Benchmark Study 1

IPP BENCHMARK REPORT
V. 1.0
6. Government and territory
The federal state of Saxony-Anhalt
The State Parliament and State Government of Saxony-Anhalt meet in its capital, Magdeburg.
The State Parliament is re-elected every five years by the men and women of Saxony-Anhalt. It is the
supreme constitutional body, and as such is the legislator, passing state laws, finalising the budget,
electing the Minister-President and keeping a check on the State Government and its administration.
The Minister-President is elected by the State Parliament, and stands at the head of the State
Government. He determines the guidelines of government policy and bears responsibility for these.
Each Minister manages his own portfolio independently within these guidelines, and is personally
responsible for his actions. The State Government rules collectively on all matters which are devolved
upon it by law. At present, the State Government comprises another nine Ministers in addition to the
Minister-President; they run the State Chancellery and the various government departments. The State
Chancellery is the official residence of the Minister-President. It assists the Head of Government in
establishing and implementing policy guidelines as well as in his function as the figurehead of the state.
It coordinates the work of the Government and the administration. The municipalities (local authorities
and rural districts) of Saxony-Anhalt and the local authority associations are responsible for
administering their own affairs in accordance with the law. They elect their own assemblies every five
years, which assist and monitor the work of the chief administrative officers and the Mayors. Both the
state constitution and the municipal constitution must be observed. The municipalities and rural districts
have their own coats of arms in addition to the state coat of arms. 35
Territory
The area of Saxony-Anhalt consists of 3 urban districts
(“Kreisfreie Städte”): Dessau-Roßlau, Halle (Saale) and
Magdeburg; and 11 districts (“Landkreise”):
Distribution of the EU resources
The largest part of Saxony-Anhalts falls under the
convergence objective. These regions receive the largest
means of the Structural Funds. There is a gradual
distribution of resources in the state as Halle belongs to
the Phasing-out regions. Convergence regions
Magdeburg/Dessau receive 53% of subsidies; and the
area of Halle receives 22,8% of resources. 24,2% of
means is distributed in a regionally undefined way, that is financed from the EAFRD (ELER) and EFF.
35 http://www.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=20710, downloaded on 14 November
Page 27
www.i-p-p.eu