EU-level representatives ought to acknowledge the concerns of North Rhine-Westphalia - NRW Interests Needs Representations at European Union Level – Wüst
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany's most populous federal state and a major economic powerhouse, is set to make its voice heard at the European level. On Wednesday, twelve CEOs of major companies from NRW will meet with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels to discuss key issues that underscore the region's economic influence within the EU and the necessity of being heard in European policy decisions.
NRW's economic weight within the EU is significant, contributing approximately 3.9% of the entire EU GDP and about 18.8% of Germany's GDP. The Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region alone has the second-largest GDP in the EU, about €536 billion. This economic heft highlights NRW's critical role in the EU economy and the importance of its interests being actively represented and considered in EU policymaking.
One of the key issues to be discussed is NRW's potential as a leading European market for the hydrogen economy and renewable energy transition. The Rhine-Ruhr region is strategically positioned to demonstrate how a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources can be successful. The CEOs will showcase the state's initiatives, such as the joint submission of the H2Valley RheinRuhr funding application, which aims to establish NRW as a flagship "Hydrogen Valley" in Europe. This aligns with the EU's goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and to scale up hydrogen technologies.
Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) emphasized the importance of NRW's economy for the European Union (EU). He stated that anyone thinking economically about Europe must consider NRW. The economic performance of NRW is 20% above the EU average, as per a study by the Institute of the German Economy (IW). However, the economic situation in NRW is currently tense, with an expected increase in economic performance of 0.1 percent for the current year. High energy prices and international competitive pressure continue to burden the industry in NRW, but it is increasingly gaining stability.
The RWI, a Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, predicts an overall increase of 1.5 percent for NRW and the whole of Germany by 2026. This optimistic outlook underscores the importance of maintaining competitiveness, innovation, and investment in the region. The meeting in Brussels is a crucial step towards ensuring that NRW's interests are heard at the European level, a point emphasized by Hendrik Wüst.
The meeting will take place in Düsseldorf, the capital city of NRW. The CEOs participating in the meeting represent around 500 billion euros in turnover and around 1.5 million employees with their companies. The economic interests of NRW are set to be heard at the European level during this top-level meeting, a significant step towards securing NRW's role as a driving force in Europe's economy and its transition to a hydrogen-based economy.
- North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), with its significant contribution of approximately 3.9% to the EU's GDP and being home to the second-largest GDP in the EU, will emphasize its crucial role in the EU economy at a meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
- A key discussion point at the meeting will center around NRW's potential to lead the European market in the hydrogen economy and renewable energy transition, as the Rhine-Ruhr region showcases its initiatives such as joint funding applications to establish NRW as a "Hydrogen Valley" in Europe.
- The economic performance of NRW is 20% above the EU average, making it essential for the interests of this economically vibrant region to be actively represented and considered in EU policymaking, ensuring its continued role as a driving force in Europe's economy and transition to a hydrogen-based economy.
