Lusatian municipalities on the way to becoming a European model region for structural change

The municipalities of Lusatia are receiving support from the EU in their ambitious plan to become a European model region for structural change. The responsible EU Commissioner Thierry Breton has announced that he will be visiting the region in mid-May, as announced by the Lusatia Round Table. The background to this is the municipal alliance's application to become the first Net-Zero Valley in Europe. Breton wants to see the region's potential for himself, it was said. Among those expected to attend the meeting at the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park on the Brandenburg-Saxony border are the Minister Presidents of both federal states, as well as representatives from companies such as Leag and Arcelor Mittal, business associations and universities. "We are ready to become a model region, have good conditions for settling here, and the funding opportunities for structural change are also available," said Christine Herntier, spokesperson for the Lusatian municipalities in Brandenburg, to the German Press Agency. "Our opportunity lies in the industries of the future and if the EU creates these opportunities, we want to take advantage of them."

The Net-Zero-Industry Act is part of the Green Industrial Plan. It is intended to ensure that more clean technologies are produced in the EU. This involves technologies that drive forward the energy transition and cause little to no greenhouse gas emissions.

In February, six mayors traveled to Brussels to promote Lusatia as an energy region. They presented their application to the EU Commissioner and invited him to visit the region. The meeting was arranged by Christian Ehler, Member of the European Parliament from Brandenburg. According to the MEP, he played a key role in drafting the Net Zero Industry Act, in which the so-called Net Zero Valleys are anchored. Ehler sees good opportunities for Lusatia as the first European energy transition model region.

The phase-out of lignite-fired power generation in 2038 has been legally agreed for Lusatia. An earlier phase-out date is also repeatedly being debated. "Lusatia has no choice but to invest in future technologies," Alliance spokesperson Herntier made clear. The talks with Breton will also focus on the necessary digitalization of public administrations so that the shorter approval times for technologies and projects enshrined in EU law can be met.

With the net-zero industry law, Europe wants to strengthen the attractiveness of its business location through faster approval procedures, more targeted training and further education for and for specialists in net-zero technologies and better market access for technologies "Made-in-Europe".