Important legal changes and dates that characterize February. Here is an overview of what you should definitely know from February 2025.
• AI regulation partially comes into force
• Federal election takes place
• Changes to the Renewable Energy Act
EU AI regulation
The AI Regulation or AI Act was passed by the Council of the 27 EU member states on May 21, 2024. According to the federal government, it is the world’s “first set of rules for the use of artificial intelligence”. This regulation must be implemented into national law; the first parts of it will come into force from February 2, 2025.
On the one hand, “the placing on the market, commissioning or use” of AI applications defined in Article 5 of the Artificial Intelligence Regulation (AI-VO) is prohibited. These include, among other things, AI systems that intentionally use manipulative or deceptive techniques or create or expand databases for “facial recognition by untargeted reading of facial images from the Internet or from video surveillance recordings,” as described in Article 5 of the AI Regulation. In summary, AI applications that violate basic human rights are prohibited.
Particularly interesting for companies is the obligation for providers or operators of AI systems to take measures to train their own staff “and other people who are involved in the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf,” according to the article 4 KI-VO. One should have “sufficient AI competence,” as it goes on to say. Lawyer Kathrin Vossen from the Oppenhoff law firm in Cologne explains to impulse magazine that companies should set internal guidelines and standards for the use of AI applications.
Federal election 2025
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier set the date for the early elections for the Bundestag on February 23, 2025. All German citizens who have reached the age of majority on election day and have been living in Germany for three months are eligible to vote. Citizens who are excluded from voting, for example due to a judge’s ruling, are a special feature. Germans living abroad can apply to vote until February 2nd. In February there are always TV duels in which the respective top candidates hold a debate.
Changes in remuneration thanks to EEG
The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) determines the expansion and promotion of renewable energies in Germany. A change to the EEG will come into force from February 2025. These are particularly important for smaller system operators. In the future, they will have to market their electricity themselves instead of automatically releasing it into the grid. In addition, in times of negative electricity prices, they no longer receive compensation for the electricity they produce.
J. Vogel / editorial team finanzen.net