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BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Wind turbines, power lines, rails: In the future, courts should decide more quickly on important expansion projects for renewable energies and other large infrastructure projects. The Bundestag decided on Friday.
The aim of the reform of the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP is to shorten the procedures before the administrative courts for projects classified as particularly important. These projects include, among other things, the expansion of the rail network as well as wind turbines, trunk roads, larger gas supply lines and high-voltage lines
The new rules are intended to help Germany achieve its ambitious goals for the expansion of renewable energies for 2030. Onshore wind power alone is expected to more than double by then. Planning, approval and construction of a wind turbine takes five to seven years on average. By 2030, 80 percent of electricity consumption in Germany should come from renewable energy sources.
For example, the law provides for the formation of specialized chambers or senates for planning law as well as deadlines so that procedures for such large-scale projects no longer drag on for years. The staff at the courts should also be relieved: In certain cases, individual judges or smaller chambers will be able to make decisions in such proceedings in the future. In addition, a court should be able to disregard a defect in the contested administrative act if it is obvious that this will soon be remedied.
Green MP Lukas Benner said the new law has three pillars: “More flexibility for courts, easier work and tighter procedures”. It is of course not the big hit that solves all problems. But no one claimed that. “If we’re serious (…) then we have to turn every single stone and salvage the potential,” said Benner. The law was passed with the votes of the government factions SPD, Greens and FDP. The left faction also agreed. The members of the Union and AfD voted against it.
Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) welcomed the decision: “We mustn’t lose any time speeding up,” he explained. The new law is a good first building block on the way to speeding up procedures and making a contribution to faster modernization of the country.
Sharp criticism came from the opposition. The reform was well-intentioned at best, but certainly badly done, said CSU MP Stephan Mayer. Because some regulations are completely vague, he fears that the law could even lead to delays. Susanne Hennig-Wellsow (left) thought the law’s objective was right and good – but criticized the fact that the federal government could already equip the Federal Administrative Court with more staff. Nothing gets faster if you forget important parameters, she said.
The CDU MP Philipp Amthor criticized the traffic light government for its “mini-reform”. It didn’t deserve the label of an acceleration of planning. Like several of the previous speakers, he saw more potential for speeding up the planning process – i.e. in the stage before a legal dispute. “Instead of cleaning out the barn full of problems in the planning process, they look for the fine, golden needle in a haystack,” said Amthor. That’s not enough.
Within the traffic light coalition there has long been a dispute about a possible acceleration of planning processes in general. Only at the end of January did the leaders of the traffic light parties and parliamentary groups meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) – without a result. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) wants roads and bridges to be built faster, but the Greens strictly reject the acceleration of new motorway construction./jwe/DP/mis