Regional Challenges, Equivalence, Energy Transition

Abstract

Parliamentary and state elections in Germany have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the eastern and western parts of Germany differ not only in terms of economic development and employment opportunities, but there are also significant political dissimilarities between the various regions of the country. Society is still divided, even though Germany was reunified 35 years ago. The motto of the 2024 state celebration in Schwerin, "Let's set sail together!" also indicated that solutions must be sought and found collectively to overcome the challenges facing reunified Germany.

The national central celebration of the German Unity Day in 2025 was held in Saarbrücken, under the motto: “Shaping the Future through Change”. The opening speeches were delivered by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Anke Rehlinger, prime minister of Saarland, and also the current President of the Federal Council (Bundesrat), as well as French President Emmanuel Macron. This marked the first time in 20 years that a foreign head of state participated in the German national holiday, thereby making the celebration a European German Unity Day as well. In our study, we summarize the regional policy developments of the past two years, presenting the successful transformation of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the region’s “green” transition plans to improve its economic competitiveness, as well as its energy policy challenges.