Economic crisis: Countries call for "powerful change of course"

Due to the economic downturn, the federal states are calling for cheaper electricity and lower air fares quickly. The Conference of Minister Presidents (MPK) made corresponding appeals to the Bundestag on Thursday. The Bundestag should act before the new elections in February if possible. The federal states themselves approved an agreement with the federal government to recognize foreign professional qualifications more easily and thus attract skilled workers. Important topics of the MPK at a glance:

Economy: network charges and airport fees

Saxony's head of government Michael Kretschmer (CDU), currently Chairman of the Conference of Minister Presidents, said that Germany must emerge from the recession. The federal states expect a "powerful change of course". His colleague from Rhineland-Palatinate, Alexander Schweitzer, added on behalf of the SPD states that the "cost dynamics" of grid fees urgently needed to be weakened.

A decision could certainly be made before the 2025 federal elections, said Schweitzer. "I am also expressly addressing the opposition in the German Bundestag." This refers to the CDU/CSU, among others. Kretschmer said that the CDU/CSU had a civic responsibility. However, the CDU politician did not say which specific resolutions could be passed before the election with votes from the CDU/CSU.

Making flying cheaper

As Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) announced, the federal states agreed that the taxes and fees at German airports were too high and a competitive disadvantage. The next federal government must put together a relief package for the German aviation industry. This includes "starting to phase out the air traffic tax". The fees for aviation security and air traffic control should be reviewed and "regulatory requirements for climate protection" should be limited to the EU minimum.

Easier recognition of professional qualifications from abroad

In a circular resolution, the federal states reached an agreement with the federal government to make it easier to recognize professional qualifications acquired abroad. According to the resolution, the shortage of skilled workers is clearly noticeable in many sectors. "The swift and transparent recognition of foreign qualifications is essential." The key words here are digitalize, reduce bureaucracy, speed up.

Unified system for citizen data

Citizens should have it easier - this is what the federal states expect from the NOOTS (National-Once-Only-Technical-System) system, which is to be contractually regulated and introduced. Different authorities should be able to access data that citizens have already stored - for example, the registry office should be able to access data at the citizens' registration office. The aim is for citizens and companies to only have to transmit this data to the administration once - if the person concerned so wishes.

Protecting young people from unsuitable apps

Parents should have an easier time protecting their underage children from harmful content on the internet. Specifically, it should be possible to set age limits for apps with a "central setting in the operating system" of the end device, as Schweitzer said. Until now, this has been very complicated. "We are making it easier." This is to be regulated in an amendment to the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media.

Funding of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation

The federal states also agreed on the future funding of one of Germany's most important cultural institutions: the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, under whose umbrella world-famous museums and archives are organized in Berlin. According to information from state circles, both the states and the federal government will increase their respective contributions to financing the operating costs by ten percent from 2026. In total, the federal and state governments will provide an additional amount of 12 million euros. According to reports, this will increase the budget to around 135 million euros.