Resistance is also forming within the traffic light coalition against the federal government’s plans to cut highways. SPD parliamentary group vice-chair Detlef Müller told the German Press Agency in Berlin: “Roads are one of the lifeblood of our economy and society. We will not be able to support plans that cut highways so massively.”
The Verdi union warned in a paper that the cuts would cause even more wear and tear on the transport infrastructure. “There will be more closures of bridges and lanes. The renovation work will come to a standstill.” Cuts in funding would be absurd.
According to reports, funds for the federally owned Autobahn GmbH are to be cut by 20 percent to around 5 billion euros next year compared to previous planning.
Müller said Verdi’s criticism of the cuts was absolutely justified. “It is clear to us that appropriate financial resources must be made available for investments in the already neglected infrastructure. It is about maintaining the infrastructure and making it more efficient and ensuring its operation and planning capacities.”
This is where Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Transport Minister Volker Wissing (both FDP) must deliver. “For the motorways, the main thing is to modernise and maintain bridges. Otherwise we will have a problem with road safety on our roads.”
The Ministry of Transport said at the weekend that due to the current budget situation and the necessary savings, not all the needs for investments in transport infrastructure could currently be met. With a view to the ongoing negotiations on the preparation of the budget for 2025, it was said that the aim was to further increase investments in transport infrastructure within the framework of the available budget funds. This explicitly also applies to investments in the motorways.
The budget negotiations within the government are difficult. Various departments do not want to comply with Lindner’s savings targets. The finance minister insists that the debt brake enshrined in the constitution is adhered to. By the beginning of July, an agreement within the cabinet on a draft budget is to be reached before it goes into parliamentary deliberations.
