The federal and state governments want to discuss the relief package for the economy and the planned billion-euro investments further at a summit on June 18. This was announced by Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and Lower Saxony's Minister President Olaf Lies (SPD) after a meeting of the 16 heads of the federal states in Berlin.
When asked whether an agreement would be reached on June 18, Lies said: "Time is very short. So we will have to start immediately." The aim is to clear the way for a decision in the Bundesrat in July. The last scheduled plenary session of the Bundesrat before the summer break is planned for July 11.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is also due to take part in the federal-state summit. Merz had canceled his participation in the Minister Presidents' Conference today due to a trip to US President Donald Trump.
Länder want "change of mood" in Germany
There is no doubt that an "investment booster" is needed, said Lies. "It's just one building block. But it is a not insignificant building block." The plans for an economic upturn must be flanked by simpler procedures and lower energy prices.
It is also important not to play off relief for the economy and investment incentives against each other, said Lies. "We will also have to invest locally." The goal is a "change of mood" in Germany in which people realize that, thanks to democracy, they will be a little better off tomorrow than they are today.
Saxony's head of government, Kretschmer, announced that "accelerating planning and reducing regulatory density" as well as state modernization should also be discussed in the meeting with Merz.
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