After three days of negotiations, the leaders of the SPD, Greens and FDP in Germany reached an agreement on several contentious issues. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil spoke this evening in Berlin following the coalition committee’s deliberations on a “package of measures” related to faster infrastructure expansion, adjustments to the climate protection law and the conversion of heating systems.
Klingbeil, Green Party leader Ricarda Lang and FDP leader Christian Lindner expressed their satisfaction with the results. Klingbeil said it was intended to “massively speed up” the planning and approval process. The Climate Protection Act must be made more efficient to make it easier for Germany to become climate neutral by 2045. Social justice must be ensured during the “warmth transition” with the conversion of heating systems.
Lang said the coalition also wants to increase truck tolls to make more room for rail investment. 80 percent of the money must go to railroad expansion. According to Lindner, the coalition partners also agreed to accelerate the expansion of selected sections of the highway.
Scholz appeals to deputies
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had already promised an “overall good job” ahead of the conclusion of the deliberations and said: “It will have been worth it.” Tomorrow Scholz will face the parliamentarians in the Bundestag. The central topic of the 90-minute survey is likely to be the outcome of coalition committee talks.