Transport policy is largely determined at European level. Many national laws in the transport sector are the result of legislative proposals from the European Commission, which are negotiated by the European Council and the European Parliament.

The European Commission’s annual work programmes, as well as strategic guidelines and advice, provide key guidance on the roadmap for the years and decades to come. Using its right of initiative, the European Commission can set priorities and drive forward issues specifically. Having focused on sustainability and climate action in its last parliamentary term (2019-2024), the Commission is prioritizing competitiveness, resilience and strengthening the autonomy of the EU in the current parliamentary term. For the period to 2029, the EU is targeting increased investment in research, innovation and a significant reduction in administrative burdens to close the innovation gap to China and the USA. It aims to implement decarbonization and competition-boosting measures, strengthen its own security and reduce dependencies on non-EU Member States.
On 16 July 2025, the European Commission presented an initial proposal for the new EU multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034, which also envisages investment in infrastructure and will be discussed at EU level in the years to come.

However, as EU policy is formed in a joint process, the EU Member States contribute to the plans of the European Commission primarily via Council configurations. The Federal Ministry of Transport represents German interests in the EU Council of Transport Ministers, the transport configuration of the EU Council. The Ministry also closely follows the negotiations between the Council, European Parliament and European Parliament to agree the final regulations. A clear German stance and lobbying for support among the EU Member States and members of the EU Parliament are core components of the Ministry’s EU policy.

Germany will therefore continue to play an active role in EU legislative processes in the current parliamentary term, setting the following priorities in the mobility sector:

Competitive transport sector:

A competitive transport sector needs an innovation-friendly environment. Various facets of efficient and safe mobility should be enabled, taking into account climate neutrality and a technology neutral approach. The regulatory environment must be attractive; bureaucracy should be eliminated where possible. This requires effective and streamlined planning and approval procedures. In order to attract young talents and skilled labour, job profiles in the transport sector must be modern, attractive and easily accessible.

Secure and resilient infrastructure:

Also with a view to a possible enlargement of the EU, the transport infrastructure in Europe and its transport systems must be resilient, crisis-proof and operate smoothly. As a European logistics centre and transport hub, Germany plays a key role and takes great interest in implementing the trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Due to investment challenges, the funding schemes must have a clear needs-based focus. The priorities are safeguarding the capacity and resilience of the core TEN-T network and completing it by 2030.

Transport infrastructure also plays a major role in the security and defence sectors. In this area, Germany serves as a vital hub within Europe and NATO. Investment in (civilian) infrastructure also enhances military mobility.

Sustainable and innovative:

In the past few years, major steps were taken to tackle climate change in the transport sector, with the EU Green Deal, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the ‘Fit for 55’ package. When implementing the new regulations in practice, it is imperative that their impact on the competitiveness of the European transport sector be borne in mind. This includes timely evaluations and any necessary amendments to the provisions. The Federal Government supports the acceleration of vehicle electrification. To achieve this, the existing electric mobility promotion instruments must be harnessed in full. This also includes ambitious Europe-wide rollout of the refuelling and charging infrastructure. The Federal Government opposes general electric vehicle quotas for corporate fleets.

New legislative proposals at the European level should clearly add value for future-proofing the Union, improving the living conditions of citizens and for environmental and climate action. They must meaningfully and practically supplement measures that have already been adopted, while also preserving individual mobility as a key enabler of social participation and independent life, as well as avoiding unnecessary red tape.

Added value by digitalizing the transport sector:

There is great potential for efficiency, climate action, safety, capacity, supply and choice of mobility services in digitalizing aspects of mobility of passengers and goods. This potential should be exploited in a targeted manner, taking into account the challenges posed by digital technologies, in order to also strengthen Europe’s status as a business location, help make the transport sector more environmentally friendly and substantially contribute to cutting red tape. Germany supports the creation and evolution of a European mobility data space and the improvement and completion of mobility data provision.  Digital data provision can also make combining different modes of transport easier. The result is an attractive, multimodal transport system. The legislative groundwork for this is laid at the EU level. The regulatory framework for automated and connected driving must also be developed at EU level and by UNECE at international level.