East OB's demand reduction of bureaucracy in infrastructure package

The East German mayors have welcomed the special infrastructure fund planned by the CDU/CSU and SPD in principle. However, it is important that the additional money arrives directly in the cities without detours so that schools, roads and bridges can be renovated, new apartments built, childcare expanded and public transport modernized and expanded, the German Association of Cities announced after a conference of the mayors of eastern German cities in Leipzig.

The CDU/CSU and SPD have been negotiating the details of a coalition agreement since Thursday. In the previous exploratory talks, they had agreed to relax the debt brake for defense spending and to set up a special fund of 500 billion euros for investments in infrastructure. However, they will need a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag next Tuesday for the necessary amendments to the Basic Law.

Faster procedures and a reduction in bureaucracy required

More money will only help half as much "if we have to continue spending it in the same complicated way as before", explained Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD). "The special fund should therefore not only be a starting signal for investments, but also a starting signal for better laws, simpler approval procedures and contract awards as well as a reduction in bureaucracy," emphasized Jung, who is also Vice President of the Association of German Cities.

The ideal case would be fixed budgets from the special infrastructure fund for the cities, which the municipalities could dispose of themselves, said Jung. "The federal and state governments must finally trust us, the cities are the experts on what is needed locally. Requirements and obligations to provide evidence "from above" must remain as low as possible for the cities."

Cities want a clear commitment to local public transport

The mayors of the eastern German cities also called for significantly more support for the expansion and modernization of local public transport. "The urgently needed investments for sustainable and climate-friendly local transport must be made. Otherwise, instead of a turnaround in transportation, we will experience a role backwards," explained Jung. Some cities are already having to close or cut routes due to financial constraints instead of creating new connections and improving quality.

In addition, the unresolved issue of the Deutschlandticket must be resolved quickly once the new government has been formed. "We don't want to have lengthy debates about the extension of the ticket every year," warned Leipzig's mayor.