▁- ▁Germany ▁assumes ▁presiden cy ▁of ▁the ▁G 8 ▁for ▁the ▁year ▁and ▁presiden cy ▁of ▁the ▁Council ▁of ▁the ▁European ▁Union ▁for ▁six ▁months . ▁▁ 1 ▁January ▁- ▁Value ▁added ▁tax ▁is ▁raised ▁from ▁ 1 6 % ▁to ▁ 1 9 %. ▁▁ 1 ▁January ▁- ▁Ben Q - S iem ens ▁in ▁Mun ich ▁decl ares ▁ins ol ven cy . ▁▁ 5 ▁January ▁- ▁M oun ir ▁El ▁Mot ass ade q ▁was ▁sent enced ▁in ▁Hamburg ▁to ▁ 1 5 ▁years ▁prison ▁for ▁his ▁invol vement ▁in ▁the ▁September ▁ 1 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁attacks . ▁▁ 8 ▁January ▁- ▁Russian ▁oil ▁supplies ▁to ▁Germany , ▁Poland , ▁and ▁Ukraine ▁are ▁cut ▁for ▁three ▁days ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Russia - Bel arus ▁energy ▁dispute . ▁▁ 1 8 ▁January ▁- ▁Following ▁in - party ▁pressure , ▁Edmund ▁Sto iber ▁announ ces ▁his ▁res ignation ▁as ▁Minister - Pres ident ▁of ▁Bav aria ▁and ▁chairman ▁of ▁the ▁C SU , ▁effective ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁September . ▁▁ 1 8 ▁January ▁- ▁H urr icane ▁K yr ill , ▁the ▁worst ▁storm ▁to ▁hit ▁Germany ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁k ills ▁ 1 3 ▁in ▁Germany ▁and ▁at ▁least ▁ 3 1 ▁in ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁Western ▁Europe . ▁▁ 2 ▁February ▁- ▁The ▁federal ▁parliament ▁passes ▁a ▁reform ▁in ▁health ▁ins urance , ▁making ▁ins urance ▁comp uls ory ▁for ▁all ▁German ▁citizens . ▁▁ 8 ▁March ▁- ▁Germany