Germany Fast-Tracks Projects, Scraps Heating Law as EIA Rules Shift

Takeaways

• Germany’s ruling coalition has agreed to fast-track major infrastructure projects and scrap an unpopular clean-heating law.
• A new Building Modernization Act will replace the old legislation, offering more flexibility for households while keeping climate goals intact.
• The coalition aims to revive the sluggish economy and regain political support ahead of key state elections.

Germany’s ruling coalition has reached an agreement to fast-track infrastructure development and withdraw its unpopular heating law, replacing it with a broader building-modernization framework. Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the decision on Thursday, outlining a major shift in how Europe’s largest economy plans to speed up growth and address political concerns.

Merz, who came to power seven months ago, has repeatedly stressed the need to revive Germany’s sluggish economy. A central part of this effort is accelerating infrastructure upgrades, which have long been criticized for delays, outdated processes, and a lack of investment. Under the new legislation, a wide range of transport projects will be designated as being of “overriding public interest,” giving them priority in planning and approval procedures.

To reduce bottlenecks, all associated administrative steps will follow a digital-only process. The government expects this to significantly shorten timelines for road, rail, and energy-related projects. In addition, plans to electrify railway lines of up to 60 kilometres will no longer require a full environmental impact assessment, a move the chancellor said balances climate protection with economic urgency.

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“Environmental protection remains important, but it can no longer block urgently needed measures through endless procedures,” Merz said, highlighting public frustration over prolonged project delays.

Germany’s once-admired infrastructure has deteriorated over the past decade as governments avoided taking on new debt. Earlier this year, however, the coalition broke with fiscal tradition by pushing through debt reforms that allow the state to borrow hundreds of billions of euros through a special fund. Critics argue that some of this money has been used to support routine spending rather than long-term investments.

Heating Law Scrapped Amid Public Backlash

The coalition also confirmed it will abandon the contested heating law introduced by the previous centre-left government. That law required most new heating systems to run largely on renewable energy, a policy that triggered widespread backlash from homeowners and contributed to weakening support for the former coalition.

In its place, the government will introduce the Building Modernization Act, which will still aim to cut emissions from buildings but give households more flexibility on technology choices and longer timelines to comply. The legislation is expected to be sent to parliament by next spring.

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The political stakes are high: Five state elections are scheduled for next year, and both Merz’s conservatives and the Social Democrats are struggling after a series of policy missteps. Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has surged to the top of national polls, putting pressure on the coalition to show visible progress.

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Source: Reuters