Overview

• Germany’s judiciary backlog stood at 933,000 pending cases in 2024, 30% higher than in 2021 and prompting concern over procedural delays.
• The federal government proposed nearly €500 million over four years under the renewed pact, doubling its contribution from the 2019 agreement.
• Personnel measures include €240 million spread over two tranches in 2026 and 2028 to hire additional judges, prosecutors and support staff.
• The plan sets aside up to €210 million between 2027 and 2029 for IT modernization projects aimed at speeding up court procedures.
• The pact now awaits cabinet approval and formal agreements with the Länder, and its rollout has been welcomed by the Deutscher Richterbund and Deutscher Anwaltverein.