Prime Minister’s Conference: Country leaders for continued border controls

The Prime Ministers have called for further measures to better manage migration. In a resolution by the Prime Minister’s Conference (MPK) in Leipzig, they advocated, among other things, continued border controls and further deportations to Afghanistan, Syria and Turkey in asylum policy. However, the heads of government did not reach an agreement at their annual conference in Leipzig on the CDU’s demand for rejections at the border.

The heads of government had been meeting in Leipzig since Wednesday. Saxony has chaired the Prime Minister’s Conference since October 1st.

Difficult topics and difficult consultations

Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) spoke of a “Prime Minister’s Conference that took place in difficult times, with difficult topics and correspondingly difficult deliberations.” Progress on issues such as migration is only possible “if we continually return to a common core,” emphasized Weil.

One could perhaps say that the decisions on migration are not the big breakthrough. However, they are further building blocks of a course that has led to a decline in the number of asylum seekers this year, said Weil. Rejections at the border are not legally possible.

A decision was also postponed on the sensitive issue of increasing the broadcasting fee. However, the heads of government agreed on a far-reaching reform of public broadcasting – with far-reaching consequences for television and radio offerings.

Public broadcasting is being reformed – question of contribution remains open

Big changes are coming to public broadcasting. The aim of the reform plans is to create more efficient structures and save costs. The number of radio programs on ARD is to fall from 70 to 53. Smaller TV channels should also be eliminated. “We stand by this important institution,” said Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU). “But people rightly have the expectation that reforms will take place.” The state parliaments still have to approve the reform.

However, the prime ministers have postponed the decision on the broadcasting fee. There will be further consultations in December. The contribution is currently 18.36 euros per month. A commission has proposed an increase of 58 cents from 2025. However, several countries were vehemently opposed to this increase. The open question of the future broadcasting fee could end up before the Federal Constitutional Court if ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio sue.

The discussions on public broadcasting were accompanied by protests. On Thursday, musicians demonstrated at the conference venue in Leipzig, primarily against the planned merger of the television channels 3sat and Arte. On Friday, the campaign organization Campact put up an image of an oversized television with no signal reception.

Back to the purchase bonus for electric cars?

Because of the crisis in the German automotive industry, the country leaders are calling for new, temporary purchase incentives for electric cars. The short-term abolition of the purchase premium for electric vehicles at the end of last year led to a noticeable decline in sales. The federal government should also examine how the expansion of the charging structure can be promoted. A secure network of charging points could reduce purchasing reservations.

Extension of the digital pact in schools called for

The heads of government of the federal states are calling for an extension of the digital pact for schools. With the current agreement, significant progress has been made in the digitization of the educational landscape from 2019 to 2024. This positive development must be “pursued continuously and seamlessly.” The federal government must make at least 1.3 billion euros available annually from 2025 to 2030 to continue the digital pact. The money must be distributed to the states in a “low-bureaucracy process”.

Record deficit for municipalities

The Prime Ministers are concerned about the situation in around 11,000 cities, municipalities and districts. A record financial deficit of 13.2 billion euros is predicted for the municipal level this year. Expenditure on social benefits has doubled since 2005, and the high number of refugees is also placing a heavy burden on municipalities, it was said.

When enacting laws, the federal level must take a closer look at the situation in the municipalities and analyze the financial and personnel effects more closely, demanded the heads of government. Laws should no longer be created quickly, as has often been the case recently. Tasks that are transferred from the federal government to the municipalities must “always be accompanied by complete and permanent compensation” for the associated additional burdens.

Inclusion should be improved

After a meeting with the representatives for the disabled, the Prime Ministers also made a decision on the subject of inclusion. Accordingly, they want to work for the “self-determined, equal and effective participation” of people with disabilities. The federal government was called upon to remove all obstacles for disabled people in accessing long-term care insurance benefits.