Germany’s ruling coalition has agreed a new law to fast-track infrastructure projects and to scrap clean-heating legislation in favour of a broader law on modernising buildings, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday.
According to a report by Reuters, Merz’s government, which took power seven months ago, has pledged to revive Germany’s sluggish economy, Europe’s largest, by accelerating projects to improve infrastructure.
The conservative chancellor said a wide range of transport schemes would be classified as being of “overriding public interest” under the new law, giving them priority in planning and approval processes.
All related administrative procedures will move to a “digital only” standard intended to shorten timelines, while electrifying rail lines of up to 60 kilometres (37 miles) will no longer require an environmental impact assessment, he said.
“Environmental protection remains important but it can no longer block urgently needed measures through endless procedures,” Merz told a press conference following Wednesday evening’s cabinet meeting.
Germany was long admired for the efficiency of its infrastructure but has been increasingly criticised for letting it decay due to successive governments’ aversion to taking on new debt.
