Overview
Capital: Berlin
Official EU language(s): German
EU Member State: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro (€) Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: member since 26 March 1995
Figures:
- Geographical size: 357 569 km2
- Population: 84 358 845 (2023)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for geographical size and population)
Political system
Germany is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor who is the head of government, and a president who is the head of state and whose main responsibilities are representative. The country consists of 16 states (Länder) which each have their own constitution and are largely autonomous regarding their internal organisation. 3 of these are city-states: Bremen, Berlin and Hamburg.
Trade and economy
Germany ranks eighth in the European Union in terms of GDP per capita with €41 300, well above the EU average (€35 500). It accounts for 25.3% of the EU's total GDP.
(Source: Eurostat - figures for GDP per capita and GDP)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for exports and imports)
There are 96 representatives from Germany in the European Parliament. Find out who these Members of the European Parliament are and follow the activities of the European Parliament’s office in Germany.
In the Council of the EU, national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Representatives from the German government attend Council meetings focused on their area of responsibility several times a year.
The Council of the EU does not have a permanent, single-person president (like the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months.
During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in the different policy areas, and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions.
Dates of German presidencies:
Jul-Dec 1958 | Jul-Dec 1961 | Jul-Dec 1964 | Jul-Dec 1967 | Jul-Dec 1970 | Jan-Jun 1974 | Jul-Dec 1978 | Jan-Jun 1983 | Jan-Jun 1988 | Jul-Dec 1994 | Jan-Jun 2007 | July-Dec 2020
The President of the European Commission is Ursula von der Leyen, from Germany. The Commission is represented in each EU country by a local office, called a "representation". Find out more about the Commission's representation in Germany.
Germany has 24 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. This advisory body – representing employers, workers and other interest groups – is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in different countries.
Germany has 24 representatives on the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU.
Germany also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels. As Germany’s "embassy to the EU", its main task is to ensure that the country's interests and policies are heard and pursued as much as possible in the EU.
Budgets and funding
How much does Germany pay and receive from the EU?
The EU budget is the tool to ensure that Europe remains a democratic, peaceful, prosperous and competitive force. The EU uses it to finance its priorities and big projects that most individual EU countries could not finance on their own.
The benefits of EU membership significantly exceed the size of the EU budget contributions and the examples are many. All Member States benefit from being part of the Single Market, a shared approach to the common challenges of migration, terrorism and climate change, and concrete gains like better transport infrastructure, modernised and digitalised public services and cutting-edge medical treatment.
How much each EU country pays into the EU budget is calculated fairly. The larger your country's economy, the more it pays – and vice versa.
The EU budget is not about giving and taking – it’s about collectively contributing to making Europe and the world a better place for us all.
EU budget spending and revenue per country and per year
EU-funded projects in Germany
Money from the EU budget helps fund programmes and projects in all EU countries – for example to build roads, subsidise researchers and protect the environment.
Find out more about how Germany benefits from EU funding and recovery funds in your country or region.