A system for controlling a cooling system comprises an operating state detection unit adapted to detect operating signals characteristic of the operating state of the cooling system and/or the operating state of a plurality of cooling energy consumers to be supplied with cooling energy by the cooling system and a database in which priority data dependent on the operating state and characteristic of the priority to be given to the cooling energy consumers in terms of the cooling energy to be supplied in various operating states of the cooling system and/or of the cooling energy consumers, is stored for a plurality of cooling energy consumers to be supplied with cooling energy by the cooling system.