In the face of growing competition from all over the world, will Europe succeed in combining climate protection and economic strength? The prime ministers of the federal states see a need for action.
The heads of government of the federal states want to work with the EU to find ways to strengthen the global competitiveness of the European economy.
On the way to climate neutrality, it is also about preserving German and European strengths, “especially in the economic sector,” said Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) at a meeting of state leaders with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels in the evening.
“That will be the task for the next few years: gaining competitiveness,” emphasized North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU). Lower Saxony chairs the Prime Ministers’ Conference (MPK), North Rhine-Westphalia co-chairs it.
Europe in economic upheaval
Commission President von der Leyen said that Europe was going through an economic upheaval. “The challenge is great. But we want to show that nature conservation, climate protection and growth go hand in hand,” said the CDU politician. However, other regions of the world are also in the process of bringing clean and renewable technologies forward. “Whoever has these technologies first will have the edge,” said von der Leyen. “Above all, we have to be faster,” she demanded, with a view to lengthy approval procedures.
A few hours earlier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had also called for “pace instead of standstill” when he proposed a “Germany Pact” to the federal states, local authorities and the opposition in the Bundestag – with the exception of the AfD. FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr then called on the state leaders to commit to this project at their meeting in Brussels. “I would like the Prime Ministers’ Conference in Brussels to send out a signal for a joint modernization of our country,” Dürr told the newspapers of the Bayern media group.
Lower Saxony’s head of government, Weil, said the states had long been ready for an acceleration pact. “I see today’s statement by the Federal Chancellor as the necessary starting signal,” said the SPD politician. It’s not just about the infrastructure. “Strictly speaking, Germany is over-regulated in almost all areas of society, to the annoyance of citizens and entrepreneurs,” said Weil.
Further deliberations on Thursday
Before leaving for Brussels, the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony again campaigned for a discounted price for industrial electricity, from which particularly energy-intensive companies should benefit. “Under the given circumstances, many industries – chemicals, steel, glass, paper, ceramics and some others – will have really big problems. There is a real risk of damage to our country,” warned Weil.
In addition to economic policy, the meeting of the country heads should also deal with the reception and distribution of refugees and how to deal with the wolf. The German Farmers’ Association called on the Prime Ministers to work with von der Leyen to downgrade the protection status of the wolf in EU law.
The consultations in Brussels will continue on Thursday. Among other things, the heads of government will meet EU Commissioners Maros Sefcovic (climate), Margaritis Schinas (migration), Kadri Simson (energy) and Virginijus Sinkevicius (environment).
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
