This article is about the modern German government agency. For the historic ministry prior the founding of the Federal Republic, see Reich Ministry of Transport.
Cabinet-level ministry in Germany
Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr (BMDV)
The Ministry itself has about 1300 employees. At the top is the Federal Minister, and there are two Parliamentary Secretaries, who are also Member of the Bundestag, and two civil servant undersecretaries. The ministry oversees 63 downstream agencies and authorities[2] where around 25,000 people work.[3]
The agency was formed through the merger of the former Federal Ministry of Transport and the Federal Ministry of Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development, both established in 1949. The merged ministry was at first named Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing until it adopted the name Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) in 2005. On December 17, 2013, it was renamed to Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) through an organizational decree by the Merkel III Cabinet. A decree issued by Olaf Scholz upon assuming chancellorship on December 8, 2021, led to the ministry receiving its current designation.[4]
The ministry, together with its subordinate agencies, is responsible for all federal portfolio tasks which touch the mobility of people, goods, services and data.
The responsibilities extends to the federal transport infrastructure (Autobahn, federal motorways, railway networks, waterways and air traffic) as well as to the widespread availability of modern broadband networks across Germany. Hence, the ministry develops legal policies and ensures the safety of the modes of transport, respectively. Additionally, it ensures the seamless planning and financing of investments for maintenance and development of infrastructures.
The main focus in the field of digital infrastructure is a comprehensive supply of fast Internet with a transmission speed of at least 50 Mbps). Another task is to modernise mobility (alternative fuels, interconnected and intelligent transport system). This includes, e.g., the establishment of 'Digitales Testfeld Autobahn' to test innovative vehicle technologies. The ministry is also responsible for the Galileo satellite navigation system and the Copernicus Programme of the European Union.
Authorities and shares
The ministry has 18 federal authorities and federal agencies directly subordinate to it[5]:
The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (German: Bundesamt für Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH)) located in St. Pauli, Hamburg, provides among other things information of all matters of maritime shipping, to special funding programmes, law of flag, certification of mariners and information of the coasts and coastal waters of Germany.[6]
Federal Highway Research Institute (German: Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt))[7] located in purpose built facilities in Bergisch Gladbach since 1983, with a focus on aspects of road engineering. Its mission is the improvement of safety, environmental compatibility, efficiency and performance relating to roads.