Cornelia Weigand: To get things moving forward even better. Together with the state government, we want to create a more stable, agile and decision-friendly framework to speed up the many reconstruction projects. That is the goal. But to achieve this, coordination processes are necessary. At times, even legislation at the federal level has to be adapted in. That explains why we sometimes wait weeks for certain approval notices. And if we are talking about seven-figure sums for reconstruction projects, we can't get started without the necessary approval. However, we know that the current situation is asking an awful lot from the people in the Ahr valley. That is why one of our premises is: more speed.

Weigand: It would also be good for private individuals if we could pick up the pace. However, there are areas where the framework conditions are not yet suitable. There are spanners in the works in too many places, which is not surprising given the dimension of the catastrophe and the sums that are often involved. Initially, this was also the case with the advance payments from the reconstruction fund through the Investment and Structural Bank, which in neighbouring NRW had already been raised from 20 to 40 percent in January. Together with the reconstruction staff, I also wanted to achieve this for Rhineland-Palatinate as early as January. I made the urgent request during my inaugural visit to the Minister President, then again with the permanent mayors. After further talks I received a written refusal from the State Chancellery with reference to possible " penalty interest". That was a point at which I, too, could no longer understand the procedure, because I find it cynical. Many people are relying on this money. There is simply no other way for them to cope with extensive renovations, because they can't hire craftspeople or companies. Fortunately, the minister president finally saw it that way, at least in cases of hardship. Here, too, we want to sharpen things up.

Weigand: We are pushing ahead with reconstruction and want to use our chance as a region to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Of course, the dynamics of reconstruction play a decisive role in this. As soon as progress is visible, for example because the infrastructure is intact again, the schools or day-care centres are accessible and the restaurants and hotels are open, life also returns to the Ahr valley. In contrast to the more anonymous big city, the familiar neighbourhood will return. The people in the Ahr valley experience a sense of community. It will give them strength when they see that something beautiful is being created in the flood area and that they are part of it. I am convinced of that, and we are working consistently towards that goal.