Press statement by Federal Chancellor Scholz
During a visit to the Meyer Werft shipyard, Federal Chancellor Scholz stressed that both the Federal Government and the state of Lower Saxony were determined to ensure the shipyard’s future. This site, he said, represented “Made in Germany at its best”.
1 min reading time
- Transcript of press conference
- Thursday, 22 August 2024
“We must do something that makes economic sense”: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (centre) commenting on saving the Meyer Werft shipyard.
Photo: Federal Government/Marvin Ibo Güngör
Transcript of the press conference in German only
During his visit to Papenburg, Federal Chancellor Scholz stressed that the Federal Government was continuing to collaborate closely with the state of Lower Saxony and other stakeholders to find a purpose for the Meyer Werft’s continued existence and expressed his confidence that the talks would result in a positive outcome.
The key facts:
- Economic keystone for the region, Lower Saxony, and Germany: The maritime industry is an important economic sector in Germany, and shipbuilding is a “core area of industrial competence”. The Meyer Werft shipyard alone is directly or indirectly responsible for 17,000 jobs throughout Germany.
- Joint efforts: The Meyer Werft shipyard is currently facing financial difficulties, partially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Federal Government is currently in the advanced stages of talks with the state of Lower Saxony, the shipyard operators, and the banks to develop a concept for the future.
- Short-term financial aid: Federal Chancellor Scholz pointed out that any potential cash injection by the Federal and State Governments would only be for a limited period. This, he said, could create the conditions “for a prosperous future based on the private sector”.