SPD on other topics

The SPD wants to strengthen cohesion in all parts of the state and implement the regional development strategy together with the regions. It intends to counter vacancies in town centers and to work more closely with Berlin.

The SPD wants to strengthen all regions in Brandenburg. Villages and small towns should keep getting money for community projects. Fewer shops in town centers should stand empty. Brandenburg should work more closely with Berlin.

Regional development is to become a priority in the program for the next EU funding period, with a focus on value creation and security of supply in rural areas. The "Zusammenhalt" (cohesion) funding program for villages and small municipalities will continue with two more application rounds. Together with municipalities, the SPD wants to examine whether retail outside town centers should be restricted more. Allotment gardens are to remain part of municipal planning, and the state allotment advisory board and state funding will stay. Coordination with Berlin in the shared capital region is to be expanded.

The SPD wants to further raise the sports funding fixed in state law, bringing it into line with the growing number of club members. Sports facilities in municipalities are also to keep receiving support.

The SPD wants to give more money to sports. More people are in sports clubs today than before. So the funding should go up. Sports fields and gyms in towns will keep getting money too.

The higher funding is also meant to secure pay adjustments for sports coaches. The "Goldener Plan Sport" program will continue with a municipal investment program. The platform points to more than 381,000 members in over 3,000 clubs and to Brandenburg's role in elite sports.

The SPD wants to bundle support for volunteering and develop it into a statewide strategy for civic engagement. The Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card) is to become more attractive and be available as an app.

The SPD wants to support volunteering more. Volunteering means people help freely and without pay. There should be a plan for the whole state. The volunteer card should get better and come as an app.

Existing funding tools are to be brought together and, after consultation with civil society and municipalities, developed into a strategy. The state association of volunteer agencies is to be better equipped as a service center, and the state network for civic engagement will continue to receive support. The program criticizes that the current threshold of 200 hours per year for the volunteer card excludes areas such as hospice work. More partners are also to be recruited to offer additional discounts.