Putting Germany on the right track together

The Federal Government and state governments have come together for their second regular conference this year to discuss topics of current importance. This time, the Conference of Minister-Presidents (CMP) focused on the Federal Modernisation Agenda. Other topics discussed included defence and security policy, the recognition of foreign professional qualifications and energy and foreign policy issues. A joint commitment from sport and political leaders to Germany's Olympic bid was also signed in conjunction with the Conference of Minister Presidents (CMP).

At the following press conference, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz thanked the two states co-chairing the Conference of Minister Presidents, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony, for their good and objective cooperation, saying that "a new, partnership-based relationship with the states is very important" to him. "I want to create a new basis for good trust and cooperation, and above all a mutual understanding of our concerns at the Federal and state levels."

Prelude to a comprehensive modernisation of the state

The Federal and state governments have jointly adopted a comprehensive resolution to modernise the state. With a Federal Modernisation Agenda, a comprehensive package of measures, the Federal and state governments are launching comprehensive measures for modernising the state.

According to the Federal Chancellor, the aim is to reduce bureaucracy, reduce reporting and documentation obligations, speed up planning, authorisation and contract award procedures, increase cooperation between the Federal and state governments and bundle procedures wherever possible.

United in favour of Germany's Olympic bid

Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised: "We all agree that the bid to host the Olympic Games means a lot to us. The Games can strengthen our country and our sports." Along with the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), Thomas Weikert, and the political leaders of the four candidate regions Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Rhine/Ruhr, the Federal Chancellor signed a political agreement on a German bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 and 2044.

The political agreement formulates the joint commitment of sport and politics to the bidding process for the German Olympic Sports Confederation. According to the Federal Chancellor, the bid for the Olympics is the major goal of sports policy at the Federal and state levels.

The heads of government of the 16 Federal States meet at the Conference of Minister Presidents. The conferences deal with topics at the Federal Government and Federal State levels, as well as with current international issues. The heads of the Federal States then meet with the Federal Chancellor twice a year. Each year, one Federal State assumes the chairmanship of the Conference of Minister Presidents in a predetermined order - currently Rhineland-Palatinate. Saxony currently holds the co-chairmanship.