The falling number of cases of corona infections in Germany make direct meetings with friends possible again.

And so on Thursday the more or less friendly heads of the federal states met again in a direct circle, in the afternoon first among themselves and in the evening with the Federal Chancellor and ministers of the federal government.

Markus Wehner

Political correspondent in Berlin.

  • Follow I follow

It was a "big family reunion", said Olaf Scholz after the meeting.

Being together again gave wings to the deliberations, and it was "great" to meet again in real life, enthused the Chancellor of the SPD.

However, the issues were serious.

Above all, Scholz, the ministers and state leaders spoke about the consequences of the "brutal war of aggression", according to the Chancellor, for Germany's energy security.

It is about importing enough gas, oil and coal despite the move away from energy from Russia.

Become less dependent on fossil fuels

It is important to expand the technical infrastructure "so that we can import gas from all over the world, especially on the north German coasts," said Scholz.

But it's not just about becoming independent of energy imports from Russia, but of fossil fuels in general.

That is why we need to expand renewable energies.

"It has to be done at full speed now."

And it only works in close cooperation between the federal and state governments.

The chairman of the conference of prime ministers, North Rhine-Westphalia's prime minister Henrik Wüst (CDU), agreed with the chancellor and even went a step further.

For the future it is important to "avoid dependence on authoritarian regimes".

In general, the state needs greater crisis resilience and resilience, for which not only the Bundeswehr has to be strengthened, but also a comprehensive security strategy.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has promised the federal states that they will be involved in the development of this strategy, after all the police and judiciary are also important, said Wüst.

Consequences for the refineries in Schwedt and Leuna

How difficult the issue of energy will become became clear in the statements made by the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Franziska Giffey (SPD).

The effects of the partial embargo for Russian oil are particularly difficult for the East German states.

The refineries in Leuna and Schwedt are facing great difficulties, they have to be supplied with crude oil "safely and completely".

Scholz admitted that these refineries, which are supplied with Russian oil by the Druzhba pipeline, are facing problems.

But there are advanced plans as to how they could be supplied with oil in other ways, which is easier with Leuna and more difficult with Schwedt.

A federal working group is making good progress in finding solutions, said Scholz, who did not want to reveal any further details.

The country heads also spoke to the Chancellor about the high energy prices.

The prime ministers have asked the federal government to take measures to prevent speculation in oil and gas and to review price increases under antitrust law, Giffey said.

The federal government should also decide on further relief, especially for pensioners, demanded Wüst.

Pensioners do not receive the one-time payment of an energy allowance of 300 euros decided by the federal government.

Scholz said that the federal government is keeping an eye on the situation of pensioners and students, but has not yet made any concrete commitments.