Overview
- The government plans an Infrastructure Future Act for cabinet approval next week to prioritize rail, autobahn and bridge projects by streamlining approvals and narrowing environmental group lawsuits, drawing sharp criticism from BUND and Greenpeace.
- Leaders set end‑January for key points and end‑February for a decision on replacing the current heating rules with a more technology‑open, simpler law, with the 65 percent renewables requirement for new systems still contested within the coalition.
- The coalition will boost private retirement saving using dividends from a €10 billion federal shareholding, raising the state match from 30 to 35 cents per euro on up to €1,200 annually starting in 2029 and expanding early‑start child accounts.
- Statutory insurers caution that contributions are likely to rise around the turn of the year despite government assurances of stability, as Länder talks proceed on a health‑care savings law and a broader system reform is slated for 2026.
- Emergency crews and PCK units contained a pipeline failure near Gramzow/Zehnebeck that sent a roughly 25‑meter oil jet into wet farmland; at least 200,000 liters spilled, two people were treated, preliminary findings cite preparatory work for a safety test, and sabotage is considered unlikely.