Abstract
In Germany there are significant political and economic differences between the parts of the country even though Germany has been united again for 35 years. The motto of the previous state ceremony in Schwerin “Set sails united” also refers to the need to jointly seek and find solutions to the challenges facing a reunified Germany. In this paper, we summarize the current regional policy developments of the past two years, presenting the successful transformation of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and its "green" transition strategy to improve economic competitiveness, as well as its energy policy challenges.