BERLIN/HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) – The Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag demands from the traffic light coalition an offensive of measures for the maritime economy in Germany. Massive investments are needed, especially in the port of Hamburg, to be able to maintain maritime value creation and know-how in Germany in the future, said the rapporteur of the parliamentary group for port management, Hamburg MP Christoph Ploß (CDU), Press Agency German.
A union proposal, which will be presented to the Bundestag on Friday, envisages, among other things, strengthening the role of the federal government’s coordinator for the maritime industry and tourism. Instead of at the Federal Ministry of Economy, the coordinator position should be located at the Federal Chancellery and focus on the maritime economy.
In addition, the rapid implementation of the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan, the acceleration of port infrastructure projects and a national 5G network are required. National maritime economy projects will be guaranteed by federal guarantees and export credit guarantees and new support structures for a “de-fossilization of navigation” will be created.
In the application, the Union is also in favor of protecting critical port infrastructure from the influence of third countries and protecting critical energy infrastructure at sea. Naval construction and arms exports must also be strengthened.
In Hamburg, investments in port infrastructure and hinterland connections must be increased, demanded Ploß. In addition to expanding the port into an energy transition hub for renewable energy and green hydrogen, the shores and piers would need to be renovated – which would benefit the entire country. “The port of Hamburg and the connected waterways ensure prosperity, jobs and security of supply across Germany,” he said.
In mid-month, the National Maritime Conference (NMK) in Bremen, under the auspices of the Federal Chancellor, will address support for the maritime economy. In addition to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the Minister of Economy, Robert Habeck (Greens), the Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing (FDP) and the Maritime Coordinator of the Federal Government, Dieter Janecek (Greens), want to discuss the future of the economy with around 800 industry representatives./fi/DP /ngu