Ahead of the "East German Chemical Summit" in Böhlen near Leipzig, the Greens in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt have called both companies and governments to account. The East German chemical industry has been under pressure for some time. According to the IG BCE trade union, around 63,000 people work in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry in eastern Germany. However, only 70 percent of capacity is utilized.
Greens: companies must live up to their responsibilities
A few months ago, the US company Dow Chemical announced that some of its plants in Schkopau (Saxony-Anhalt) and Böhlen (Saxony) are to be closed at the end of 2027. In the run-up to the summit, the Green parliamentary groups in the state parliaments of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt are calling on Dow to live up to its responsibility for the site and facilitate a transitional solution. In addition, the state and federal governments should increase pressure on the company and introduce location and investment obligations.
"Anyone who wants to benefit from public subsidies and favourable framework conditions must not simply shirk their responsibility in the chemical triangle," emphasized Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, Chairwoman of the Green Party in Saxony-Anhalt.
