Car toll: Federal government will not sue former transport minister Scheuer
The car toll was a prestige project of the CSU in the federal government and failed spectacularly. The state was left with a bill in the millions - the former minister is now not threatened with legal action as a result.
The Federal Ministry of Transport is not taking legal action against former head of department Andreas Scheuer (CSU) over the follow-up costs of the failed car toll. As the ministry announced on Thursday, it is following an expert opinion that advises against legal action due to possible liability claims.
The independent experts came to the conclusion that liability arising from an official relationship under public law could be considered, the ministry explained. At the same time, however, they pointed out "the very considerable litigation risk and the justified doubts about the enforceability of possible claims". The ministry is following the recommendation in order to prevent further damage to taxpayers. At the same time, it emphasized: "Irrespective of this, the undisputed political responsibility of former Federal Minister Scheuer remains."
Prestige project of the CSU
The car toll - a prestige project of the CSU in the then federal government - was stopped as illegal by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2019. Scheuer was Minister of Transport at the time. As a result, the federal government had to pay 243 million euros in damages to the once intended operators. This was the result of an agreement following arbitration proceedings.
The current Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing (FDP), commissioned the expert opinion in July 2023 to examine whether liability claims against his predecessor Scheuer exist and can be enforced in court.
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The expert opinion suggests that potential liability claims against former Minister Scheuer could arise from his official role, but it also warns of significant litigation risk and enforceability doubts. The federal government is following this recommendation to avoid further damages to taxpayers, acknowledging the political responsibility of Scheuer.
Despite the European Court of Justice ruling the car toll illegal in 2019, causing the federal government to pay 243 million Euros in damages, the former CSU minister Scheuer was not involved in these legal proceedings.
The failed car toll, a prestige project of the CSU during its time in the federal government, resulted in millions of euros of costs for the state. Despite these financial burdens, the former minister of transportation is not facing legal action for these damages.
Source: www.ntv.de
