Saxony calls for rapid solution for major projects

Saxony's Energy Minister Wolfram Günther has called for swift certainty for planned and eligible projects following the budget ruling. "In Saxony, we are talking about the chip industry, the solar industry and large hydrogen projects, among others," said the Green politician on Monday after consultations between the federal and state ministers of economics and energy in Berlin. The issue is bigger, Günther emphasized. Europe's sovereignty hangs on the question of whether microchips and solar cells are manufactured in central Germany or in China, he said. Projects that had already been approved could rely on the approval. However, the minister also called for certainty to be established quickly for other projects.

Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Dulig, saw the meeting as the right signal. "Because we have a common interest in strengthening Germany as a business location," said the SPD politician on Monday. What is needed now are quick solutions as an overall package, not for individual measures. "The federal government must deliver so that an overall package can be put together."

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck wants to maintain the funding of economic projects worth billions. "There is a joint search to find ways now," said Habeck after the consultations on Monday. The projects associated with the climate and transformation fund affect the "economic core of Germany".

The Federal Constitutional Court had declared a reallocation of 60 billion euros in the 2021 budget to be unconstitutional. The federal government is therefore not allowed to use funds intended to combat the coronavirus crisis for climate protection. This could have a major impact on the Climate and Transformation Fund.

What the decision means for important semiconductor projects such as the establishment of the chip company TSMC in Dresden is still unclear. At least part of the billions in funding for TSMC comes from the Climate and Transformation Fund.