Every second Euro is earned in Germany on the country. To live there, but it is becoming less attractive. That is the Problem. Especially for the medium-sized economy. Sabine Kinkartz reported.
Federal Economics Minister, Peter Altmaier, has to travel a lot. To reach out to him in the car, can be difficult. “Great white-water rivers, beautiful mountains and lots of Green” had he seen at a company visit in the Bavarian town of Künzelsau, told Altmaier at a meeting of the CDU/CSU group in the Bundestag, on the situation of the economy in rural areas in Berlin. An urgent text message from Angela Merkel that he had not been able to answer immediately, because he had in the car for ten minutes continuously no signal. “The Chancellor probably thought, why did the fool respond in a timely manner?”
What Altmaier, seen only on his travels, for many citizens, but also for companies in Germany everyday. 47 million people-more than half of the population lives in the so-called rural areas. Here also the majority of small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up 99.5 percent of the German economy and home to. Every second Euro is earned in Germany on the country. Especially of the many family-run businesses, many of which are so-called “Hidden Champions” are.
No highway and it runs good anyway
For example, in Donau-Ries, in the constituency of the Bavarian Bundestag Deputy Ulrich for a Long time. The largest city in this Region has little more than 18,000 inhabitants. In the Long constituency, the economy is booming. The largest employer Airbus Helicopters with 7000 jobs. There are a number of successful metal processing companies and a couple of machine builders. Hama, one of the largest suppliers in the electronics industry has also its location.
Donauwörth, the largest town in the Donau-Ries
“I’ve no Kilometer of the highway and still have an unemployment rate of 1.6 to 1.8 percent,” outlines the Long proud of the economic situation in the Danube-Ries. Satisfied is still. “I have more than commuting out, because you live better in Munich and Augsburg, and to drive us to work, to live with us.” What will make these commuters, when driving the car from a climate protection reasons, it is more expensive? You will draw then back to the country, or terminate?
The boys pull away
In some villages in Donau-Ries is a district of houses and apartments is now empty. This has consequences for the infrastructure. Where places are shrinking, there will soon be fewer Doctors, fewer shops, less schools and less public transport. The digital infrastructure is expanding even more slowly than is already the case.
“We are pleased that Deutsche Bahn is to get more money for climate protection,” says Long with a view to the recently adopted climate package of the Federal government. If he reports in his constituency about it, then people would respond to that, but just dry: “You know yourself, no German train more.”
“No network” – on Land that is frequently read to
It’s getting to be threat
Politicians have Long of fear for the future of their rural regions. For years, talked about what has failed the policy. The Expansion of the fast Internet and of mobile communication, but also in the preservation of a public transport. Happened, but hardly anything. Meanwhile, the investment demand is so pent-up that it will take years to eliminate the misery. If the Affected citizens and businesses can still have a lot of patience and be?
In a study by the Institute of German economy (IW) claims three-quarters of the company about poor communication networks. Almost a third of the companies in its business activities, even massively compromised. The shortage of skilled workers in the rural areas so massive that the economy judged him to be existence-threatening. “Our gross national product would not look like this, if we had the rural areas,” said Union group Vice Carsten Linnemann.
Berlin sends money
It is urgent, which is also the Federal Minister of economy white. “The countryside should not have the feeling that the politicians in Berlin could forget him eventually,” says Peter Altmaier. Recently, he has presented his SME strategy, which combines the rural space especially in the eye. “It’s about appreciation, relief and strengthening,” said Altmaier.
1. January 2020 he wants to set up a pan-German support system for structurally weak regions. Aimed at areas that look far worse. Economically fallen behind, and a high level of unemployment. Due to the lack of tax revenues and high social expenditure, such communities are heavily indebted in General, too. A comparison: In Munich will be paid in taxes per capita is an average of 3800 euros. In ten counties in Saxony-Anhalt will be paid in taxes per capita is less than 600 Euro. In Rhineland-Palatinate, there are circles in eight of the country for less than 800 Euro.
The southern Eifel is considered to be the Region in Germany, with the least economic power
In the eighties, large parts of Bavaria structure were weak. The state promoted the regions, by authorities, research institutions and universities of applied Sciences were established. With Success. It is a scientific Cluster that were to the economy is interesting formed. With the result that the company settled.
97 percent are not always 97 percent
Today, if a site selection is pending, the company not only, whether there are workers at the site and whether roads and Railways are well developed. At the very top of the Internet connection. The lack of Expansion in the country has to take responsibility for the policy with. The state had linked the auction of the frequencies to roll-out obligations. 97 per cent should be supplied until the end of 2019.
“We have always thought that the 97 percent of the area of the Federal Republic of Germany,” recalls Altmaier. But the fact is, 97% of the population were meant to be. Even that, however, has not yet been reached. Therefore, operators face the network from 2020, penalties in the amount of a maximum of two percent of global annual turnover.
Errors are not repeated
Now the mobile operators are in the wings, the new ultra-fast 5G network. Again, preferably, in the Metropolitan areas, where most of the people, i.e. customers, living and along the highways, and the ICE rail routes. This is to prevent the Minister necessarily. “We have to get a prioritization, which also connects areas in the rural areas of the schools, the educational institutions and industry.” There should not be started when the cities were supplied.
In addition, the 4G had to be carried out-supply, finally, across the Board, adds Altmaier, grimly. Phone calls with foreign leaders, not the Minister already for a long time in the car by make. Is it too embarrassing. “Since it breaks the communication take time,” he complains. If it was from Berlin to Hannover on the road, he could call no more than ten minutes without flying a couple of Times from the network.