Friedrich Merz Proposes “Automatic Approval” to Combat EU Bureaucracy and Rival China’s Speed
Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has called for a radical overhaul of the European Union’s permitting procedures, citing the stark contrast between the bloc’s sluggish bureaucracy and China’s rapid infrastructure development. Speaking on the urgency of economic competitiveness, Merz highlighted the alarming efficiency gap in renewable energy projects as a prime example of where Europe is falling behind.
“China builds the world’s largest solar farms within a few months,” Merz stated, pointing to the aggressive pace at which the Asian superpower is expanding its renewable energy capacity. In a direct comparison that underscores the frustrations of European industry leaders, he noted, “In the EU, it takes years just for the project to get approved.”
To bridge this competitiveness gap, Merz has proposed a fundamental shift in administrative law known as “Genehmigungsfiktion,” or the fiction of approval. Addressing the cut-off point in recent reports, his proposal effectively mandates that “Any project that is not treated within a defined timeframe is considered automatically approved.”
This “silence means consent” principle aims to reverse the current dynamic where bureaucratic inaction stalls progress indefinitely. Under Merz’s plan, regulatory authorities would be bound by strict deadlines. If an agency fails to issue a ruling—either an approval or a rejection—within the statutory period (often cited as three months in similar proposals), the permit would be granted by default.
The proposal comes at a time when the EU is grappling with how to accelerate its Green Deal objectives while preventing deindustrialization. Business associations have long complained that the unpredictability and length of permitting processes act as a deterrent to investment, driving capital toward the United States and China. Merz’s argument positions administrative reform not just as a matter of red tape, but as a critical geopolitical necessity.
By shifting the burden of speed onto the regulator, Merz argues the EU can unleash the private investment needed to modernize its energy grid and infrastructure. While critics may argue that automatic approvals could risk environmental oversight, supporters maintain that it is the only way to break the paralysis that currently grips Europe’s planning offices.
* youtube.com
