Infrastrukturvorhabenzulassung durch Gesetz

The urgently needed transformation of the energy and transport sector calls on legislators to reform established planning and authorisation procedures for infrastructure projects. At first glance, infrastructure project authorisation by law as an instrument for acceleration and to boost acceptance of projects appears to be a promising remedy. The author analyses the terminology and typology of the instrument, works out the current requirements under German constitutional, international and EU law and questions the future viability of legislative infrastructure project approval. The final result is clear: the overly complex instrument causes more difficulties than potential for conflict (re)solution or acceleration.