Luxembourg, champion of overrunning budgets?

The numbers would seem to indicate that Luxembourg systematically exceed the budgets allocated to the projects it intends to carry out.

A striking example is that of the northern motorway, known as the Nordstrooss. The idea materialised in 2015, some 48 years after the signing of the agreement in principle. The budget for this project has steadily increased since and continues to weigh on taxpayers' shoulders today. Initially allocated a budget of 370 million euros, the motorway project's cost has increased by 78%, standing at 655 million euros.

A few hundred million euros cheaper (but still over budget), is the construction of the European Court of Justice in Kirchberg. The budget originally planned for the project was 343 million euros, which has since increased by 30% to 410 million euros. However, the government has stated it intends to collect rent from the Court of Justice.

The A13 motorway, known as the Saar motorway, is another example. The initial budget was set at 243 million euros, but later ballooned to 326 million euros, a 34% increase. The budget also covered a ramp which has never been opened to motorists.
The ballooning budgets are not just restricted to roads, however. The Coque sporting centre in Kirchberg was renovated for a total cost of over 100 million euros, when it was estimated to cost just 62 million; and Luxembourg's biggest sporting project, the new national stadium, is estimated to cost 20 million euros more than initial budgets. Not only is it expected to cost 80 million euros to complete, it has also been delayed by over a year.

When interviewed by RTL television, Minister François Bausch explained that prior to the reform of budgetary law, only summary preliminary drafts were tabled, without studying details. This meant it was easy for projects to be approved based on low estimates. Since the 1999 reform, ministers must now offer detailed outlines for projects. However, this has not prevented budget overruns since then...