Greens demand stop to Elbe expansion

In view of ever lower water levels, the Greens in Saxony-Anhalt are calling for a stop to the expansion of the Elbe. The groyne expansion, which is supposed to ensure that the Elbe remains navigable, has turned the situation on its head, says Cornelia Lüddemann, leader of the Green parliamentary group in the state parliament. Because there are long periods of low water, this leads to the Elbe silting up and groundwater being drawn from the surrounding area. "The economic development lies in tourism."

According to the state government's answers to a major question from the Greens, goods handling at the Elbe's inland ports is declining. According to the Greens, goods handling at the Elbe-only ports has fallen by 93 percent since 2010. "The Elbe is no longer a waterway," said Lüddemann.

However, the state government points out: "The Elbe is still the most important waterway in the state." The transport axis along the Elbe is of great importance in the trans-European transport network for strengthening the internal market. The aim of the state government is to increasingly transport goods on the waterways as an environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Fewer ships, but lots of chemicals: Elbe in poor condition

The environmental policy spokesperson for the Greens, Wolfgang Aldag, said that the Elbe was also in a poor ecological condition. "The Elbe and floodplains are dying." Numerous bird species and amphibians are declining rapidly along the Elbe. "The floodplains are running out of water," said Aldag.

Although there are numerous renaturation measures, these would be counteracted by the expansion. "We have to make a decision," emphasized Aldag. "Navigation here on the Elbe is dead. We need to develop the Elbe as a natural experience." Nature tourism is needed as an economic factor.

Iris Brunar from BUND also called for the overall concept for the Elbe to be revised. The data for the concept is more than twelve years old and therefore clearly outdated. The water levels have changed drastically. The overall concept for the Elbe dates back to 2017 and serves as a strategic concept for ecological and economic development. It was approved by two federal ministries and the then state government of Saxony-Anhalt, in which the Greens were also involved, among others. Lüddemann emphasized, however, that it had been agreed to regularly compare the concept with reality. This must now be done.