Overview

• Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, in office for two days, is leading discussions at a two-day conference in Kiel to accelerate the use of a €500 billion special infrastructure fund.
• Klingbeil has called for swift investment to modernize Germany’s infrastructure, urging federal and state governments to act decisively and visibly for citizens.
• €100 billion of the special fund is earmarked for states and municipalities, but specific distribution plans remain under negotiation between federal and state authorities.
• The conference, attended by state finance ministers, aims to coordinate fiscal strategies under new budgetary constraints following constitutional changes to bypass debt limits.
• A concluding press conference is scheduled for Friday midday in Kiel, where next steps for fund deployment and infrastructure modernization are expected to be outlined.