As with each new year, there come changes. I’m not referring to the bid to take up a new hobby or cut down on eating chocolate, although great if you are doing this, I probably should. I’m talking about the changes that take effect in Germany. Changes to improve recycling, cut down on pollution or increase the minimum wage will roll out over the next twelve months. In one way or another, man or woman, expat or not, you’ll likely to come in to contact with one of the changes I’ve shared below.

Online banking just got easier

When I read about this update, I was greatly pleased. When we first opened a bank account here in Germany we were issued with an I-Tan list, basically a slip of paper filled with numbers that you are to use when making a bank transfer online. It felt so archaic going through this process when we wanted to transfer money but from September of this year that will be no more because it no longer complies with European law. Phew, no more scrapping around trying to find that piece of paper that always goes missing.

Also, speaking of money, a new version of the 100 and 200 euro notes is being rolled out. So far, the 5, 10, 20 and 50 notes have all been updated. They are now more colourful and smaller, which means you can fit more in your purse. If only I had that problem.

The first International Women’s Day

Reasons to live in Berlin number 578 -the state government have just approved a new public holiday to recognise International Women’s Day. Frauentag will take place for the first time in 2019 after it was written into the law on the 1st February following a parliamentary vote. However, before we all complain about not getting an extra public holiday in Bremen, Thuringia, Saarland, etc, the extra holiday on the 8th March brings the state in line with other states who already have ten public holidays throughout the year. Unfortunately, in 2020, Frauentag will fall on a Sunday, and as we know, it won’t be recognised as a public holiday. I’m hoping for an uprising and all countries to be this progressive and introduce a Frauentag, but I might be biased.

Nicht sehr toll

Here’s a reason to stay in Germany to ski this season, the road toll to cross into Austria has risen by 60% if you’re planning a short trip of ten days.  I have just taken my first foray into the Harz Mountains, a popular skiing area in Lower Saxony.  I can confirm the area is amazing so why would you cross into Austria? Although I am a novice so what do I know about the slopes?

Cheaper Japanese products

Since returning back from a holiday in Japan in May of last year I have been on the lookout for Japanese products, food items in particular. Going forward, my hunt will be easier. Thanks to a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Japan, there is likely to be more variety of products on sale here in Germany, and less expensive too. As part of the agreement, that came in to effect on the 1st February 2019, customs duties for most items will no longer be required.  Good news for exporters, good news for Sake drinkers.

Pfand machines will accept milk and juice cartons PHOTO: Picture Alliance

 Milk and juice cartons join the Pfand system

The Pfand system will change to include milk and juice cartons, whereas previously it has mainly been water, soft drinks and beer bottles that had a deposit value up to 25 cents and could be returned at the bottle deposit machines. From now on, retailers will also have to state whether the materials used are recyclable or disposable too.  Recently one of our visiting friends accompanied me to the Pfand automated machine at the local supermarket. She was pretty excited to witness the action of returning bottles and receiving the Pfand. There is much talk of the UK replicating these recycling systems, the sooner the better I say.

Driving ban on diesel cars

Although it’s been threatened for a while, it seems like the ban on driving older diesel cars that don’t comply with the set standard and emit higher levels of pollutants will come into effect during 2019. At the moment, it doesn’t look like we will be affected in Bremen, but for those driving older diesel cars in cities such as Cologne, Stuttgart, and Bonn, they might not be so lucky. We might not be so fortunate when we decide to return to the UK and sell our car, it will have heavily depreciated. Sales were already declining in 2018 so will no doubt drop further this year.

Prices hikes for train travel 

Good and bad news for those expats that like to spread their wings. Deutsche Bahn train tickets, as well as on-the-spot charges for buying tickets on board, will increase by 52%. I haven’t hopped on the train without visiting the Fahrkartenautomat, mainly because it’s much easier to use the machine then get tangled up in a conversation with the Schaffner. I definitely won’t risk this now I know about the price hike. In better news though, the frequency of trains between Berlin and Munich has increased from three to five a day, will be much quicker and offer more space (depending on the train). I’m hoping to make my first trip to Munich this year so travel by train sounds more appealing.

Deutsche Bahn train at Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof PHOTO: HF

Have you noticed a change, for good or bad, in 2019 so far? Let me know if I have missed anything.

-Sarah E