Voigt: Eastern infrastructure key to security

The Chairman of the East German Minister Presidents' Conference, Mario Voigt, is calling for the East German states to be given greater consideration in defense policy issues. "The geographical location makes the infrastructure in eastern Germany key to Germany's security," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency in Erfurt. This also involves the question of what a secure transport and energy infrastructure can look like.

The eastern German states have immense potential in this area. There are a number of innovative companies - for example in the fields of robotics, optics and materials science. "But it's also about improving our civil protection and civil defense." Voigt is Minister President of Thuringia and leads a coalition of CDU, BSW and SPD.

Pistorius and Merz to attend East German MPK

The defense structures in the East German federal states will also be a topic at the conference of East German heads of government in Thuringia on Thursday. The minister presidents of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Brandenburg as well as the head of government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will meet at Ettersburg Castle near Weimar; Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (SPD) are also expected to attend.

Attacks on infrastructure and drone overflights

Voigt said that attacks on Europe were taking place on several levels these days. Energy grids or digital infrastructure are being attacked and drones are being flown over. "And we are already experiencing situations where we feel that we are under threat." In his opinion, there is "an understanding among the population that we need to be more capable of defending ourselves and that we can also trigger economic impetus at the same time", he said.

The federal government must ensure that a sufficient proportion of the billions of euros in investment reaches eastern Germany, said Saxony's Minister for Economic Affairs Dirk Panter (SPD). The higher defense budget must not only flow into established structures, but must also be used to invest in the future. This would increase acceptance for the sharp rise in defence spending in eastern Germany, said Panter.

State Economics Minister brings eastern quota into play

The SPD politician called for secure commitments from the federal government - if necessary via a fixed quota for the eastern German states. "I assume that the East German minister presidents will also raise this point with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at their meeting in Weimar."

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer had previously called for the arms industry in his federal state to be expanded in order to strengthen the state's economy. The CDU politician called for targeted support from the federal government for the East and proposed an East German component in the awarding of contracts.

Voigt said: "I think this is a point that obviously needs to be discussed because we have been at a disadvantage for years." Historically, different structures had developed in East and West Germany. It would be possible, for example, to align tenders accordingly or to link the award procedures with location promotion. "Economically, this can also be a way of compensating for certain things that have been lost."

Voigt cited the automotive supply industry, which has come under pressure in some cases, as an example. When locating federal and research institutions, the east must be consistently considered, he said. In his opinion, dual-use research in particular could take place in the eastern German states.