Heads of government in the north are working together on renewable energies
Created: 04/21/2022, 16:20
By: Andree Waechter
Five heads of countries are discussing a joint maritime economy and a faster expansion of renewable energies.
Kiel – How can the northern German federal states join forces in the maritime economy and in renewable energies?
The northern countries want to push ahead with the expansion of renewable energies such as wind turbines.
The country heads met in Kiel on Thursday to discuss the matter.
Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) welcomed his colleagues Peter Tschentscher, Andreas Bovenschulte, Manuela Schwesig and Stephan Weil (all SPD) from Hamburg, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony.
Lower Saxony | Stephen Weil |
Bremen | Andreas Bovenschulte |
Hamburg | Peter Tschentscher |
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | Manuela Schwesig |
Heads of government from the north in Kiel: "It is essential that renewable energies be expanded more quickly"
"We absolutely need a faster expansion of renewable energies," said Schwesig at the meeting of the heads of government from the north in Kiel.
It was a mistake by the old federal government to cap wind power at sea.
Important measures for a faster energy transition must come from northern Germany, Weil also emphasized.
"We get along very well in northern Germany," he replied to a question about his expectations before the start of the conference.
Representatives of the Dutch company One Dyas recently met Economics Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) in Hanover.
It was about a permit for natural gas production near the Wadden Sea nature reserve.
Energy: Pressure on Schwesig over Nord Stream 2
In the group photo on the terrace of the guest house of the Schleswig-Holstein state government, the heads of government also demonstrated harmony - in the best weather and with the Kiel Fjord in the back.
The four gentlemen took Schwesig in the middle, who is currently under political pressure because of her role in connection with the Nord Stream 2 Baltic gas pipeline.
"Six months ago there was a state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the citizens confirmed me in office with a large majority, with a strong vote of the citizens," said Schwesig in response to a journalist's question.
"That's why the people in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania can also rely on me to continue to live up to these expectations and this trust."
With their shipyards for ships and submarines, the northern German federal states have a unique selling proposition.
© Marcus Brandt/dpa/archive image
Meeting of the prime ministers in the north: Tschentscher emphasizes the strength of the economic area in the north
Against the background of the Ukraine war, Tschentscher emphasized the strength of the North German economic area.
"We have strong industry in the north, we have good seaport connections and that is extremely important now in the Ukraine crisis," he said.
"We can see how important it is that supply chains are maintained, that we have good access to the world market via the Port of Hamburg and the Elbe.
If LNG import options (for liquid natural gas) are created now with Brunsbüttel, maybe also Hamburg, then that will help us a lot.”
After the opening talks for the conference, a visit to the shipyard German Naval Yards was on the program for the heads of government.
One background is the intention of the Federal Government to provide the Bundeswehr with a special fund of 100 billion euros for investments and armament projects.
German Naval Yards specializes in large naval vessels such as frigates and corvettes, while the neighboring shipyard TKMS also specializes in submarines.
With its shipyards, northern Germany has a unique selling point in the so-called blue economy, Günther said before the conference.
Even if there is competition between shipyards, the northern German states want to improve the conditions for national shipbuilding together.
The goal is a modern, crisis-proof and innovative business location in northern Germany.
