structural development

Today I would like to outline my point of view on possible projects in Lusatia.

The last blog article on this topic gave feedback that all the processes in the background are nice - but not interesting for the general public. You can see it like this. However, it is also part of the truth. We would have preferred a direct allocation of funds to the municipal level, but that would probably be a first for such large sums. So there are legal and technical planks in which we move. In between there are structures and procedures. We cannot change that at the moment either. Of course, those who criticize long distances and complex processes are also right. Structural development can only succeed together. Based on the information, I will refrain from presenting the individual bodies in detail. Other media are already doing this and much better than me. A recommendation is always the Lausitz Magazin . Very detailed, good quality and can be found as a newspaper in many institutions. I will also not go into the different approaches in the individual federal states at this point. Perhaps at a later date, specifically in relation to an idea or a project. But not here and now.

Today I would like to at least explain the different project possibilities. I think that makes sense. Your feedback is also welcome here.  

Excursion into biology? 

In the last post I explained two different ways. It is also often spoken of two arms. I find arms better. Because arms are important for our daily activities. But without legs and all other body parts, arms alone are not able to function independently. This is exactly how I view the topic of structural change. Detached from regional needs, the best ideas from Berlin, Dresden or Brussels are useless. It has to fit the region. It must also be wanted in the region. Then it becomes an overall picture. And this is the challenge to be overcome. How do we work with the stakeholders to find projects that are a good fit for the region? Projects that can also be justified and worthy of funding from the state and the federal government. Exactly this justification in detail is complex, sometimes frustrating and not always solvable at first glance. Nevertheless, the goal can only be to initiate and implement as many good projects as possible in Lusatia. Yes - in Lusatia. Because that's the district. The federal and state governments have already broken down financial flows with concrete funds to the regions. Mutual envy or even resentment are bad from my point of view. Our chance is to focus on the area as a whole, of course always with a special focus on the areas in which opencast mines and power plants are affected by the closure. We won't be able to assert ourselves nationally in the small-small. This requires joint efforts and a supra-regional understanding of the project. Maybe more on that later.  

Let's get back to the biology of structural funds. In the first arm, the funds are located under the responsibility of the federal states. In short, for the Lusatian mining area in the Free State of Saxony, this means 4.472 billion euros by 2038. Municipalities, districts or the federal states themselves can apply for projects to be implemented here. I won't write down the long paths of the process. Does everything always have to be done so formally? I don't know it. Doesn't matter. Here in Upper Lusatia you will find the projects in this arm that have been confirmed monitoring committee In the meantime, these are being processed by the SAB. Our team advises the municipalities in the district up to the actual project application. The sticking point with Arm 1 is always the focus on "additionality and job creation". I think this is very important and right. Only how these two points are always proven in detail has not yet fully opened up to me to this day. We have to change that. Unfortunately, the "turbo projects" launched in 2020 have not yet ignited the "turbo", unfortunately no money has yet flowed into this process.

The second arm consists of all those measures that the federal government has available for the districts and corresponding projects. In addition to road and rail projects, this can also include the settlement of research institutions or federal authorities. There is also here Incidentally, we are already noticing this in the district itself. With Casus or the settlement of Bafa, the federal government has certainly created the first tangible results. We like to forget that. Of course, there are different points of view here as well. But of course - if you don't do anything, you don't do anything wrong. That's why I'm happy about these two signals from the federal government. I would also be happy to provide information on the next project successes.

Allow me one comment. A possible phase-out of coal by 2030 is currently being discussed. "Feasible, because projects can then be implemented more quickly". Based on my experience so far, this is a very ambitious goal. So far we have been rather dissatisfied with long processes. I don't know whether money has somehow flowed out via one arm or the other. But the total amount that is in the room will be necessary in order to be able to actively shape the structural process. You need good projects for that. And these need advance notice. The processes will (have to) become familiar. Registering funds (i.e. the statement for a project I need a certain amount of money) and accelerating the actual outflow of funds for investment projects, that will be exciting 😊