European flags in the wind in front of the Berlaymont building, the seat of the European Commission. (picture alliance/dpa)
The European Commission has called on Germany to invest more in public infrastructure. Particularly in the transport sector, more expenditure is needed to enable more climate-friendly mobility and to get air pollution under control, the Brussels-base EU executive body said on Wednesday.
Cars are still the most frequently used means of commuter transportation, and as a result commuters spend an average of 30 hours per year spent in traffic jams. These traffic jams and the search for parking spaces are estimated to cost 110 billion euros each year. Carsharing models and carpooling options are still clearly underdeveloped, the Commission also said.
In Germany, the national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, was recently criticized by passengers and the federal government. In May, one in five long-distance trains was late. The main reasons for the delays were the outdated infrastructure.
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