Overview

• The upper house approved the law establishing the special fund, completing passage after the Bundestag voted in favor last week.
• The package provides €500 billion over twelve years as additional investment for infrastructure renewal and climate-related measures.
• Spending priorities include repairing bridges and rail lines, expanding energy infrastructure, and investing in digitalization, hospitals and housing.
• Money will be channeled both to the Länder and into the federal Climate and Transformation Fund.
• Reactions diverged, with Brandenburg’s Dietmar Woidke urging faster planning approvals while Bremen’s Björn Fecker criticized planned outlays for gas, and some Länder voiced dissatisfaction.