Overview

• Germany’s Transport Ministry reports up to €15 billion missing for federal roads over the next four years, with a circulated list naming more than 70 ready-to-build projects that would not be funded under current plans.
• Merz told lawmakers the government will leverage greater flexibility from the €500 billion special fund and tap private capital, stressing “maintenance before new builds” without ruling out new construction.
• Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder says special-fund allocations exceed €21 billion but regular budget cuts leave a roughly €20 billion shortfall through 2029, while Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil cites €166 billion for transport this term and urges a fast-track infrastructure law.
• Eastern leaders escalate equity demands as Brandenburg’s Dietmar Woidke calls for about 20 percent of federal investments to go to the east, and Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern agree hourly Berlin–Stralsund trains from the next timetable with MV contributing €3.2 million annually, plus pressure for faster links to Poland.
• North Rhine–Westphalia faces 29 autobahn expansions and new builds outside the federal plan, prompting FDP criticism of the CDU-led governments and a Landtag debate, with affected routes including sections of the A1, A40, A45, A57, A59 and the proposed A445.