An expert report prepared by the law firm Becker Büttner Held (BBH) and commissioned by the think tank DialogGesellschaft e.V. has identified nine different measures to speed up planning, approval and licensing procedures. The measures proposed by BBH fully respect the principle of due diligence as well as public participation and the protection of local residents’ rights.
For the energy and resource transition to succeed, the necessary infrastructures, i.e. industrial facilities, power plants and grids, must be expanded and/or reorganised. However, these infrastructures are subject to complex and usually lengthy planning, approval and licensing procedures. The Federal Government has already committed itself in the coalition agreement to speeding up these procedures. In its review of Germany’s current climate action status, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWK) has set out its vision in this regard. On behalf of DialogGesellschaft, BBH has now drawn up an expert report which builds on the approaches outlined in the coalition agreement and proposes further specific measures.
According to BBH, there are three different areas where planning, approval and licensing procedures regarding infrastructure projects can be accelerated: the legislative level, the project developers, and the authorities themselves. BBH has identified a total of nine measures and assessed their potential for implementation in regard to their legal complexity, political feasibility and the speed with which they can be implemented. In this context, BBH was able to draw on its wealth of experience with planning, approval and licensing procedures.
“The purpose of our expert report for DialogGesellschaft is to point out the measures which can effectively accelerate the planning, approval and licensing procedures. Measures which can be applied in parallel at the legislative level, by project developers and the authorities. In this context, it was important for us that the principles underlying these procedures will be upheld. Our proposals do not compromise due diligence, public participation or the protection of local residents’ rights,” says BBH partner Prof. Dr. Ines Zenke, who prepared the expert report together with BBH partner Andreas Große as well as BBH partners counsel Dr. Christian Dessau and Carsten Telschow.
Becker Büttner Held is a leading provider of advisory services for energy and infrastructure companies and their customers. Energy and supply companies, particularly public utilities, municipalities and local authorities, industrial companies and international groups are among its core clients. BBH advises these and many other companies and organisations in all legal matters and also assists them with business and strategic advice.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Ines Zenke
Rechtsanwältin/Lawyer, Partner
Phone +49 (0)30 611 28 40 - 179
ines.zenke@bbh-online.de
Visit the BBH group online at www.die-bbh-gruppe.de, www.bbh-blog.de, twitter.com/BBH_online oder instagram.com/die_bbh_gruppe.