The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (German: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, [ˈbʊndəsminɪsˌteːʁiʊm fyːɐ̯ ˈvɪʁt.ʃaft ʔʊnt eneʁˈɡiː]; abbreviated BMWE, formerly BMWK and BMWi) is a cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany. It was previously known as the "Ministry of Economy". It was recreated in 2005 as "Ministry of Economics and Technology" after it had previously been merged with other ministries to form the Federal Ministry for Economics and Labour between 2002 and 2005. The ministry is advised by the Council of Advisors on Digital Economy.
History The historical predecessor of the current Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action was the Reichswirtschaftsamt (Reich Economic Office), founded in 1917. In 1919, this became the Reichswirtschaftsministerium (Reich Ministry of Economy), which existed until 1945. In postwar occupied Germany, its functions were exercised by the Administrative Office of Economy (German: Verwaltungsamt für Wirtschaft) between 1946 and 1949. After the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Federal Ministry of Economics (German: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft) existed from 1949 to 1998. From May 1971 to December 1972, it was temporarily merged with the Federal Ministry of Finance, in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Finance. In 1998 the technology section of the Ministry of Research was added, making it the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Between 2002 and 2005, it was merged with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and one part of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - the other part being merged with the old Federal Ministry for Health, then the Ministry of Health and Social Security. This transformations aimed to consolidate the policy-fields of economics and labour market, on which the second term of chancellor Gerhard Schröder wanted to focus, into one hand. Because the new Ministry was very large and important, it was often referred to as a super-ministry (Superministerium) and its minister as a super-minister (Superminister). The creation of the new Ministry was widely seen as failed, basically because of the poor performance of the only office-holder Wolfgang Clement. Under the following grand coalition headed by Angela Merkel, the portfolio reshuffle was reversed, and the old Federal Ministries of Economics and Technology, of Labour and Social Affairs and of Health were created once again as Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. It was renamed to Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in 2013.
In order of the Federal Republic of Germany the Ministry has published a fact sheet on the unique dual vocational training system.
Structure
The Ministry is organised into 10 departments and one central department.
Central Administration – Z European Policy – E Economic Policy – I Economic Stabilisation and Energy Security – WE Climate Action – K Energy Policy: Heating and Efficiency – II Energy Policy: Electricity and Grid – III Industrial Policy – IV External Economic Policy – V Digital and Innovation Policy – VI SME Policy - VII The ministry is headquartered in Berlin.
Agencies In addition to its own operations, the Ministry also oversees the following agencies:
Federal Cartel Office Federal Network Agency Federal Office of Economics and Export Control Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources German National Metrology Institute
Ministers and Secretaries of State
Ministers Political Party: CDU SPD FDP IND CSU Greens
Secretaries
Ministry for Economy (1949–1998) Parliamentary State Secretaries 1967–1970: Klaus Dieter Arndt, SPD 1970–1971: Philip Rosenthal, SPD 1972: Rainer Offergeld, SPD 1972–1987: Martin Grüner, FDP/DVP 1983–1987: Rudolf Sprung, CDU 1987–1989: Ludolf-Georg von Wartenberg, CDU 1987–1993: Erich Riedl, CSU 1989–1992: Klaus Beckmann, FDP 1992–1998: Heinrich Leonhard Kolb, FDP 1993–1994: Reinhard Göhner, CDU 1994–1997: Norbert Lammert, CDU State Secretaries 1949–1951: Eduard Schalfejew 1951–1963: Ludger Westrick, no party 1958–1963: Alfred Müller-Armack, CDU 1963–1966: Wolfram Langer 1963–1968: Fritz Neef 1967–1972: Johann Baptist Schöllhorn 1968–1969: Klaus von Dohnanyi, SPD 1969–1978: Detlev Karsten Rohwedder, SPD 1972: Ernst Wolf Mommsen 1973–1991: Otto Schlecht 1979–1995: Dieter von Würzen 1991–1994: Johann Eekhoff 1994–1997: Johannes Ludewig 1995–1998: Lorenz Schomerus 1997–1998: Rudi Geil, CDU 1997–1998: Klaus Bünger
Ministry for Economics and Technology (1998–2002) Parliamentary State Secretaries 1998–2002: Siegmar Mosdorf, SPD State Secretaries 1998–2002: Alfred Tacke, SPD 1999–2002: Axel Gerlach
Ministry for Economics and Labour (2002–2005) Parliamentary State Secretaries 2002–2005: Gerd Andres, SPD 2002–2005: Rezzo Schlauch, Greens 2002–2005: Ditmar Staffelt, SPD State Secretaries 1999–2003: Axel Gerlach 2002–2004: Alfred Tacke, SPD 2002–2005: Rudolf Anzinger 2002–2005: Georg-Wilhelm Adamowitsch 2004–2005: Bernd Pfaffenbach
Ministry for Economics and Technology (2005–2013) Parliamentary State Secretaries 2005–2013: Peter Hintze, CDU 2005–2009: Dagmar Wöhrl, CSU 2005–2009: Hartmut Schauerte, CDU 2009–2013: Ernst Burgbacher, FDP 2009–2013: Hans-Joachim Otto, FDP State Secretaries 2005–2006: Georg-Wilhelm Adamowitsch 2005–2008: Joachim Wuermeling, CSU 2006–2009: Walther Otremba 2005–2011: Bernd Pfaffenbach 2008–2012: Jochen Homann 2009–2013: Bernhard Heitzer, FDP 2011–2013: Stefan Kapferer, FDP 2012–2013: Anne Herkes
Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (2013–2021) Parliamentary State Secretaries 2013–2017: Brigitte Zypries, SPD 2013–2018: Uwe Beckmeyer, SPD 2013–2018: Iris Gleicke, SPD 2017–2018: Dirk Wiese, SPD 2018–2019: Oliver Wittke, CDU 2018–2020: Christian Hirte, CDU 2018–2021: Thomas Bareiß, CDU 2019–2021: Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, CDU 2020–2021: Marco Wanderwitz, CDU State Secretaries 2013–2018: Rainer Baake, Greens 2014–2018: Matthias Machnig, SPD 2013–2017: Rainer Sontowski, SPD
Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (since 2021) Parliamentary State Secretaries 2021–2022: Oliver Krischer, Greens 2021-2025: Franziska Brantner, Greens 2021-2025: Michael Kellner, Greens 2022-2025: Stefan Wenzel, Greens since 2025: Gitta Connemann, CDU since 2025: Stefan Rouenhoff, CDU State Secretaries 2021–2023: Patrick Graichen, Greens 2021-2024: Sven Giegold, Greens 2021-2025: Anja Hajduk, Greens 2021-2025: Udo Philipp, Greens 2023-2025: Philipp Nimmermann, Greens 2024-2025: Bernhard Kluttig since 2025: Frank Wetzel since 2025: Thomas Steffen
References
External links Media related to Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie at Wikimedia Commons