Federal transport minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) rejected accusations from environmental groups that the proposed “Infrastructure Future Act” would compromise environmental protection. In a guest column for Handelsblatt, the CDU politician wrote that the environmental protection standards would remain unchanged.
Schnieder explains that the reform aims to create a responsible and necessary new balance between environmental protection and infrastructure development. He stresses that the adjustment is not an indication that road construction is being prioritized over nature and species protection. “It is not, for instance, because we consider highways more important than environmental and nature protection” he wrote. Rather, tightening the procedures is “an urgently needed response to changing conditions”.
At the same time, Schnieder sees the need for further reforms at the European level. “If we want binding deadline rules or, as outlined in the coalition agreement, to largely waive environmental impact assessments for replacement new buildings, we need reforms at the EU level” he wrote. “This demand is rightly also made by the states”.
