In the conference of transport ministers held in Hohenschwangau, the state governments have intensified pressure on the federal government regarding the road pricing reform. They demanded that Berlin fully compensate for the additional burdens resulting from the rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Cologne Administrative Court. Furthermore, they called for immediate planning certainty for the states and responsible agencies, and urged the swift initiation of a binding federal-state process to reform the road pricing system. The joint policy paper developed by the states serves as the foundation for these discussions.
In addition to the road pricing demands, the states are heavily pushing for an increase in equalization funds. They argue that the current allocation is severely inadequate to maintain the status quo within the regional passenger rail service (SPNV). To simply preserve the current state of the SPNV until 2031, they estimate an additional 14 billion euros is required, and insist that the federal government must increase these funds immediately and substantially.
The conference covered several other pressing topics, including the low water levels in German waterways, the future of automated driving, and strategies to strengthen volunteer drivers and emergency responders. Ministers also pressed for measures to ensure the long-term financial security of national federal roads and the rail network. Additionally, the VMK debated and made decisions on issues such as cycling and foot traffic, electric mobility, the opportunities and challenges of drones in air traffic, the implementation of corridor renovations, competition in long-distance passenger rail, the Deutschlandtakt system, and the target network 2035.
