Germany鈥檚 lignite mining regions have received nearly 14 billion euros in support since 2013
Lignite mining regions in Germany received at least 13.8 billion euros in state support between 2013 and 2017 to help them cope with the challenges of structural economic change, the German government says in an answer to a parliamentary inquiry initiated by the Green Party. More than 5 billion euros were directed at the western Rhenish coal district, 2.9 billion euros at the eastern German region of Lusatia, 1.4 billion to the Helmstedt district and 4.4 to the Central German mining district near Leipzig. 鈥淭hese figures are far below the actual support payments as there is no regional breakdown for all support programmes, such as the European Structural and Investment Funds,鈥� the government says. It adds that, at the end of 2016, about 19,850 people were still directly employed in the lignite industry and another 12,000 jobs directly depended on the industry鈥檚 well-being. For Lusatia, this meant a 2 percent share of regular jobs. The respective figure for the Rhenish coal district was 1.1 percent.
Find the government鈥檚 response in German .
See the 威力彩玩法 factsheet Germany鈥檚 three lignite mining regions for background.