In June 2024, there will be further changes that are important for the people of Germany. Among other things, the European elections will take place and new regulations on citizenship will be introduced. You can read what else is changing here.
June 1, 2024 is the starting signal for some changes, important events and new regulations. Foreigners can be naturalized more quickly, the opportunity card is introduced and the European elections take place.
The European elections will take place in Germany on June 9th. Some countries such as the Netherlands start voting on June 6th. A new EU Parliament will be elected with over 720 members. This year, for the first time in Germany, young people aged 16 and over are allowed to vote. This means that the number of eligible voters has increased from around 61.5 million in the last election in 2019 to around 65 million people in this election.
You don’t know exactly which party you should vote for? Our Wahl-O-Mat for the 2024 European elections is available online. Simply answer the questions and find out which parties are best for you. This Wahl-O-Mat was created based on the election programs of the various parties.
The reform of citizenship law will come into force on June 27, 2024. Immigrants will be able to obtain German citizenship more quickly in the future: Naturalization will be possible after five years instead of the previous eight, and even after three years with “special integration services”. Dual citizenship is also permitted. For former guest or contract workers in the GDR, in order to become naturalized they only have to prove oral knowledge of German and no longer have to take a naturalization test.
From June 1, 2024, the job search in Germany will change for people from non-EU countries who want to work. Under certain conditions you will receive the so-called opportunity card. The basic requirement is at least two years of vocational training or a university degree in the country of origin as well as language skills in German or English. Depending on language knowledge, professional experience, age and connection to Germany, interested parties receive points that entitle them to receive the Opportunity Card.
Another change for Venice tourists: From June 1, 2024, the lagoon city will ban tourist groups of more than 25 people accompanied by guides. Loudspeakers are now also prohibited on such tours. The measures are intended to help limit mass tourism and its negative effects, as does the recent introduction of day tickets.
Many consumers have already been looking forward to this innovation: customers of some banks in Europe will be able to make mobile-to-mobile payments with each other from the end of June. This is made possible by the Europe-wide payment system “wero” from the banking initiative EPI. In Germany, savings banks, Volks- and Raiffeisenbanks as well as Deutsche Bank take part. The first expansion stage is scheduled to start at the end of June. The aim of the initiative is to build a uniform Europe-wide system for paying by card and smartphone in order to provide customers with an offer that competes with powerful US companies such as Paypal.
From June 6, 2024, rail customers will experience a change to their Bahncard 25 and 50: From then on, the plastic card will no longer be available and will only be offered in digital form. In order to use the subscription digitally, customers need a profile in the Bahn app or on the bahn.de platform. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can print out a replacement document. Existing plastic cards can be used until the expiry date printed on them.
