Voigt praises "new cooperation" between federal government and eastern states

Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU) has described the top-level meeting between the eastern states and Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius as "very successful". The cooperation between the federal government, the Chancellor and the East German states was "really a new kind of togetherness", Voigt said on ARD's "Morgenmagazin".

At the first meeting of the East German minister presidents with Merz at Ettersburg Castle in Thuringia, it was agreed, among other things, that the "autumn of reform would also be an autumn of decision".

Investment in the East - but not just for tanks

Voigt once again made it clear that East Germany must be taken into account in the distribution of defense billions. It was not just about the traditional armaments industry, but also about fields such as cyber defense, modern optical technology and medical technology. "And conversely, this also means that investments must flow into the production potential in the East," said Voigt.

In order to ensure regular exchanges, Merz has promised further meetings. "He also made it clear yesterday that we don't just need an annual meeting, but that we will discuss precisely these topics with each other at irregular intervals, but several times throughout the year," said Voigt.

Airports, not personnel debates

In contrast, Voigt called debates such as the one on the abolition of the Commissioner for Eastern Europe superfluous. "These are the kind of personnel debates that I don't think anyone needs," he said, referring to demands from the CDU/CSU. Economic growth, functioning state structures and investment in infrastructure, such as rail and air transport, are important to people. "We have far too few international flights in eastern Germany, in Berlin at the airport, for example, or Leipzig."