Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Monday

On Monday, August 17th, German authorities evacuated residents near the Belgian border due to a severe wildfire. Monschau, a town with 12,000 residents, temporarily evacuated two streets as the blaze's front lay just over a mile from the German side of the border. The Belgian authorities had already ordered the evacuation of a nearby settlement, affecting around 1,800 people. This is one of many wildfires that have swept across Europe this summer, fueled by a drought and record-high temperatures.

Meanwhile, the number of voluntary departures of migrants and rejected asylum seekers has increased in Germany. In the first half of 2025, 9,276 people returned to their homes under federal return programs, compared to just under 7,300 in the same period last year. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) reported that the subsidized voluntary return of foreigners has also risen significantly in 2025.

The Social Democrats (SPD) presented a joint heat action plan and called for amendments to Germany's Basic Law to address climate change before the next federal election. The plan includes provisions for a national heat action plan, changes to building planning laws, and worker protection against extreme temperatures. However, the Union parliamentary group has asked for a concrete proposal before considering any amendment to the Grundgesetz (Basic Law).

The Green Party supported the SPD's efforts, while the Left parliamentary group was skeptical, stating that the SPD would struggle to gain enough support in the Bundestag to amend the constitution. On the other hand, the AfD denied any link between climate change and the increasing number of forest fires, a claim contradicted by scientists and fire safety experts.