Certainly, the world was not a paradise even in 2015: A cruel war was raging in Syria, which soon drove millions of refugees to Europe; Russia had just annexed Crimea; and in Germany, the emissions scandal at VW caused waves of indignation. And yet the world of that time seems like a place of longing today – without Corona, without the fear of World War II. For many, all was right with the world. One picture that probably conveys this feeling better than any other is the photo of US President Barack Obama joking with people in traditional costumes at a table filled with wheat beer glasses and pretzels on the sidelines of the G-7 summit on the town hall square in Krün.
When – seven years later – the heads of state and government of the seven big industrial nations meet again at Schloss Elmau on the edge of the Alps from June 26th to 28th, the participants around Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will have little reason to laugh this time . The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has turned the security order in Europe upside down after the end of the Cold War and the climate crisis threatens the future of all mankind. The challenges for global politics could hardly be greater.
The G-7 summit will also leave its mark on Bavaria and the region around Garmisch-Partenkirchen: the police are expecting widespread protests, as in 2015 there will be considerable traffic disruptions, and the costs of the preparations are immense. What’s in store for Bavaria? The SZ answers important questions about the state meeting.
Who comes?
Germany has held the presidency of the “Group of Seven” since January, which also includes the USA, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada. The European Union also takes part in the summits. As guests, the heads of government of India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa will expand the group of men, in which US President Joe Biden will probably receive the most attention – like his pre-predecessor Obama in 2015. Ursula von der Leyen will become EU Commission President probably be the only female top politician. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is hosting such an important international meeting for the first time.
Which topic is the focus?
The German government wants the G-7 summit to send a strong signal for peace and democracy around the world. “It is more important than ever that the Group of Seven shows a picture of unity to the outside world,” said the deputy head of the Federal Press Office, Johannes Dimroth, recently at the presentation of the summit preparations at Schloss Elmau. Especially against the background of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, it is crucial “that it becomes very clear to the outside world that this group stands firmly together – on questions of the international peace order, democracy and human rights”.
How much does the summit cost?
In a calculation by the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior in December there was talk of 166 million euros for the use of police and security forces. According to Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU), the costs would be “somewhere in this range”. This year’s summit could thus significantly exceed the costs of the 2015 meeting – at that time it cost around 135 million euros. “At first glance, that’s a lot of money, but we also want to be a good host again and guarantee a safe event. The most important thing is that the whole thing runs peacefully again,” said Herrmann. Depending on the deployment situation, the costs can increase or decrease at the end of the event. Bavaria wants to have the cost of security reimbursed by the federal government – but the State Chancellery and the Federal Chancellery still have to negotiate the percentage.
According to Herrmann, a new threat situation must be assumed when planning the security concept: “This time we are in a situation where right-wing extremists could also demonstrate alongside left-wing extremists.” In contrast to the G-7 premiere in Elmau in 2015, the conference venue does not have to be completely redesigned this time, said Herrmann. At that time, among other things, new roads had been built.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen District Administrator Anton Speer (free voters) and Garmisch Mayor Elisabeth Koch (CSU) have already warned the federal government to assume additional costs for the region. The hoteliers in the region are happy about good business, the rooms are practically fully booked. But the local trade fears a drop in sales because the summit participants and security forces hardly go shopping. According to Michaela Nelhiebel, chairwoman of the advertising association Garmischer Zentrum, there were 25 to 49 percent less sales seven years ago.
Where do road closures and traffic jams occur?
Bavaria’s police are expecting traffic disruptions in the greater area around Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The surroundings of the conference venue in the municipality of Krün are particularly affected, as are the routes between the airport in Erdinger Moos and the center of Munich and from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (A 95) and to Mittenwald (B 2). “The heavy event traffic and the expected rallies make temporary traffic closures necessary,” says the police.
She recommends avoiding the affected connections on a large scale. According to the police, detours will be signposted at the major motorway junctions near Würzburg, Nuremberg, Feuchtwangen, Ulm, Memmingen and in the greater Munich area. Public transport will also be affected by the temporary closures and controls during the summit. In some cases, students are even supposed to switch to distance learning because public transport is not running.
What about trips to and from Austria?
Traffic from neighboring Austria is also to be diverted during the summit. The police recommends travelers to avoid the Griesen/Ehrwald and Mittenwald/Scharnitz border crossings and to switch to the A 93 or the A 8 – or, if possible, to use the Füssen/Reutte border crossing to the A 7 in the west. According to the police, anyone traveling to Austria from northern Bavaria can take the A 3 from Nuremberg to Upper Austria and the B 20 via Straubing to the Salzburg area. The A 7 via Ulm and Füssen is another alternative route to the south.
What safety precautions are there?
The police set up several security areas around Schloss Elmau. The conference venue is to be completely surrounded by a 16-kilometer fence and guarded by security forces. The barrier, part wire mesh, part avalanche protection, will be three meters high in some places. The exclusion zone, which only people with accreditation may enter, will cover a total area of four square kilometers. Tourists are not allowed to enter the area. As of June 19, the exclusion zone around the conference venue is to be closed, as was recently announced at a citizen information.
The police presence in the region will be massive around the summit days. Seven years ago, around 18,000 police officers were on duty. This time it will probably be well over 20,000, concrete information is not available. A kind of justice center in the form of a container village will be set up in the Garmisch ski jumping arena.
While many local residents hoped that the summit would not come to their region again, hotel manager Dietmar Mueller-Elmau enthused about the G-7 meeting: “As far as I’m concerned, it can take place every year. But it’s not up to me to decide.” The security on the site is to be guaranteed comprehensively and sustainably.
Where and when will there be demonstrations against the meeting?
Around 15 organizations want to be on the Theresienwiese in Munich at 12 noon on June 25, the first G-7 day demonstrate for better climate and species protection and against hunger and poverty. The alliance, which includes Attac, the Bund für Umwelt- und Naturschutz (BUND) and Welthungerhilfe, calls on the heads of state and government to “draw consequences from the Russian war against Ukraine and reduce dependence on oil, gas and end coal”. Thousands of participants from Germany and all over Europe are expected to attend the large demo.
The alliance “Stop G 7 Elmau” can also identify with these demands and the large-scale demonstration in Munich – according to its own statements, a coalition of climate activist, capitalism-critical, feminist and anti-militarist groups. The alliance has registered a demonstration in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for June 26 and wants to organize a multi-day “action camp” there on a meadow by the Loisach. As early as 2015, up to 1,500 demonstrators spent the night in a tent camp that the authorities originally did not want to approve. Protests have also been registered at the train stations in Mittenwald and in the Krün district of Klais.
Politicians are closely monitoring the preparations of the various protest groups. The deputy head of the Federal Press Office, Johannes Dimroth, recently said: “Anyone who wants to gather peacefully to express their opinion, be it against the G7 as such, be it on the subject of climate protection or whatever, is cordial welcome.” The clear limit is violence. “There will be a zero-tolerance strategy, that’s very clear.” The president of the police headquarters in Upper Bavaria South, Manfred Hauser, emphasized: “We have prepared for all possible scenarios.” The citizens, he promised, would not notice any difference from 2015.
Are there consequences for nature and the environment?
Politicians and authorities assure that they want to keep a good balance with the restrictions. Nevertheless, there are interventions. For example, a hiking car park near the castle was converted into a helipad. Some of the trees standing in the way had to be felled or dug up and used elsewhere. The landing area must be paved for the arriving and departing helicopters – as in 2015.
How can citizens find out about restrictions and campaigns?
Because road closures, police operations or demos can take place at short notice during the state summit, the police have set up citizen offices for inquiries. The positions are located in the town halls of the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the municipality of Krün. Citizens, associations, organizations and businesses can clarify questions, discuss concerns and receive information about police operations.
The citizens’ offices will initially be open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The opening hours will be extended in mid-June. At the end of February, the police’s G-7 planning staff activated a citizens’ hotline. Since then, there have been questions about traffic obstructions and other restrictions for the population, as a spokesman said.
Domestic hotline: weekdays, Mon.-Fri. 09:00 – 18:00: 0800 / 7766330
Citizen phone from Austria: weekdays, Mon.-Fri. 09:00 – 18:00: 00800 / 77663300
Citizen information email address: [email protected]
website (with contact form): www.polizei.bayern.de/G7