The Federal Government and federal states came together to discuss topics of current importance. The Conference of Minister-Presidents focused in particular on defence and security policy, migration and refugee policy, measures to modernise the state, and non-political issues. 

Following the Conference of Minister-Presidents, Federal Chancellor Merz emphasised: “My aim is for us to find a good and new way of working together. Mutual respect and trust in collaboration are the key elements for me. Today we met and also made decisions in this spirit.” 

The Conference of Minister-Presidents brings together the heads of government of the 16 federal states. The conferences deal with topics at Federal Government and federal state level as well as current international issues. The heads of the federal states then meet with the Federal Chancellor twice a year. Each year in a fixed order, one federal state takes on the chairmanship of the Conference of Minister-Presidents – this is currently Saxony.

The most important points from the press conference in brief: 

• Investment programme to strengthen the economy: It was said that the draft law for an immediate tax programme would provide targeted incentives for investments in the competitiveness of the German economy. The Federal Government was reported to be focussing on the particular financial challenges facing the federal states and municipalities. Federal Chancellor Merz said that the Federal Government and federal states would enter into structured dialogue to ensure a fair financial relationship in the future.
• Modernising the state – relieving the burden on local authorities: The Federal Government and federal states were said to agree that the organisation of the state and public administration needed to be modernised. Federal Chancellor Merz formulated the goal of modernising the federal administration, reducing bureaucracy and launching a joint federal modernisation agenda. The pact between the Federal Government and federal states for speeding up planning and authorisation was to be implemented quickly.
• Limiting irregular migration, promoting integration: The Conference of Minister-Presidents also discussed the need to manage migration in an organised manner and to consistently implement repatriation. The Federal Government and federal states wanted to speed up procedures and ease the burden on local authorities. There is agreement between the Federal Government and federal states “that we must achieve a turnaround in migration”, said Federal Chancellor Merz.
• European Union (EU) budget reform: According to Federal Chancellor Merz, the Federal Government and federal states had also positioned themselves with respect to the European Union’s budget and cohesion policy after 2027. He went on to say that the Federal Government fundamentally supported a reform of the EU budget.