structural development

Because we want to live here
Priorities and goals of the new district administrator of the district of Görlitz

Today is exactly 100 days that Dr. Stephan Meyer is in office as the new district administrator of the district of Görlitz. After 13 years as a member of the Saxon state parliament, on September 5 he became head of an administration with more than 1,800 employees. One of the first official acts of Dr. Stephan Meyer was the formation of two new departments for structural development, economic development and international relations as well as for the investment companies. The district administrator wants to create conditions that will increase purchasing power and quality of life through well-paid jobs and stable structures, and thus create a solid financial basis for the municipalities. The structural change in Lusatia opens up new possibilities for this. Through this process, the district of Görlitz has resources available that other regions do not have. What are his priorities in this process? How does he personally approach the implementation of his goals? Where does he see potential and opportunities for the district? We came with Dr. Stephan Meyer in conversation.

How do you plan to phase out coal as a district - especially with the uncertainty of whether the coal phase-out will come in 2030 or 2038?

The current process shows that we are still at the beginning of structural development and that the federal government has so far failed to make structural funds more flexible and to speed up the planning and approval procedures. From my point of view, bringing the exit forward to 2030 would be unrealistic and a fatal breach of trust. We must be able to ensure that our region continues to be an energy region. The competence of the people in the energy industry, the infrastructure of the power plant locations and the acceptance of the energy industry by the population suggest this. However, this requires accelerated network expansion for decentralized energy generation and connection to the hydrogen network. We will often be faced with weighing different protected interests. For example, there are interventions in nature and the environment as well as a safe and economical energy supply. I would like to accompany the partners in this process intensively with the department for economic development, structural development and international relations, which is based directly at my place, and create the shortest possible paths for the associated administrative procedures.

As a member of the state parliament, you have already spoken out in favor of transparency in the process of structural development and in the votes of the regional monitoring committee. What else is important to you in this process?  

I would like to ensure more transparency in the process in order to make decisions more understandable for people. I have found increasing understanding for my demands. I recognize that the state of Bavaria is also quite willing to incorporate experiences from previous rounds into improving the process. I can well imagine that we will talk about the importance of intermunicipal projects, regional or thematic priorities for the decisions of the RBA and align them more closely accordingly. The continued close cooperation with the district of Bautzen is also important because we, as Upper Lusatia, are a region for joint economic development.  

You travel the entire district every day and come into contact with many people. What is the mood of the citizens towards the structural change process and how important is their participation?

People are not satisfied with the process so far, especially in the northern core area of ​​the current coal exploitation. I understand this dissatisfaction, since we are now in the fourth year after the coal commission's final report and this raised expectations that were far too high. This cannot be fulfilled by the Investment Strengthening Act. When making decisions, we always have to consider communication and account for traceability and acceptance. At the same time, good projects have now also been decided that will have a direct effect in the core region and will have a comprehensible effect on jobs and the quality of life on site. It drives me to give people the best possible support in realizing their ideas. I would like to know and understand their perspectives. Projects that are developed and implemented by and with local people usually enjoy the greatest acceptance.

With the decision that the CASUS Institute and the German Center for Astrophysics will be located in Görlitz and other research institutes will come to the region, Görlitz will become a heavyweight in the international research landscape. How can the district support this development?  

We should see these settlements as an opportunity. This allows us to put our region in the international spotlight. With cosmopolitanism and innovative spirit, we want to be a good home for people from abroad. In this context, a good road and rail infrastructure is important in order to be easily accessible for and in all parts of the world. For this we need the express train connection and efficient road connections to the centers in our three-country region.

 What priorities do you set for the development of the business location district of Görlitz? 

Above all, I rely on the expansion of existing companies and their innovation strengthening through our research landscape. Upper Lusatia has around 40,000 jobs to fill by 2030. It is therefore important that local companies can develop well. We should promote targeted settlements in the area of ​​research priorities and strategic topics, such as the circular economy. With our administration and with our political decisions, we must ensure that the ability to innovate increases, above all in our small companies, and that they thus achieve a higher level of added value. This enables them to pay higher wages to their employees. We need attractive career prospects so that young people can complete their training here or return after training abroad. They should have the opportunity to realize their ideas at home. Regions that invest in education, research and development and key technologies have the greatest development opportunities in the long term.

What personal accents would you like to add to your work? 

I would like people to perceive our administration as an "enabler" and we would like to strengthen our service capability across the board through citizens' offices and more digital administrative services. At the same time, I will continue to promote our three-country region in the middle of Europe as a sustainable region with great potential and structural development as an opportunity, hoping to encourage some to stay or come back.