With the Fehmarn tunnel, Lolland-Falster, South Zealand, and Schleswig-Holstein will be tied together into a unified Fehmarn Belt region. This region is then to be a center for green transition and for tourism. At least, that’s the vision. But for it to be brought to life, it requires a very concrete and practical cooperation within the political system on both sides of the Fehmarn Belt.
Getting the cooperation started
This cooperation was something the business foundation Fehmarn Belt Development had set out to kickstart at a meeting in Rødbyhavn. Here, Regional Council Chairman Heino Knudsen (Soc. Dem.) from the Region of Zealand, Mayor Holger Schou Rasmussen (Soc. Dem.) from Lolland Municipality, and Minister of the Interior, Transport, and Economic Affairs Claus Ruhe Madsen (independent) from Schleswig-Holstein – all invited by Director Stig Rømer Winther from Fehmarn Belt Development:
– We have gathered today to talk a little about the opportunities for cooperation across the border. Fehmarn Belt Development has a close cooperation with the state of Schleswig-Holstein, and the Region of Zealand has made a cooperation agreement with the state this summer, which will be implemented in the coming years. We have talked about energy, we have talked about transport and advisory services, and so on, says Stig Rømer Winther from Fehmarn Belt Development.
Tourism and green industry
What can a German state, a Danish region, and a Danish municipality cooperate on?
– It’s only a matter of time before we, as neighbors, open the garden gate that has been closed until now. So, we are moving much closer to each other. Can we ensure, as a region, to get better recognition, meaning that people from other regions of the world will come to our region for vacation? Then, of course, it’s something we all can live well off, tells Claus Ruhe Madsen.
– Tourism is obviously the place to start, but we are also looking into the Baltic Sea region as the place where green development will happen. How can we cooperate on this? Are there things where we need to get closer to each other, adds the Mayor of Lolland, Holger Schou Rasmussen, who immediately receives an extended hand from the North German Minister of Economic Affairs:
– Yes, if now a large company comes and says, “we need 100,000 square meters,” then I would have to say no at the moment. And I have had such inquiries. We do not have space for, for example, two Northvolts (Swedish battery manufacturer, which is establishing a large factory north of Hamburg, ed.) in Schleswig-Holstein. Then one might recommend a neighbor. We would like to be good neighbors, says Claus Ruhe Madsen.
Regional and local train connections
The neighborliness can also help alleviate the challenge of the lack of labor in the region. However, it requires that one can commute back and forth, and therefore the Region of Zealand, in cooperation with Schleswig-Holstein’s local transport company, will work for regional train connections through the tunnel as well.
– There is the possibility for local and regional service. I am sure that will be possible, says Heino Knudsen.
Most will commute to Denmark
Specifically, regarding labor, Claus Ruhe Madsen is a bit concerned that it will turn out to be far more beneficial for southern Denmark than northern Germany:
– It is probably not going to be positive on our side, if one is honest. I believe that today there are 12,000 people commuting from the German to the Danish side up at the border in Southern Jutland. There are only about 1,500 or so commuting the other direction. So, the ratio will probably be that there are more who drive over here to work, than the other way around. But never mind that, says Claus Ruhe Madsen.
