A looming impasse threatens to undermine Germany’s efforts to expedite infrastructure projects, as the leadership of the skilled trades federation warns that medium-sized enterprises risk being shut out from valuable public contracts. Jörg Dittrich, president of the federation, has issued a stark appeal to state governments to approve a compromise agreement with the federal government regarding the proposed Accelerated Procurement Law.
The crux of the dispute lies in concerns from several states regarding perceived bureaucratic hurdles within procurement processes, leading to protracted delays. Dittrich, in an interview with the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”, vehemently criticized attempts by some regional governments to circumvent established principles of specialized and lot-by-lot procurement, as initially stipulated in a cabinet resolution. He characterized such efforts, justified by vague justifications like “temporal” or “substantive reasons” as “unacceptable.
The potential shift towards a predominantly total procurement system would disproportionately benefit large corporations, while effectively excluding the vital role played by skilled trades businesses. These businesses, Dittrich argues, are the bedrock of local economies, responsible for crucial aspects like vocational training, integration initiatives, community engagement and essential services to towns and villages. To reward their contribution by marginalizing them from public contracts would, he stated, be “difficult to surpass in hypocrisy.
While acknowledging the urgent need to accelerate construction timelines, Dittrich questioned why such focus is primarily directed at procurement law, while other significant bottlenecks, such as political gridlock, permitting processes, planning stages and legal challenges, remain largely unaddressed. The Accelerated Procurement Law requires approval from the Bundesrat (Federal Council) and failure to secure this endorsement could severely hamper Germany’s infrastructure ambitions and, critically, stifle the contributions of vital regional businesses. The situation highlights a deeper conflict between the pursuit of speed and the sustained health of Germany’s economic fabric.