In her memorial speech, Rehlinger vividly recalled the horrors of the so-called "Auschwitz Decree" and called for responsibility in the present. "Prejudices from the past continue to affect our present and still discriminate against minorities," Rehlinger explained. She pointed out that discrimination and social exclusion remain palpable for many Sinti, Roma, and Yenish people.
After the moment of silence that followed, the members of the Federal Council debated, among other things, measures to support the automotive industry, a labeling requirement for misleading product packaging, the Germany ticket, as well as other legislative initiatives of the federal government.
Already in the last session on November 22, Saarland had introduced an initiative to secure Germany as an economic location and to support the automotive and supplier industry. The automotive sector, as a central economic branch in Germany, secures over 770,000 jobs. To maintain this locational advantage, the transition to sustainable propulsion technologies should be designed in such a way that it does not cause avoidable losses of jobs and market shares in Europe and Germany. To achieve this goal, the revision clause for reviewing the EU decision on the ban of new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2025 (or 2026 for heavy commercial vehicles) should be brought forward. In addition, the federal government should initiate negotiations at the EU level to adjust the tiered CO2 fleet limits for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The planned reduction of the CO2 fleet limits from January 2025 is criticized, as potential penalties would burden the European and German automotive industries in the current situation. Therefore, the Saarland initiative demands the suspension of the corresponding penalties in 2025. After deliberations in the committees, the resolution proposal was once again put to a vote – in two different versions. Besides the Saarland version recommended by the Economic Committee, which focuses on the review of decisions made from the perspective of the automotive industry, a modified version setting a different focus was also developed in the Environmental Committee but did not achieve a majority in the Bundesrat. The version recommended by Saarland prevailed in the vote.
In addition, Saarland supports a resolution motion from Hesse for better protection against domestic violence. Accordingly, the Bundesrat calls on the federal government to promptly submit a draft law to enable electronic monitoring of restraining and contact orders.
In addition to the motions for resolutions, important legislative projects were also on the agenda. With an amendment to the Regionalisation Act, a joint settlement for the Germany ticket will be introduced for the years 2023 to 2025, enabling the multi-year use of the necessary funds. This would ensure the financing of the Germany ticket in the coming year. Currently, the ticket costs 49 euros per month; starting next year, it will be 58 euros following a decision by the state transport ministers. Without an amendment to the law, there would have been uncertainties in the transport sector. Another price increase for the ticket could have been possible. The newly sought regulation aims to implement the decision of the Federal Chancellor together with the heads of government of the states on November 6, 2023, regarding the financing of the Germany ticket. Saarland's Minister of Transport Petra Berg emphasized in her speech why Saarland supports this law: “It is good that with the 10th amendment to the Regionalisation Act, the financing of the Germany ticket is finally secured until the end of 2025. This is an important and positive signal, especially just in time for Christmas. However, the Germany ticket urgently needs long-term planning and financial security. Only then can the great potential of the Germany ticket be fully realized – in the interest of millions of passengers and in the interest of climate protection and the traffic transition.”
More child benefits and relief for taxpayers are to be provided thanks to the Tax Development Act (SteFeG), which the Bundestag has passed: The basic tax-free allowance is to increase to 12,096 euros in 2025 and to 12,348 euros in 2026. Child benefits are to be increased by five euros to 255 euros per child per month in 2025 and by a further four euros to 259 euros in 2026. At the same time, cold progression will be reduced. The SteFeG also enacts an amendment to the Financial Equalization Act. Additional funds from financial equalization will thus be made available to Saarland in the coming years. In its last session in November, the Bundesrat, on Saarland's initiative, called for a rapid implementation of this regulation in a resolution.
