Northern German Minister-Presidents Meet in Rostock to Discuss Procurement Law and Electricity Prices

A central topic was public procurement law. The participants spoke out in favor of weighting the criteria in contract awarding more strongly than before. In addition to price, quality, sustainability, and labor and safety standards should play a greater role in the future. This is intended to prevent contracts from going primarily to low-cost competitors that do not meet these standards.

Focus on Procurement Law

The consultations took place as part of the so-called Northern German Coordination Conference, an informal body that has maintained exchange between the northern German states for years. In addition to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, members also include Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Bremen, and Lower Saxony. Brandenburg and Berlin also regularly take part as so-called "associated states."

Electricity Prices and Energy Policy

Electricity prices were also on the agenda. In light of the debate over the affordability and security of energy supply, measures at the federal and EU level were discussed. No concrete decisions were initially made public after the meeting. A final assessment of the proposals is to be made in the respective state cabinets.

Observers interpret the meeting as a signal for a stronger joint representation of the interests of the northern states vis-à-vis the federal government. The states are insisting on greater co-determination, particularly with regard to the reform of procurement law and energy policy. Cooperation with the Scandinavian neighbors was also reportedly addressed.