Overview
- NRW would receive €21.1 billion from the federal special fund, with €12.7 billion slated for municipalities, including €10 billion in lump sums and €2.7 billion tied to grant programs.
- Economists caution the draft lacks safeguards against replacing regular budgets with special funds, while municipal leaders reject a strict additionality rule as unworkable.
- The state plans to devote roughly €1.5 billion to transport infrastructure, a level industry and logistics groups say falls below NRW’s needs.
- Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder approved 23 ready-to-build road projects, including the A43 in Bochum, the A44 gap between Ratingen and Heiligenhaus, the A57 in Krefeld, and B64/B83 works near Höxter.
- Industry chambers argue NRW will be disadvantaged because the fund prioritizes maintenance over motorway lane additions and waterways, and they urge the state to renegotiate in Berlin.