The heads of government of the federal states began deliberations on the corona situation and the consequences of the Ukraine war in Berlin on Thursday. The preparation for an expected increase in corona infections in autumn is a central topic of the regular Prime Ministers’ Conference (MPK).
4:07 p.m .: Wüst and Dreyer are asked who brakes with the elementary protection insurance. There is no clear answer, but the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia wants to tackle this after Tuesday’s recommendation by the Minister of Justice. “Now things are happening in quick succession, we want to keep this pace.” Dreyer joins her colleague, and the press conference is over.
4:05 p.m .: Dreyer is asked whether there will be less entertainment in the public sector in the future. “The institutions have to decide that,” she says, but limits. “There should continue to be entertainment there, that’s very important.” In terms of contribution, you take your time until there is a new proposal from the institutions in terms of financing. “We can’t afford to get bogged down in discussions about fundamentals again in the next round.”
4:03 p.m .: “We agree that in addition to the relief that has been decided, there is also a need for pensioners,” says Wüst in relation to the constantly rising prices. One would talk to Olaf Scholz about this today.
4:01 p.m .: When asked again, Wüst answers tight-lipped. “We’ll certainly talk about all of that today,” he says, and brushes off the question briefly.
3:59 p.m .: Now there is time for a few questions – because of the upcoming consultations with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, this must be kept shorter. Wüst is asked what expectations he has of the federal government in terms of corona preparations. His answer is vague at best. In principle, he wants to let it come to him.
3:58 p.m .: More say in the content and the responsibility of the institutions for the distribution were also determined. For example, it is also about the decision whether TV and online, only TV or only online. “Kerin’s program will be cancelled,” says Dreyer. In principle, content would also remain available in the media libraries for 30 days, some even longer. “The institutions should develop a common platform strategy,” she concludes.
3:54 p.m .: Now Malu Dreyer speaks in her role as Chair of the Broadcasting Commission. A big step was taken today, she reports. “I would like to thank the citizens in particular, who have helped us to better understand what people expect from public broadcasting.” It was made clear that “opinion and information must be separated.” There is one there, too Clarification and sharpening of profile given.
3:51 p.m .: “We all face the challenge of ensuring the integration of the refugees.” It is still necessary, high performance for integration both for adults, for example in terms of work, but also for children in terms of schooling say that we are all well prepared,” says Giffey happily.
3:49 p.m .: “Today we also heard from the eastern German states that the refinery sites in Schwedt and Leuna are facing major challenges,” reports the mayor of Berlin. The states wanted to tackle this so that “the supply of east and west was equally guaranteed”. would.
3:47 p.m .: “We have agreed to ask the federal government to end speculation with gas, oil and other energies and to check possible price increases under antitrust law,” Giffey continued. The nine-euro ticket launched on Wednesday was good for the relief .
3:45 p.m .: Now Giffey takes over. “We have agreed that we need a text that takes care of securing the energy supply in Germany.” The emebargo is “right and important”, but the supply of energy must be secured.
3:43 p.m .: The very current sexual offense case from Wermelskirchen also moves Wüst. He promises that the federal and state governments will do even more in this regard. In general, it prepares people for further preparations against the pandemic. “We all wish it was over, but it isn’t.”
3:41 p.m .: Due to the increasing number of natural disasters, one issue is compulsory insurance against natural hazards, which, according to the Minister of Justice, is “constitutionally possible under certain circumstances”. “We must see that such events do not ruin people.”
3.40 p.m .: “For the security of our country, it is important to avoid dependencies on authoritarian regimes,” says Wüst. This applies not only to the topic of energy. “We have to strengthen the resilience of our country.” nudged to learn from the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis.
3:38 p.m .: Here we go! Hendrik Wüst, Franziska Giffey and Malu Dreyer speak. desert begins. “We talked very constructively about a wide range of topics,” said the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia.
3:25 p.m .: The press conference seems to be delayed, so far none of the Prime Minister has appeared at the press conference. At 4 p.m. the meeting with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is already scheduled.
First report: The federal states are putting pressure on the federal government to use the summer months to prepare for a possible worsening of the infection situation in winter. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is preparing a strategy for an expected increase in infections in the colder season. This should also include a new vaccination campaign.
The prime ministers are also focusing on the consequences of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine for Germany’s energy supply. The federal and state governments wanted to discuss, among other things, the expansion of renewable energies. In addition, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony want to introduce the reintroduction of compulsory insurance for natural hazards for all building owners in the Prime Ministers’ Conference.
The country heads met in person for the first time since their annual conference in October 2021. They first consulted among themselves in the North Rhine-Westphalian state representation in Berlin. In the afternoon, a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is planned in the Chancellery. You can follow the results here in the live ticker in the afternoon.
