Criticism from Saxony of the draft law on special assets

Saxony's Deputy Prime Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) sees room for improvement in the federal government's billion-euro program for future investments. "In this form, the special fund will fail to have the desired effect in Saxony and the East," she said in Dresden. "The conditions for using the funds are too rigid." In times of tight budgets, it is a problem that only additional and new investments are to be covered according to the draft.

"This is a major obstacle to the necessary investments," she said. The federal states were already threatened with less tax revenue due to the planned federal economic stimulus package. In addition, important areas such as sport and culture would be completely excluded from the program. "Significant improvements are needed in these areas."

Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) wants to launch the billion-euro special fund for investments in infrastructure and climate protection this month. The debt-financed special fund is to be approved by the cabinet on June 24. "I have already sought an exchange with Vice Chancellor Klingbeil - and have been promised a solution by him," reported Köpping.