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Robert Habeck: »One way of not letting the state do everything is the gas levy«
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Despite the federal government's planned entry into Uniper, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck is initially sticking to the controversial gas levy.
The levy will come, said the Green politician in Berlin.
It should be introduced as planned on October 1st.
It is necessary as a bridge to ensure Uniper's financial solidity, said Habeck.
The implementation of the planned nationalization of Uniper will take at least three months.
Whether the surcharge can still be levied in accordance with the constitution when Uniper is a state-owned company is a legitimate question.
Habeck says there will be a constitutional audit of the Ministry of Finance.
This could take three months.
If the levy should not be levied, there must be an alternative immediately.
The background is that it is legally unclear whether state-owned companies are allowed to collect the levy.
With the acquisition of Uniper, such a company would benefit.
SPD faction vice brings alternative to gas levy into play
According to the dpa news agency, the Federal Ministry of Finance recently said: “There are no legal concerns.
Economics Minister Habeck can introduce the gas levy he has proposed as planned.«
Because of the nationalization, the dispute over the gas levy had come to a head.
In particular, the Union and medium-sized companies are pushing for an end to the surcharge that gas consumers have to pay – and from which the future state-owned company Uniper in particular could benefit.
The traffic light coalition is also voicing doubts about sticking to the gas surcharge.
"Everything is connected with everything else, so that an overall concept must now be developed quickly," said SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch.
As an alternative to a "legally highly uncertain and one-sided" gas surcharge, excess profits in the electricity sector could be skimmed off, budget funds used and a "performance-related energy obligation" introduced.
Habeck, on the other hand, said: "The state will, as we are showing, do everything necessary to keep the companies stable on the market." That applies to Uniper, but also to other systemically important gas importers.
"One way of not letting the state do everything is the gas levy." This would allow the gas importers to pass on their higher costs in advance.
The federal government also wants to influence the business of the Uniper group, which will be nationalized in a few months, as Habeck said.
“And then you will take a very close look at the individual business areas.” The money for the current rescue comes from the state development bank KfW.
Apr/AFP/dpa/Reuters
