ABSTRACT
As a federal state, Germany is structurally different from the other countries discussed in this book, namely the Visegrad Group countries. This chapter discusses the municipal self-government system in Germany, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the mechanisms and results of post-Covid-19 recovery using the example of selected city-regions: Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg. The research question is: how has the pandemic affected the city-states and what mechanisms have been put in place there? The Covid-19 pandemic has also generated various discussions related to the functioning of cities, forcing them to update their strategies and plans and implement new initiatives. German city-states implemented new instruments or adapted existing solutions to current needs to ensure sustainability. The chapter discusses both state and federally funded programs as well as the programs funded by the European Union. The chapter is based on official data and information published by city-states, institutions, and organizations. The analysis allows for a comprehensive illustration of the response of municipal self-governments in Germany to the pandemic and post-pandemic crisis.
