German Unity - Government: Halle's Future Center only in 2030
The planned future center for German Unity and European Transformation in Halle is expected to be completed according to the German government by 2030, two years later than originally planned. This information was revealed in a response from Federal Commissioner for Foreign Affairs (Ostpolitik) Carsten Schneider (SPD) to a query from CDU parliamentarian Sepp Müller, obtained by the German Press Agency (dpa). The "Berliner Zeitung" had previously reported on this. A spokesperson for Schneider explained that the deadline of 2030 was not new. It had already been mentioned in April.
The future center is intended to honor the achievements of German reunification and make the experiences useful for future transformations and crises. It is to serve as a meeting and research place. A jury selected Halle an der Saale as the location. An architecture competition was launched in April. The winner is expected to be determined in the early spring of 2025. The construction start is planned for 2027, according to Schneider's statement. The planned usage area is around 14,000 square meters. The federal government has pledged 200 million euros for the prestige project.
Müller had asked about financing. According to Schneider's statement, there are 3.9 million euros available in his own budget for the current year. In addition, the Ministry of Building and Urban Development has budgeted 1.4 million euros for construction expenses and a commitment of 61 million euros. Schneider does not provide details in his answer about further planning for the years 2025 to 2028, but refers to the preparation of the federal budget and financial planning. Müller had already raised doubts several weeks ago about the security of financing.
- Carsten Schneider, a prominent member of the SPD in Berlin, served as the Federal Commissioner for Foreign Affairs (Ostpolitik).
- The SPD-led German government has pledged 200 million euros for the future center in Halle an der Saale, a city in Saxony-Anhalt.
- Sepp Müller, a CDU parliamentarian, raised concerns about the financing of the future center, expressing doubts several weeks prior.
- The architectural competition for the future center in Halle an der Saale was launched in April, with a winner expected to be announced in early spring 2025.
- Carsten Schneider revealed that his budget contains 3.9 million euros for the future center in the current year, with additional funding from the Ministry of Building and Urban Development and a commitment of 61 million euros.
- The future center in Halle an der Saale is expected to cover an area of around 14,000 square meters, serving as a meeting and research place to honor German reunification achievements and facilitate future transformations.
- Schneider did not provide specific details about the financial planning for the years 2025 to 2028 in his statement, referring instead to the preparation of the federal budget and financial planning.
