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Moselle fees fall: Saarland companies save millions!
Federal Council decides to abolish the Moselle fees in order to eliminate competitive disadvantages and relieve the burden on the Saarland economy.
Moselle fees fall: Saarland companies save millions!
On June 13, 2025, the Federal Council decided to abolish fees for international shipping on the Moselle. With this decision, the Bundestag is now obliged to approve the resolution in order to enable the abolition of the taxes as early as July 2025. The Saarland state government expects this measure to generate annual savings of around four million euros for companies based there.
Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger emphasizes the importance of abolishing the Moselle taxes. This measure is intended not only to eliminate competitive disadvantages, but also to significantly strengthen shipping and regional infrastructure. The abolition is seen as a strategic advantage for the steel industry in particular, as several million tons of goods are transported across the Moselle almost every year, with the industry benefiting from savings of around one million euros per year.
Long-term relief and strategic importance
The decision follows years of efforts by the Saarland state government to improve competitive conditions for Moselle shipping. The Saar Steel Association welcomed the initiative and underlined how important the Moselle is for access to overseas ports. Shipping is considered a cost-effective mode of transport, especially for the agricultural, energy, chemical, steel and construction sectors.
The proposal to abolish shipping taxes is in the context of the Moselle Treaty, which was signed by Germany, France and Luxembourg in 1956. Since the inauguration of the Moselle shipping route in 1964, inland boatmen have been obliged to pay a fee for using the river. The financing of the construction and maintenance costs of the water system was previously regulated via these traffic charges.
International cooperation and ratification
The planned abolition of taxes was signed as part of a protocol of amendment to the Moselle Treaty that recently took place in the border triangle near Schengen. The signatories, including François Bausch from Luxembourg and Oliver Luksic from Germany, intend to initiate ratification in the three states concerned. The aim of the initiative is to create incentives for more shifting of goods to waterways and railways.
It is also announced that all German inland waterways will be toll-free from mid-2025. This also benefits the trimodal port in Mertert. At the same time, the International Moselle Commission, an intergovernmental body that coordinated shipping issues, will be dissolved.
While construction projects such as the construction of the second lock chambers on the German Moselle remain unaffected, the abolition of fees is seen as a significant step for the economic development of the region. The elimination of the Moselle taxes could sustainably improve efficiency and transport conditions for numerous industrial sectors, such as tagesschau.de reported.
In summary, it can be said that this reform will not only lead to savings, but should also promote shipping traffic on the Moselle and the associated economic dynamism in the long term bmv.de determines.