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Germany Monday News Roundup: Climate Goals At Risk, Bundeswehr Changes, And Key Political & Security Developments

On May 18, 2026, DW released a roundup of major German news stories, including an independent climate advisory body warning Germany could miss its 2030 CO2 emission targets by up to 100 million metric tons (contradicting government projections), a temporary freeze on senior Bundeswehr non-commissioned officer promotions to adopt performance-based evaluations, and Gordon Schnieder’s election as Rhineland-Palatinate premier ending 35 years of Social Democrat rule. Additional highlights include Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemning Iranian attacks on the UAE and meeting euroskeptic Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, plans for a €10 billion civil defense funding program, calls to tighten wild animal ownership rules after a tiger escaped near Leipzig, supply disruptions at the PCK Refinery in Schwedt due to halted Russian crude transit, and Elversberg’s historic promotion to the Bundesliga.