The chairman of the Investment and Innovation Council of the German Finance Ministry, Harald Christ, believes that the federal government will meet the ten‑percent investment quota this year in order to activate the €500 billion special fund. “The ten‑percent investment quota from the core budget will be reached in 2026” Christ told “Welt am Sonntag”.
This quota is meant to ensure that the so‑called “special fund for infrastructure and climate neutrality” is actually used for additional investment. In 2025 the target was missed: the core‑budget investment quota was only 8.7 percent.
Christ urged patience regarding the expected effects of the special fund. “The law was passed only in October, so you can’t expect macroeconomic effects after three months” he said. “First indications will likely appear in the second half of 2026. The crucial point is that, if by December the funds earmarked for this year are largely released, reach their recipients, and start delivering results – and if additional private investment follows – then we will be on the growth path we need”.