Research papers published by the Reference and Research Services of the Deutscher Bundestag

This page sets out the English summaries of the Research Papers published by the Reference and Research Services. A link from the end of the summary will take you to the complete research paper in German.

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The euro's international performance
The euro's international performance is generally established using the following criteria: use as a means of payment, use as a unit of account and use as a value-storing unit. Overall, the euro's performance since its introduction in 1999 has been good. The significance of the euro as a trade, investment, anchor and reserve currency has increased. Nevertheless, the US dollar's domination as a key currency remains unbroken in almost all areas.
Topical Term of 01/29/2007
Legal questions on religious and ideological communities
The office recently opened by the Scientology Organisation in the capital city of Berlin has revived the dispute over observation by the Berlin authority for protection of the constitution. The "Topical term" factsheet lists those Länder, or federal states, in which the organisation has been placed under observation in the last few years. It also summarises the statements which have been made by various courts on the status of the organisation as a religious or ideological community.
Topical Term of 01/29/2007
The Minister-Presidents of the Free State of Bavaria since 1945
The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal state which consists of 16 Länder, or states. The Länder participate in Germany?s political system. The Free State of Bavaria is the largest Land in geographical terms. Under the Bavarian constitution, the state government is headed by a Minister-President elected by the Land Parliament for a five-year term of office. He or she determines the general guidelines of policy, appoints the ministers and state secretaries and represents Bavaria externally. Since 1945 there have been eight Minister-Presidents of the Free State of Bavaria to date. With the exception of Wilhelm Hoegner (Social Democratic Party of Germany), all Bavarian Minister-Presidents thus far have been members of the Christian Social Union (CSU).
Topical Term of 01/26/2007
Federal share of the cost of accommodation/heating benefits under Article 46, Book II of the Social Code
Under Book II of the Social Code, the municipalities are obliged to bear the cost of necessary accommodation and heating benefits within the framework of the basic income for jobseekers. In order to ensure that the burden on the municipalities is reduced by around 2.5bn euros per annum by the Fourth Law for Modern Services in the Labour Market (Hartz IV), taking into account the savings for the Länder (federal states) of around 2.5bn euros per annum, the Federation pays a certain percentage of these costs. The First Act to Amend the Second Book of the Social Code of 22 December 2005, obliged the Federation to cover 29.1% of the costs of accommodation and heating for recipients of the basic income for jobseekers in 2005 and 2006. New provisions in the framework of a federal law were planned for the years from 2007 onwards. This Act to Amend the Second Book of the Social Code entered into force on 1 January 2007. The Federation's contribution for 14 of the Länder, or states, has been set at 31.2% for 2007. For Baden-Württemberg, the level is at 35.2% and for Rhineland-Palatinate 41.2%. From 2008, the Federation's contribution will be calculated each year depending on the number of eligible households, in line with mathematical formula laid down by law. New provisions governing the Federation's contribution from 2011 onwards will be introduced by a federal law.
Topical Term of 01/25/2007
CFSP, ESDP and their instruments - an overview
Factsheet Europe of 01/22/2007 (8 pages)
The state of research into and the potential of embryonic and adult stem cells
As stem cells have the ability to form new somatic cells, research into them primarily aims to examine to what extent they can replace damaged cells, tissue or organs, repair them or induce them to repair themselves. Adult stem cells are used in the treatment of certain forms of leukaemia; clinical studies testing their effects on other conditions are being carried out. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood are used to treat certain forms of leukaemia which occur during childhood. Regarding embryonic stem cells, attempts are being made to derive cell lines which come closer to meeting the requirements for clinical studies than previous cell lines. In 2006 two embryonic stem cell lines were derived which are free of impurities and which were cultivated in defined conditions.
Composition of 01/17/2007 (18 pages)
EU and Globalization
Factsheet Europe of 01/15/2007 (5 pages)
Legal requirements relating to efforts to save the Constitution for Europe
The Topical Term sets out the fundamental legal conditions that must be taken into account when considering how to save the Constitution for Europe. In addition, it features a table providing an overview of the status of the ratification process in the EU Member States.
Topical Term of 01/08/2007

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