The Upper Lusatia Business Initiative has called for rapid reforms during a meeting at the Federal Chancellery. "Structural change does not happen at a snail's pace," said CDU politician Marko Schiemann, who acts as spokesperson for the initiative, after the meeting with the Minister of State for Federal-State Cooperation, Michael Meister (CDU). It was made clear in the meeting that Upper Lusatia does not need comforting words, but concrete framework conditions. Structural change stands and falls with infrastructure and good conditions.
Upper Lusatia needs 10,000 replacement jobs due to coal phase-out
"The demand remains, we need 10,000 replacement jobs in industry so that young people in Upper Lusatia can find prospects. We need more impetus for investment," explained Schiemann. Companies needed better opportunities to create these jobs.
At the same time, he added, there had been a strong push for changes to the future EU budget. This is the most important investment tool for Saxony's catch-up process and cross-border cooperation. "We are therefore calling on the federal government to do everything in its power to increase regional funding by 100 billion." Regional funding is the only opportunity for companies to do something to improve their competitiveness.
Clear message to federal politicians
"The message to federal politicians is unmistakable: anyone who wants to phase out coal must lay the tracks and roads for the economy of tomorrow now. We will continue our efforts and continue the talks with the federal government," said Schiemann.
The Upper Lusatian Entrepreneurs' Initiative was founded in 2010 and is made up of around 30 companies from different sectors and of different sizes. It aims to make a contribution to the positive economic development of Upper Lusatia. With regard to the coal phase-out, the initiative has submitted more than 30 proposals.
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