Grüne on the economy

The Greens want to link business development funding to climate protection and launch a “GreenInvest” program for sustainable companies. They also want lower energy prices for businesses and stronger regional and cooperative forms of business.

The Greens want to support companies that protect the climate. There should be a new funding program for this. Electricity should get cheaper for companies. Cooperatives should also get help. These are companies owned jointly by their members.

Money from the federal-state regional aid scheme GRW would also depend on how a project contributes to the shift to a low-carbon economy. A transformation fund is planned for energy-intensive small and mid-sized firms, tied to efficiency and climate targets. The platform also names the circular economy, a lower industrial electricity price and help for chemical and auto-supplier industries. Village hubs with shops, co-working and services are meant to strengthen regional cycles. The party wants to promote collective bargaining coverage, co-determination, cooperatives and handing firms over to employees.

The Greens want to raise the standing of the skilled trades and treat vocational and academic education equally. They call for a free Meister (master craftsperson) title, a start-up bonus for new masters and more support for business successions.

The Greens want to strengthen the skilled trades. The master craftsperson title should cost nothing. Masters who start a company should get money. Women in the trades should get more help.

A statewide campaign is meant to attract young people to the trades. Inter-company apprentice training (ÜLU) is to be secured permanently and further training in shortage occupations supported. The party wants to back successions in trades and mid-sized firms with advice, funding and cooperative models. Small and mid-sized firms are to get help with digitization, IT security and investment. For women, plans include support for the self-employed, maternity protection for the self-employed and shorter training paths.

The Greens want nature-based tourism that puts quality before quantity and secures regional value creation and good working conditions. To that end, the tourism master plan is to be developed further and cycling, hiking and water tourism strengthened.

The Greens want more vacations in nature and at cultural sites. Quality matters more to them than many guests. The state should take care of important bike routes itself. Vacations on the water should also get easier.

A tourism competence center is to be set up at the state's investment and marketing agency, and regions such as the Harz are to cooperate more closely across state lines. The Elbe bike route and other routes of statewide importance would become the state's responsibility, with uniform signage, charging points for e-bikes and e-boats, and rest and repair facilities. Bike and hiking trails are to be linked to public transit hubs. On the Elbe, Saale and Unstrut rivers, locks are to be kept in operation and canoe portage points and rest areas added. The Colbitz-Letzlinger Heide is to be used for civilian recreation and nature tourism, and digital and multilingual offerings are to grow.