Saarland in transition: taking advantage of opportunities from the economic crisis!

Saarland in transition: taking advantage of opportunities from the economic crisis!

In the midst of a serious economic crisis, Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger is optimistic and also sees opportunities for Saarland. While the automobile and steel industries are in a state of upheaval, she explained to the German Press Agency that, despite age-related changes, an increase in unemployment is not necessarily to be expected. Instead, new jobs could be created if structural change is actively shaped. Ford, for example, will stop production in Saarlouis at the end of November 2025, while the pharmaceutical manufacturer Vetter is planning a new plant in the region that will need skilled workers like the one Borken newspaper reported.

Economic stimulus required

At a recent SPD meeting, Rehlinger announced that small and medium-sized businesses should be promoted while at the same time pushing federal politicians to create new economic stimulus. In her government statement she stated that Germany needs predictable, competitive electricity prices. According to the Prime Minister, the rising network fees due to the slow network expansion are a major obstacle for the economy. Critics, such as the CDU parliamentary group leader Stephan Toscani, accuse the SPD of only recognizing the importance of medium-sized businesses after the failure of major projects like this S.R reported.

The structural and transformation tasks that affect Saarland can be classified as a generational task. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for smart transformation to make the industry fit for the future. Despite the challenges, such as the switch to “green steel”, which is produced using hydrogen, Rehlinger sees tax funds amounting to 2.7 billion euros as secured to support this switch. The focus is on making Saarland future-proof while protecting the climate.