Can another state or a foreign state-owned company participate in airports, ports or other important facilities? While there are still heated discussions in Hamburg and Berlin, the Free State is now drawing a red line as a precaution.
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John Osel
The state government wants to protect infrastructure with the participation of the Free State from access by foreign investors. The reason for this is the planned entry of the Chinese group Cosco at a terminal in the port of Hamburg, which is currently triggering debates. There was “no understanding at all” for the deal, said Head of State Florian Herrmann (CSU) on Tuesday after the cabinet. The Council of Ministers therefore passed a resolution according to which non-EU countries or companies controlled by such states are generally prohibited from participating. Specifically, it is about the airport companies in Munich and Nuremberg, the trade fairs in the two cities and the six inland ports in Bavaria; also about the digital infrastructure of the authorities and organizations with security tasks.
One is “clear for economic cooperation and global trade,” said Hermann, “against isolation and for free trade.” However, the sale of “lifelines of the economy” is not a sensible instrument of cooperation and trade. The consequences of the energy crisis nevertheless led to an increased “danger of a sell-out” for the Bavarian and German economy, according to the cabinet report. However, the possibilities of the state to prevent investments or settlements from certain states are limited. The commitment to its own infrastructure facilities should therefore also be seen as a symbolic step.
Markus Söder’s cabinet also advised on the expansion of charging stations for electric cars. With around 13,000 e-charging points, Bavaria is already at the top of all federal states, and further funding should bring a boost. Twelve million euros are available for two calls for funding to date for the construction of publicly accessible charging stations, and a further four million euros for locations in commercial and municipal vehicle fleets. Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (FW) called for more commitment from the federal government. The funding calls are “always oversubscribed several times”, the demand is very high.