The Committee on Transport and Digital Infrastructure 2 “Transport and digital infrastructure are vital for social inclusion and the strength of the Germany econ- omy. On the other hand, the trans- port sector has a large climate foot- print. If we can square the circle of business and environmental concerns successfully in this area, we can do so anywhere. The digital transformation has the potential to become a catalyst for environ- mental modernisation. Today, high- speed internet and mobile commu- nications rank alongside good bus and rail services, railways, roads and cycle superhighways as factors which determine people’s quality of life and the competitiveness of our regions. These are the aims being pursued by the Committee.” Cem Özdemir, Alliance 90/The Greens Chairman of the Committee on Transport and Digital Infrastructure 3 The German Bundestag’s decisions are prepared by its committees, which are estab- lished at the start of each elec- toral term. Four of them are stipulated by the Basic Law, the German constitution: the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Defence Committee, the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union and the Petitions Committee. The Budget Committee and the Committee for the Rules of Procedure are also required by law. The spheres of respon- sibility of the committees essentially reflect the Federal Government’s distribution of ministerial portfolios. This enables Parliament to scruti- nise the government’s work effectively. The Bundestag committees The German Bundestag sets political priorities of its own by establishing additional committees for specific sub- jects, such as sport, cultural affairs or tourism. In addition, special bodies such as parlia- mentary advisory councils, The committees discuss and committees of inquiry or deliberate on items referred study commissions can also to them by the plenary. They be established. The commit- also have the right to take up tees are composed of mem- issues on their own initiative, bers of all the parliamentary allowing them to set priorities groups, reflecting the balance in the parliamentary debate. of these groups in the German When necessary, they draw Bundestag. The distribution on external expertise – usu- of the chairs and deputy ally by holding public hear- chairs among the parliamen- ings. At the end of a commit- tary groups also reflects their tee’s deliberations, a majority relative strengths in the ple- of its members adopt a rec om- nary. In the current electoral mendation for a decision and term, the committees have a report, which serve as the between nine and 49 mem- basis for the plenary’s deci- bers. sion. 5 The Committee The subjects dealt with by the Committee on Transport and Digital Infrastructure, which is chaired by Cem Özdemir (Alliance 90/The Greens), affect everyone in Germany – whether they use mobile com- munications, surf the internet, travel by train, car, bicycle, ship or plane, or are waiting at home for a parcel to be delivered. With 43 members, the Committee is one of the largest in the German Bundes- tag. The Committee’s work has a significant influence on transport, quality of life, the economy, regional com- petitiveness, and climate and environmental protection throughout Germany and beyond. The Committee participates in the legislative process, submits political recommen- dations to the plenary and The Committee on Transport and Digital Infrastructure and its work in practice scrutinises the government’s work. It grapples with current problems and questions for the future such as: How will we travel in future? How can we square the circle of mobil- ity, transport and climate pro- hearings, and submits recom- tection? How can we transport mendations for decisions goods intelligently, efficiently to the plenary. Transport and and in an environmentally digital policy-making has to friendly manner? How can take diverse European and we make high-speed internet international factors into access and mobile communi- account. The Committee cations available to everyone, therefore also discusses inter- as far as possible? The Com- national matters and exam- mittee is responsible for the ines EU initiatives. policy field with the largest investment budget, as the planning, construction, Transport infrastructure maintenance and renewal of transport and digital infra- One of the most important structure requires a great deal recent decisions in which of money. the Committee played a key The Committee discusses role was the adoption of the items falling within its remit Federal Transport Infrastruc- which are referred to it by ture Plan for the period to the plenary or the President 2030, which involves around of the Bundestag, but it also 270 billion euros in funding. takes up issues on its own For the first time, a ­Waterways initiative and provides impe- Upgrading Act was also tus for the political debate. adopted, forming the basis In this context, it obtains for upgrading the federal information, holds public waterways. 15 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CDU/CSU 9 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SPD 6 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ AfD 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FDP 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ The Left Party 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ Alliance 90/The Greens Number of members: 43 Chairman: Cem Özdemir, Alliance 90/The Greens Deputy Chairwoman: Daniela Kluckert, FDP 7 Modes of transport Issues relating to rail transport also attract significant public Improving planning capaci- interest. On a day-to-day basis, ties and speeding up planning the focus here is on the qual- in the context of transport ity of rail services, customer- projects, as well as giving the friendliness and punctuality, public a greater say in trans- but also, for example, the pro- port planning, will be key tection of lineside residents priorities for the Committee, from railway noise, the condi- including against the back- tion of stations and accessibil- ground of the current increase ity on board trains. The sub- in the budget for transport jects are discussed in detail by infrastructure. The reorgani- the Committee. Vital local sation of the trunk road passenger rail services will administration agreed in benefit from the significant the last electoral term and the increase in devolved funding establishment of a federal agreed in the last electoral trunk road company are also term. among the topics discussed With regard to air transport, by the Committee. the focus is on the standard- The tolling scheme for heavy isation of rules in Europe goods vehicles (HGVs) is a and aviation safety, but also key component of the planned the sector’s environmental shift to the “user pays” prin- and climate-related impact. ciple for transport. The Com- The construction of the new mittee examines the scheme’s Berlin Brandenburg Airport development on an ongoing is also a frequent subject of basis. The passenger car toll- the Committee’s deliberations. ing scheme agreed in the last Intensive discussions on how electoral term was also the to deal with autonomous subject of intensive and con- aerial systems, better known tentious public debate. as drones, already took place 8 Sustainable and climate-friendly transport A key aim of the Committee’s work is securing comprehen- sive, sustainable transport, with a focus on environment in the last electoral term. and social compatibility, and Improving road safety is an modernising Germany’s posi- important priority for the tion as a key location for busi- Committee. The focus is cur- ness. Several very different rently on what can be done requirements have to be bal- to prevent collisions between anced in this context: people HGVs and cyclists, which are want to be mobile, travel on often fatal, for example by holiday, be supplied with introducing turn assist sys- goods and have secure jobs. tems. At the same time, they expect Measures to curb illegal street to be protected from the dis- racing and speeding also advantages of transport, such remain an important issue. as noise, air pollution, land The deliberations on long- use and the risk of accidents. distance lorry drivers’ driving Policy-makers have to square time and rest periods focus the circle of these competing both on road safety and on the requirements. social conditions for workers A shift from roads to other in the road haulage industry. modes of transport such as Many people are unaware that rail and waterways could help the Committee is also respon- to achieve this, for example. sible for the German Meteoro- The use of new propulsion logical Service and deals with technologies – such as electric the European navigation satel- mobility – also plays a vital lite system Galileo. role in this context, as do 9 Transport and digital systems Transport can also be made safer and more efficient by means of digital infrastructure. Many forms of transport are now all but unimaginable without the support provided by digital systems. Vehicles are already “rolling computer networks”, and this trend will be intensified further by the current shift towards highly emission-abatement technolo- automated and autonomous gies, such as low-noise brake driving. The Committee is blocks for freight wagons or monitoring this trend particu- low-noise aircraft engines. larly closely. The Committee also discusses For rail passengers, too, forward-looking approaches access to the digital world is to traditional technologies, playing an ever more impor- such as diesel. Its agenda tant role, for example in the regularly features subjects availability of wireless inter- such as emission limits, nitro- net access on board trains and gen oxide and carbon dioxide sufficient density of mobile levels, realistic emission masts along rail routes to measurements, and the provide coverage. And rail is upgrading of existing vehicles also seeing the introduction by retrofitting. The same is of digital systems “behind the true of topics such as support scenes”: digital signal boxes for cycling as an alternative, and the European Train Con- climate-friendly form of trans- trol System (ETCS) are just port, and transport’s role in two of the topics examined by the context of climate change.