTEX, but believes that the mechanism must also include oil trade to meet its economic needs. Unless INSTEX is expanded, Iran threatens to gradually increase its enrichment of uranium beyond what the 2015 nuclear agreement allows.
Germany, together with the other EU countries in the nuclear agreement, must consider whether to meet Iran’s demand for oil trade to be included in INSTEX. If this happens, Germany and the other EU countries will face an even more serious collision course with the US. The EU has allowed countries outside the EU – including Russia and China – to participate in INSTEX.
A goodwill for Iran under the nuclear agreement does not mean that Germany and the other EU countries support Iran in all other areas. In recent years, the EU has expressed great concern about Iran’s role in regional conflicts in the Middle East (such as Syria, Yemen and Iraq), and wants Iran to impose voluntary restrictions on its military missile and missile program. In 2019, the EU has also imposed sanctions on individuals and organizations in Iran that they believe are behind attempts to kill Iranian dissidents living in Europe. Iran has refused to negotiate its missile program, and has also criticized EU countries for providing protection to what they call terrorist groups trying to control the Iranian regime. They deny any deal with plans and actions to kill dissidents on European soil.
When it comes to the recent turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz, Germany has asked both the US and Iran to show restraint. Germany, along with several other EU countries, participates in the Combined Maritime Forces naval force, which patrols the Persian Gulf to prevent various types of crime at sea (narcotics, terrorism, piracy). The United States has suggested that the force could act as an escort for merchant ships to sail through the area, but this fears Germany could cause the force to be involuntarily drawn into the fierce confrontation that the United States wants with Iran. Germany has therefore refused to participate in the naval force to escort merchant ships through Hormuz.
Germany is also in favor of the creation of a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East. However, the country has some understanding that all countries in the region must agree on this before the zone is created.
As mentioned, Germany is one of the NATO countries that has US tactical nuclear weapons deployed on its territory as part of NATO’s security umbrella for Europe. There has been a great deal of political debate about the future of these weapons, but for now, Germany is agreeing on what they consider to be one of the main foundations for security and burden sharing within the NATO alliance.
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