On the island of Riems, the Prime Ministers of the East German federal states and Federal Chancellor Scholz met. The discussions centered on ensuring and growing energy supplies in the East, as well as medical treatment in rural regions and the resulting skills deficit.
The summit also addressed the countries’ growing energy prices, as well as energy security and supply. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) called on the federal government to provide more assistance to residents. The meetings’ outcomes will be documented in a “Riems Declaration.”
Schwesig intends to put a greater emphasis on hydrogen technology
On the island of Riems, one of the key concerns was energy. During the subsequent news conference, Schwesig underlined that eastern Germany was already well ahead of the game when it came to growing renewable energy sources; for example, it produces more wind power than it uses. The acceptability of wind and solar energy expansion by residents, as well as the related fair grid fees, are both critical.
Furthermore, one must become less reliant on fossil fuels and less reliant on Russian oil and gas. Hydrogen technology is being touted as a potential answer. As a result, the East German federal states and the federal government will develop a hydrogen technology lobby. There should be start-up funding as well, although no quantity was specified.
It is impossible to make the transition without the use of gas and oil
Schwesig, on the other hand, insisted that there can’t be a transitional era without gas and oil. That should, of course, no longer come from Russia, but from other nations. The Rostock-Schwedt link in Brandenburg should also be exploited for this purpose. The Lubmin distribution network will also be looked at to see whether it can be utilized for this as well as hydrogen technologies.
Scholz: “Transforming Professionals”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) stressed in his address that Germany is undergoing a “great transition,” but that inhabitants of East Germany are “experts in transformation” in terms of the post-reunification period. Furthermore, it is clear that eastern Germany is one of Europe’s most appealing economic areas.
