16 May 2019 Press releases

Fehmarnbelt crossing: State of Schleswig-Holstein defends itself against eight lawsuits with GvW Graf von Westphalen

Eight lawsuits are pending before the Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG) against the construction of the planned Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link (FBQ). The highest administrative court in Leipzig has now announced this. In all legal proceedings, the state of Schleswig-Holstein will defend the zoning decision with the support of the lawyers of the law firm GvW Graf von Westphalen. The team led by Hamburg-based GvW partner Dr. Ronald Steiling had already advised the state during the zoning procedure.

A total of eight plaintiffs - including several municipalities, two environmental associations, three shipping companies and one private individual - appealed against the zoning decision following the public interpretation of the documents. The plans provide for the world's longest immersed tunnel (18 km) for combined rail and road transport. The user-financed Baltic Sea tunnel, which will be financed by toll revenues, will connect Germany and Denmark on a four-lane motorway and a double-track, electrified railway line.

GvW advises and represents the state of Schleswig-Holstein through a Hamburg core team consisting of Dr Ronald Steiling (lead manager), Corinna Lindau, Dr Stefanie Ramsauer and Saskia Soravia. Most recently, the firm had represented the state in lawsuits against the construction of the A 20 motorway before the Federal Administrative Court (more).

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