Concerns are growing within German parliamentary circles regarding potential funding shortfalls for the expansion and maintenance of the nation’s autobahn and federal road network. Several lawmakers are expressing dissatisfaction with the current budgetary planning and are urging adjustments to the draft budget for 2026.
Christian von Stetten, a CDU Member of Parliament and chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs, stated that it is “not acceptable” that Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has so far been unwilling to allocate additional funds for autobahn infrastructure. He emphasized that while the Finance Minister proposes the budget, it is ultimately decided upon by parliamentarians.
Prior to von Stetten’s comments, CDU Transportation Minister Patrick Schnieder had previously voiced concerns about a deficit of approximately 15 billion euros needed for the road network. He warned that insufficient funding could jeopardize numerous planned projects, some of which are already awaiting building permits.
Another CDU Member of Parliament, Christoph Ploß, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the framework for the special asset fund explicitly stipulated that funding should be in addition to existing infrastructure investments. Ploß, a member of the Transportation Committee, argued that the current planning requires urgent parliamentary correction to uphold the commitments made.
Adding further pressure on Minister Klingbeil, the Federal Government’s Advocate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Gitta Connemann, underscored the vital role of road infrastructure for the nation’s economy, particularly in rural areas reliant on freight transport. She asserted that businesses expect not only the maintenance but also expansion and new construction of vital transport routes and that failing to deliver is unsustainable. The situation is prompting calls for a reassessment of budgetary priorities to ensure the continued development and upkeep of Germany’s road network.
