Host Nation Update, Aug 1, 2024
Vacation Starters and Returnees
ADAC Traffic Forecast: Heavy Travel Expected in Baden-Württemberg This Weekend
SWR Aktuell
The summer holidays in Baden-Württemberg began last week, but heavy traffic is expected on the highways again this second holiday weekend.
Many people in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria will start their vacations this coming weekend. Meanwhile, travelers from other states are already on their way back. According to ADAC, most highways in Germany will be busy, making this weekend one of the busiest in the summer travel season. Therefore, the journey to and from summer vacations will be associated with numerous traffic jams.
Traffic Jams Expected on A5, A6, and A8 in Baden-Württemberg
In Baden-Württemberg, the automobile club predicts the highest risk of traffic jams on the A5 between Karlsruhe and Basel, the A6 Mannheim – Heilbronn – Nuremberg, and the A8 Karlsruhe – Stuttgart – Munich – Salzburg. Many travelers are heading south, while vacationers from Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt are on their way back home, affecting both directions. Holidays in these states are ending soon.
Those who are flexible should consider traveling during the week, such as on Tuesday or Wednesday. The most significant delays will occur at highway construction sites where lanes are reduced or particularly long. Many of these sites remain operational during the summer travel season. Currently, ADAC counts 58 construction sites on highways in Baden-Württemberg alone. Traffic on the A6 and A8 is especially prone to jams. An overview of all highway construction sites is available on the Autobahn GmbH construction map.
Olympics Cause Additional Traffic Delays at Borders
The Olympic Games are ongoing in Paris until August 11, leading to increased controls at the German-French border crossings. So far, there have been no significant delays at the borders, as confirmed by the Federal and Traffic Police. Moreover, these border checks are currently only temporary and occur at various crossings along the Rhine.
At other German borders, controls, at least spot checks, are routine. Stationary border controls at the German-Austrian border will remain until November 11. Thus, departures from Germany to Austria are only checked on special occasions. However, random checks are conducted when entering Germany from Austria. Increased checks are also in place at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland, potentially causing delays of up to an hour. Travelers to and from Greece and Turkey should plan for several hours of waiting.
Heavy Traffic on Brenner, Gotthard, and Other Routes
According to ADAC’s forecast, travelers will also need patience on international routes. The most significant bottlenecks are expected on the Tauern, Fernpass, Inntal, Brenner, Phyrn, Karawanken, and Gotthard routes, as well as on highways to the Italian, French, and Croatian coasts. Delays are also anticipated on roads to and from Scandinavia, Poland, and the Netherlands.
Lightning and Thunder Over Baden-Württemberg – “Storm Potential”
Published: August 1, 2024
The weather in Baden-Württemberg on Thursday is similar to the previous day, with potential for severe weather including heavy rain and hail. Thunderstorms with lightning are also expected on Friday.
Baden-Württemberg will remain rainy with thunderstorms. The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of severe weather potential. Thunderstorms, particularly in the southern region, are expected until the afternoon. Localized severe storms with heavy rain of up to 40 liters per square meter per hour are possible. Hail with stones up to two centimeters in diameter is also a threat. Weather experts predict storm gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour. While thunderstorms are expected to continue into the evening, the intensity of the rain should diminish.
Thunder and lightning are likely to persist on Friday, especially in the south. However, by Sunday, the sun is expected to appear more frequently, and the weather should remain mostly dry according to the DWD.
Wednesday: Children Lucky During Thunderstorm
Several parts of Baden-Württemberg were hit by severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. Near Dürbheim (Tuttlingen district), around 30 children and 20 supervisors had a close call when lightning struck a hut. The hut, used as a ski lodge in winter, was hit by lightning during an afternoon storm. Smoke was reported, but no injuries occurred. All individuals were safely evacuated.
In Sigmaringen, emergency services responded to five minor incidents, including a fallen tree and tiles blown off a church tower, as reported by the police to SWR. The Riedlingen area (Biberach district) also experienced storm-related incidents.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Bonndorf in the Black Forest (Waldshut district) reported a hailstorm with hailstones up to four centimeters in diameter, lasting about 20 minutes. The police informed SWR that no damages had been reported. In the Freudenstadt district, fallen trees led to road closures, and multiple lightning strikes, including one hitting a transformer house, were reported. Fortunately, no injuries occurred. The cities of Freudenstadt, Loßburg, Baiersbronn, and Alpirsbach were particularly affected.
Thursday Storm Warning: Heavy Rain and Hail Possible
Overnight into Thursday, only isolated thunderstorms and showers occurred. Unstable weather is expected to continue throughout Thursday, with thunderstorms anticipated until the afternoon. According to the German Weather Service, these storms could bring extreme weather conditions, including heavy rain, hail, and storm gusts. Additional, but weaker, thunderstorms are expected in the evening.
Maharashtra Opens Representation in Stuttgart
Baden-Würtemberg.de 31.07.2024
Maharashtra, the Indian partner state of Baden-Württemberg, has opened a cooperation office in Stuttgart. The primary focus is on recruiting Indian skilled workers, marking another milestone in the close collaboration between the two regions.
From Mumbai to Stuttgart: A Focus on Skilled Worker Recruitment
The recruitment of skilled workers from abroad is becoming increasingly important for the German economy. Strong economic ties between Maharashtra and Baden-Württemberg led to the establishment of a state partnership in 2015, which was expanded in early 2024 to include cooperation on skilled worker migration and educational collaboration. A joint steering committee was established to facilitate and support the recruitment of Indian professionals, building on the German-Indian Mobility and Migration Agreement signed in 2022. The opening of the Maharashtra Representation operated by C4HUB on July 31, 2024, fits seamlessly into this initiative.
A Milestone in Close Cooperation
“Baden-Württemberg has much to offer well-educated Indian professionals—particularly excellent jobs and career opportunities. We are delighted that our Indian partner state, Maharashtra, now operates a cooperation office in Stuttgart, as Baden-Württemberg has done in Pune since 2017. This is another milestone in the close cooperation and friendship between our two regions,” emphasized Dr. Florian Stegmann, State Minister and Head of the State Chancellery.
The opening of the cooperation office not only highlights the issue of skilled workers but also covers access to industries, tourism, start-ups, universities, and technical colleges. Additionally, a digital platform will be launched in September, which will use a free AI-supported selection process to match seekers and offers and verify applicant certificates.
Agile and Flexible in Securing Skilled Workers
“With the representation of Maharashtra operated by C4HUB, we have a fixed spatial entity that can mediate agilely and flexibly in securing skilled workers between India and Baden-Württemberg,” said Harri Siebert, Managing Director of C4HUB, at today’s opening with Indian delegates at the CODE_n premises.
To ensure a smooth and sustainable recruitment process for all parties involved, the government of Maharashtra has provided financial resources for training according to German standards and established six Centers of Excellence specifically for training for the German labor market. The government of Maharashtra will cover the operational costs of the representation.
On the German side, several projects by various sponsors, including those from the business sector, support the recruitment of skilled workers. The state of Baden-Württemberg is committed to improving the framework conditions for attracting skilled workers by establishing a state agency for skilled worker immigration, promoting Welcome Centers, and launching a support program for caregivers. In Maharashtra, a Service Desk at the state’s cooperation office in Pune supports companies and project sponsors in recruiting skilled workers. The government-authorized representation of Maharashtra operated by C4HUB will now bring together information and stakeholders, streamline processes, and facilitate direct exchanges.