Germany's business leaders demand radical reforms to speed up infrastructure projects
The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) is pushing for faster progress on infrastructure projects. Chief Executive Helena Melnikov has criticised the slow pace of current efforts, calling for stronger measures to speed up transport modernisation across the country.
Melnikov argues that small improvements to individual projects are not enough. Instead, she wants broader changes to cut delays and streamline approvals.
The DIHK has put forward several key proposals. One is to classify the modernisation of all transport modes—roads, rail, and waterways—as an *overriding public interest*. This would give such projects higher priority in planning and legal processes. Another suggestion is to introduce strict deadlines to prevent endless cycles of expert assessments. Currently, prolonged reviews often stall projects for years. The DIHK also wants replacement construction—where old infrastructure is upgraded with new builds—to be exempt from lengthy permitting and review procedures. Beyond these steps, the organisation is calling for further reforms. These include extending the *overriding public interest* rule to all federal transport operators, setting binding timetables with fixed deadlines, and standardising acceleration measures in the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG). The aim is to create a more efficient system that avoids unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
The proposals come as part of wider discussions on Germany's draft Zukunftsinfrastrukturgesetz (Future Infrastructure Law). If adopted, the changes could reduce delays in critical transport upgrades. The DIHK insists that without such reforms, infrastructure projects will continue to face unnecessary setbacks.
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