Reforms include the family regulations which have been recently stipulated by the German supreme court. Government child support subsidies of 250 marks per child since January 1 will probably be increased to 400 marks. The government has denied the above report. A speaker for the Federal Finance Ministry said that the figures in the report are pure speculation and are without any factual basis whatsoever. It is generally known that an commission of experts has been working on the reform since December and that their report is due on April 30.
Legislative procedures are due to be initiated before the summer break.
He said that until then, however, any figures are speculative. Trittin demands binding minimal standards for environmental protection Schwerin. According to Juergen Trittin, Minister of the Environment, those practicing inferior environmental protection should not have an advantage in the global economy. During a meeting with his colleagues of the G8 nations, Mr. Trittin said that industrialized nations therefore have to agree on binding minimal standards for environmental protection. That means, among other things, taxing airplane fuel for international travel and a commitment to protect biodiversity.