The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel: Permits, Court Battles, and Cross-Border Negotiations—How a Major European Project Was Legally Secured
The interactive discussion series „Let’s Talk About Law“ begins on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 7:00 p.m. is on the move and will take place for the first time at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig. This time, the focus is on a specific case considered one of the most complex and challenging in recent German history: „The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel: Approval, Court Proceedings, and Cross-Border Negotiations—How a Major European Project Was Legally Secured.“ The guest speaker is Martin Steinkühler, Judge at the Federal Administrative Court and presiding judge in the case. In this moderated discussion, he will explore, among other things, how the enormous practical and legal hurdles of such an infrastructure project can be overcome. How did the Federal Administrative Court proceed in weighing the various interests at stake? And what unique challenges arise when a large-scale project must be planned and approved across national borders? These and other fascinating questions will be discussed in a panel discussion. The audience is cordially invited to join the discussion and contribute their own questions and perspectives.
About the Event Series
Since 2025, the Forum Recht Foundation has been regularly hosting the „Let’s Talk About Recht“ discussion series at its venues in Karlsruhe and Leipzig. The guests are prominent figures from various fields of law who discuss their day-to-day work and share their perspectives on current legal topics—ranging from labor law and tenancy law to freedom of speech. The discussions are recorded and subsequently released as a live-on-tape podcast.
Learn more about the event series here.
You can listen to the conversation on the Live-On-Tape podcast here, two weeks after the event. All previous conversations are already online!
Service
Admission is free of charge. Registration is not required.
Location: Federal Administrative Court, Simsonplatz 1, 04107 Leipzig
Please feel free to contact the Federal Administrative Court directly for information regarding the accessibility of the event venue.
Doors open 20 minutes before the show starts.
Share your experiences and questions! Join the discussion now on current legal topics from the series at the Participation platform of the Forum Recht Foundation.