Against the backdrop of a recent successful lawsuit by the German Nature Conservation Federation (NABU) against the private use of road salt in Berlin, the coalition parties are pushing for a swift debate of a bill that would amend the group‑action law.
“Not least, the Berlin case shows that the group‑action rule needs reform” said CSU parliamentary director Reinhard Brandl to the newspapers of the Bavarian media group. “When environmental groups can successfully sue against sensible, pragmatic solutions, it harms the public’s acceptance of nature protection and paralyzes the state”.
Brandl emphasized that a “fundamental reform” of the lawsuit rights is required and that such rights should not serve as a political instrument to immobilise cities, municipalities or democratically elected officials. He described the cabinet’s decision to amend the Environmental Appeal Act as the proper first step, noting that the bill’s first reading will take place in the coming parliamentary session. “We aim to conclude the procedure quickly and, within the next few months, find a solution for reforming the lawsuit law” he added.
SPD parliamentary director Dirk Wiese sharply criticized NABU and hinted at a possible tightening of the draft law. “You can only shake your head at NABU these days” he told the Bavarian media group. He added that Berlin’s residents have been slipping terribly along sidewalks for weeks, with hospitals full of patients. “NABU representatives knowingly accept additional falls and injuries” Wiese said. “This is intolerable and rightly leads us to openly discuss restricting group‑action rights”.
