Local public transport
Is there a successor to the 9-euro ticket? – Special meeting
Environmental activists demonstrated in Berlin for a 365-euro climate ticket. They demand that the fiscal company car privilege should be deleted. photo
© Paul Zinken/dpa
What is local transport allowed to cost? Various models that could follow the now expired 9-euro monthly ticket are under discussion. At the beginning of the week something could happen in the debate.
Before a special meeting of the transport ministers, politicians and associations reaffirmed their positions on possible successor solutions to the 9-euro ticket. Environmental groups repeated their demand for a so-called climate ticket for 365 euros a year, sometimes with protests.
State politicians are confident that the federal and state governments will jointly find a solution for a successor to the 9-euro ticket in local transport at the meeting of transport ministers planned for Monday, chaired by Bremen.
Greenpeace protest in front of FDP headquarters
Environmental activists demonstrated in front of the FDP headquarters in Berlin-Mitte for the 365-euro climate ticket. They again called for the abolition of the fiscal company car privilege. Under the motto “Mr. Lindner: 1 company car or 50 climate tickets?” they parked a luxury car in one lane in front of the federal headquarters, and 50 people lined up in the opposite lane. A total of around 100 people took part in the campaign, Greenpeace said.
As a financing option for a follow-up regulation to the 9-euro ticket, the Greens had proposed the abolition of the so-called company car privilege, with which companies can deduct the costs of company cars from tax.
“The promotion of a Porsche 911 as a company car costs the state as much money as the subsidy for 50 climate tickets for a maximum annual price of 365 euros,” said Greenpeace.
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) responded to the protest on Twitter: “One can only repeat: There is no company car privilege that could be canceled in order to win money logbook spared.”
Environmental aid demands 4 billion euros from the federal government
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) also called for a reform of the “subsidy for climate killer company cars” and demanded that the federal government assume all of the costs for a solution to replace the 9-euro ticket. For a nationwide valid 365-euro climate ticket, the federal government would have to raise 4 billion euros per year. From the point of view of the DUH, the federal states should not be used for co-financing. Further federal funds are needed for the expansion of local public transport. “With the equivalent of 29 euros per month, there is real relief for people who want to travel by bus, train and tram in a climate-friendly manner,” said DUH Managing Director Jürgen Resch.
The DUH criticizes that tickets with prices of up to 69 euros per month bring almost no relief to citizens. “Calculated over the year, that would be 828 euros – more expensive than many current regional subscription tickets.”
Country leaders want a follow-up solution
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) told the news portal “The Pioneer”: “We are clearly in favor of a follow-up solution together with the federal government and, as a state, are ready for co-financing.” Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) also expressed “great interest” in a solution on “The Pioneer”. Saarland Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger (SPD) also wants an agreement between the federal and state governments. “However, it is not enough for the federal government to put 1.5 billion euros in the shop window here,” Rehlinger told the news portal. “The regionalization funds must be increased significantly.”