In Lolland-Falster, targeted efforts are already under way to attract defence companies to Rødbyhavn, where large areas, port facilities and production infrastructure from the Fehmarn construction project could eventually be put to new use.
But the potential could extend far beyond Rødbyhavn and northern Germany alone, according to Can Özren, who is responsible for defence and security at the Lübeck Chamber of Industry and Commerce, IHK Lübeck.
- Looking at the bigger picture, the Fehmarn Belt region could become an important link between the Nordic countries and German industry. The Nordic and Baltic countries are increasing their defence capabilities, Germany has a large industrial base, and closer links between the two sides could create stronger supply chains and new cross-border partnerships.
He points out that the defence industry is increasingly dependent on cross-border cooperation and on access to both specialised suppliers and production capacity.
The Fehmarn link could help bring Nordic and German industry closer together. But on the German side, the region already has a strong starting position.
- Schleswig-Holstein already has a strong industrial base and companies with specific expertise in the defence sector. That means we are not starting from scratch. There is already an ecosystem, suppliers and expertise on which new partnerships can build, says Can Özren.
At the same time, this means Lolland-Falster is not alone in competing for future investment. Femern Belt Development has previously pointed to Rødbyhavn as a possible future defence industry hub, where large areas, port facilities and the distance from densely populated areas could provide an advantage.
But the link and the geography alone will not determine where new factories and jobs end up.
- The tunnel itself will not decide where companies locate their production. They look at the entire package: the right facilities, skilled labour, access to energy and production costs. That is where the competition between regions will be decided, says Can Özren.
Fehmarn could therefore make Lolland-Falster part of a closer defence-industrial corridor between the Nordic region and Germany. But the same connection could also intensify competition over where new investment and jobs ultimately go.
