Minister-President,
Dear Markus,
Many thanks for inviting me to the nicest German regional representation in Brussels. And, above all, thank you for the useful discussion we have just had in the cabinet meeting. The issues facing us are the same in Bavaria and here in Europe. Front and centre are our competitiveness and our security.
On competitiveness, we know where we need to provide targeted support to our companies. And we are cutting red tape bit by bit. And we are investing heavily in the future – in innovation and research. Because where there are brilliant ideas and firms to put them into practice, good, new jobs will continue to follow, as will the growth that we need.
Dear Markus,
This is where I am especially counting on Bavaria. Bavaria innovates like almost no other region in Europe. I saw this with my own eyes when we visited the Max Planck Institute in Garching together last year. Bavaria is a beacon of science with its 10 universities, 17 technical universities and numerous research institutes. Europe is providing support worth EUR 2.2 billion from our Horizon Europe programme alone.
Where we must do better in Europe is in turning research into marketable products. Bavaria is always one step ahead of the rest in this area. You have applied for Bavaria to be chosen as the location for one of our new AI Gigafactories. I am very pleased to see that. But I am also impressed by the way in which the space industry has developed in Bavaria. In satellite systems, Bavaria is streets ahead. You have firms like Isar Aerospace und the Rocket Factory Augsburg, which show that Bavaria is already doing a lot of things right when it comes to supporting start-ups. Europe is offering support through our new Startup and Scaleup Strategy. We want to create ideal conditions for our start-ups to remain in Europe and generate growth. The close cooperation between the EU and our strong regions is extremely important for achieving this.
Growth needs not only certainty but also security. Europe must invest more in its own defence and security. We have given the Member States financial flexibility in order to rise to this monumental challenge. To put that into figures, it means 800 billion over four years. But this investment will also strengthen Europe's whole industrial fabric. With new technologies, new know-how, and many new highly skilled jobs. Germany is leading the way with a substantial increase in its defence spending. And here, too, Bavaria has a key role to play. One third of the arms produced in Germany roll off Bavarian production lines. We must invest more, better and in a more targeted way. Procedures must be simpler, faster and uncomplicated. And we must invest more together. No Member State can set up a common air defence system or a defence cloud on its own, but together we can.
Dear Markus,
Our common European priorities cannot be achieved from Brussels alone. Strong regions, such as Bavaria, play a central role. From armaments to competitiveness to climate action. This is why, right now, I can already promise the following: cohesion policy, which is so important for regional development, will continue to be firmly anchored in our next EU budget. Of course, it will be forward-looking, more modern and adapted to today's challenges. The same goes for our Common Agricultural Policy. Our farmers supply us with good food. We must ensure that they have a fair and decent income.
Dear Markus,
Many thanks to you and your entire cabinet for the excellent cooperation.
