Members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) parliamentary group are seeking significant revisions to the proposed transportation budget during upcoming negotiations. Stephan Stracke, deputy parliamentary group leader, stated that current plans leave all modes of transport underfunded, despite the establishment of a special fund dedicated to infrastructure.
Stracke emphasized that, under the current proposal, new construction and expansion projects are unsustainable and the group will advocate for improvements to ensure that all projects ready for implementation are adequately financed. He noted public expectation for the governing coalition to prioritize upgrading transportation infrastructure in the coming years.
According to Stracke, the draft budget for 2026, which will be debated in parliament starting in September, reveals a funding gap of approximately 20 billion euros through 2029. He highlighted substantial shortfalls specifically in funding for roads, followed by rail and waterways.
Concerns are also being raised by the Green Party. Paula Piechotta, a Green Party budget expert, stated that only a fraction of the funds allocated through the special infrastructure fund are actually reaching transportation projects. She also criticized a growing lack of transparency in the budget planning process, describing the financing of transport as increasingly complex.
Piechotta points to a recent development where substantial funds are being earmarked within the defense budget for transportation projects considered part of a national military network. She warns that this could lead to a shift, where construction, expansion and renovation projects are increasingly assigned to the defense ministry’s budget if funding isn’t available through traditional transportation channels or the special fund. This, she argues, could ultimately distort the priorities and logic behind investment in the national military network.