Preparation phase

Approvals in Germany

In Germany, authorisation for the establishment of a fixed link across the Fehmarnbelt will be granted on the basis of an approval process.

The so called "plan approval process" is a purely legal-administrative process. The application material, jointly prepared by Femern A/S and the Landesbetrieb für Verkehr und Straßenbau, Schleswig-Holstein, Niederlassung Lübeck (LBV Lübeck) – as project proponent for the road part of the fixed link in Germany – consists of technical project descriptions with accompanying drawings, alignment surveys, information about land use, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) investigation as well as other environmental assessments, landscape plans and proposals for compensatory measures.

Both project proponents apply jointly for the plan approval procedure. The plan approval authority is the Landesbetrieb für Verkehr und Straßenbau, Schleswig-Holstein, Betriebssitz Kiel (LBV-SH). The EIA is an integral part of the application for the project's approval.

Proposals from citizens and authorities
The approval process enables the relevant authorities, stakeholder organisations and private individuals to submit proposals and objections. The project owners can subsequently respond to the submitted proposals. On the basis of this, a number of non-public hearings will be organised where the parties will discuss the objections and their responses to them.

The plan approval authority will then consider and balance the various submissions and make its decisions in the plan approval decision ("Planfeststellungsbeschluss") which is a construction permit. Usually no further approval or permission is required.