Decision on the location of the Center for German Unity by January
A decision on the location of the planned Future Center for German Unity and European Transformation should be made by January at the latest. The Federal Government Commissioner for East Germany, Carsten Schneider (SPD), said on Monday at a hearing of the Bundestag Culture Committee in Berlin. The center is to be built in an East German city.
All applications are “substantial”
According to him, the jury appointed by Schneider for the selection will meet for the first time on November 7th. It is planned that she will travel to all the cities that have applied and inspect the locations. Schneider said all applications received were “substantial.” The application period ended at the end of September.
Scientific institute and dialogue center
The plan for the future center goes back to the proposal of a commission set up by the former federal government to mark the 30th anniversary of the peaceful revolution and reunification. The center is intended to be both a scientific institute and a place for dialogue. It is intended to contribute to an intensive examination of the changes in East and all of Germany as well as in Europe after the fall of the Wall.
Where the center WILL emerge is still open. Seven applications were received in the location competition, including four from Thuringia: Jena, Mühlhausen, Sonneberg and Eisenach. Halle, Leipzig, together with Plauen, as well as the Brandenburg city of Frankfurt an der Oder, whose application is also supported by Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, are also applying. (epd)
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