"The demand reheated by the Governing Mayor of Berlin is out of date. The division of work between Bonn and Berlin is established and well-rehearsed, the costs are falling thanks to increasing digitalization and are disproportionate to those of a complete relocation. The spatial separation between several ministry locations has become considerably less important. The surge in digitalization in the wake of the pandemic has meant that communication via video conferencing has become part of everyday life in all authorities, even in close proximity. The need for business trips is decreasing and can be further reduced in the future.

Above all, the Bonn location provides services of great added value for the entire Federal Republic, which make it necessary for the ministries to remain in Bonn, for example as the location of the United Nations, renowned science and research institutions, cyber security and as the city of Beethoven. It is good and forward-looking that these clusters are to be expanded as part of a supplementary agreement, on which the city of Bonn has worked very constructively together with the region, the state and federal governments.

Strengthening Bonn and the region as a second political center and strategically positioning it well for the future is also an important resilience factor for the federal government. The crises of the recent past have clearly shown that a second government location, a back-up so to speak, is of national importance for the functioning of the state."

With the continued division of labor between Berlin and Bonn, the federal government now has the opportunity to compete for the best young talent at two different locations. In view of demographics, it is safe to assume that this advantage will become even more important in the coming years. In addition, the existing division of the federal ministries avoids an additional concentration on the office space market and especially on the housing market in just one location."