“Brutally corrected”: Habeck reacts to errors in home construction funding – and makes promises

Created: 2022-01-27 05:23

By: Cindy Boden

Robert Habeck (Greens), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, answers the questions of the members of the Bundestag in the plenum during the government survey of the federal government.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Economics Minister Robert Habeck will face a government survey in the Bundestag on Wednesday.

In terms of content, some discussions could emerge.

News ticker.

• Robert Habeck (Greens*) answered questions in a government survey in the Bundestag.

• Many topics were addressed: climate protection, wind power, energy prices, building renovation and also Nord Stream 2 and the Ukraine crisis

  (see update from January 26, 2:05 p.m.).

• In the run-up to the debate, there was news about the house construction noise

  (see update from January 26, 9:30 a.m.).

  Habeck also responded to this

  (see update from January 26, from 1:08 p.m.).

• This news ticker is continuously updated.

Update from January 26, 2:17 p.m .:

The government survey in the Bundestag by Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has ended.

In addition to Nord Stream 2

, the reduction in bureaucracy

and energy-efficient building renovation

were also discussed.

Update from January 26, 2:15 p.m .:

The last question for Habeck in the Bundestag deals with raw material partnerships.

Raw materials are also available in other parts of the world, not just in China.

But: "Frequently in uncertain investment environments".

Recycling is therefore a future field.

And companies that want to promote elsewhere despite the “uncertain investment environment” would have to be supported.

Update from January 26, 2:10 p.m .:

After questions about energy prices, the Bundestag is also about money for investments.

“If you demand that growth, employment, innovation and prosperity be safe again, then you are immediately demanding that there is public support in these times of crisis.” The reason that the climate and transformation fund exists is because of the corona pandemic.

"If we didn't distribute it, we would leave the economy and the people who want to invest alone," says Habeck.

Habeck in the Bundestag: "Since taking office, the federal government has been working on the expansion of renewable energies"

Update from January 26, 2:08 p.m.:

“When will you do something effective that electricity prices will fall again?” An AfD MP wants to know, among other things.

When will something happen for citizens and companies?

"Since taking office, the federal government has been working on the expansion of renewable energies and thus relieving the burden on companies and promoting the future viability of the sectors," Habeck reacted, among others.

Anyone who doesn't focus on innovation harms the country's prosperity.

Update from January 26, 2:05 p.m .:

Economics Minister Habeck is addressed to Nord Stream 2. Approval from the Federal Network Agency will be granted in accordance with law and order. "We must all be extremely concerned about the situation in eastern Ukraine." It is one of the "most delicate geopolitical situations we have experienced in many years." Habeck says "the conflict wasn't that hot even during the Cold War". The chancellor, on the other hand, said that if Russia invaded Ukraine, "all options are conceivable".

Update from January 26, 2 p.m.:

“The conversion of electricity into hydrogen always has high efficiency losses.

In other words, we achieve the greatest economic effect by using the most precious product in the energy market, namely electricity, in the most precious way possible and not throwing it into other sectors,” explains Habeck, explaining his point of view during the government debate in the Bundestag.

Habeck in the Bundestag: "We will have to diversify gas purchasing"

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens, left) and Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a conversation in the Chancellery (archive photo).

© Frank Ossenbrink/Imago

Update from January 26, 1:58 p.m.:

“We will have to diversify gas purchasing,” explains Habeck.

The storage options would also have to be used better than this year, says Habeck, along with further details on the necessary quantities of natural gas.

With regard to Russia, Habeck said in the Bundestag during the government survey: "If you don't go through Russia, there is the theoretical possibility of supplying us with a pipeline from North Africa." But France would have to allow construction through the country.

This is one possibility that Habeck mentions out of several.

Update from January 26, 1:55 p.m.:

Now the focus is on reducing bureaucracy and the planned relief law.

"We want to pass all such important laws this year," Habeck answered succinctly when asked by an FDP MP.

The deputy asks again, causing a brief laugh: "I hope I'll get a better, longer answer now," he quickly corrects himself.

Because Habeck also smiles about the first adjective.

"Everything is fine, it was good, the answer, I also rely on it, Minister," says the FDP MP.

It should be more about the integration of small and medium-sized businesses.

Habeck could say on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs that the work order is, if procedures take too long, to "admit, to report" and then to see whether laws "can be made more general and simpler while protecting the protected goods".

Update from January 26, 1:52 p.m .:

A Union MP explains that a Corona program will expire soon.

She wants to know: “Will the program continue beyond January 31 for companies that have closed voluntarily?” Habeck replies that the same regulation is intended for February.

Update from January 26, 1:50 p.m .:

The corona aid programs are addressed from the ranks of the left.

"The overall logic of the bridging aids is that they can be adjusted again and again." The additional costs for checking the rules or proof could now be deducted.

Habeck in the Bundestag: "We must not only think abstractly"

Update from January 26, 1:45 p.m .:

The high energy prices are addressed by a member of the Greens.

She wants to know how Habeck intends to proceed with the expansion of the offshore areas.

"By redesigning the offshore areas, we have already been able to realize potential areas for 3 gigawatts, which is a lot that can ensure the short-term restart of offshore wind power." Overall, there is enough space for this decade up to 2030 to achieve the goals .

But one should not make the mistake of resting and letting the successor government do its thing.

Update from January 26, 1:40 p.m .:

The topic of the government survey is large. It is also about bankruptcy of shipyards. The following applies to the topic: “You have to invest and shape the future. We will not be able to compete in the race against cheap wages.” Shipyards are “highly specialized entities”. Discussions on this topic will take place soon.

Update from January 26, 1:35 p.m

.: In response to a question from the ranks of the left, Habeck says: He will soon be going to the eastern federal states to see what can be improved for further support. "Despite all our ambition to bring climate policy and economic policy together, we must not only think abstractly, we must always see what is happening in the regions as a process of change and are absolutely dependent on the social consensus being maintained."

Update from January 26, 1:32 p.m

.: After a question from the SPD, Habeck emphasized that the structural change regions in Germany could continue to rely on support, “of course”.

Regarding the production of hydrogen: "Of course it makes sense to produce it where the renewable electricity is mainly generated." This could relieve the burden on the route expansion.

Habeck in the Bundestag after a question from an AfD member of parliament: “If I may be so honest …”

Update from January 26, 1:30 p.m .:

Habeck is asked to say more about the perspectives of the funding program for house construction.

“The funds should be used in such a way that they have the greatest possible CO2 reduction effects.

The greatest effects that can be achieved are actually in the energy production itself.” In addition, attention must be paid to the social issue.

Update from January 26, 1:20 p.m .:

The stopped subsidy programs for building houses are still an issue. A deputy from the AfD also spoke up. "We of the AfD parliamentary group are of the opinion that these billion-dollar programs cannot be financed, but now trust has been lost*." His question: "You must now tell us by when the new programs are designed." Habeck responds to this pointedly: “If I may be so honest, I didn't understand how the statement 'the programs are all nonsense, you shouldn't fund them' and 'this program should be continued' go together. But that's just helplessness on my part.” Applause in the Bundestag. Habeck emphasizes once again that clarity should be created quickly.

Habeck on the house construction noise in the Bundestag: "It is obvious that a mistake was made"

Update from January 26, 1:16 p.m .:

With the first question, the Union politician Andreas Jung goes directly to the energetic renovation of buildings

.

"Your actions have damaged trust," he said to Habeck.

Planning security must be restored quickly.

"They justify this procedure with entries submitted at short notice, but they stop everyone." He wants to know: "Are you ready to correct that?" Habeck then admits that the procedure was "unusual".

But he thinks the way the finance minister reacted is right.

"It's not at all in my power to say, keep going," says Habeck.

"There is simply a lack of money."

Update from January 26, 1:10 p.m .:

Habeck makes a few more basic statements about funding policy and subsidies: “Subsidies are always required where markets don’t work,” says the Green Minister.

Otherwise you would encourage inflation.

That's why subsidies always have to be checked, and the end has to be considered.

"I think it's obvious that a mistake was made in November.

The fact that this error has now been corrected so brutally and abruptly under the emergency of retrieval is annoying and should not be repeated.

But it can definitely be justified in the matter at hand.”

Update from January 26, 1:08 p.m .:

Habeck explains that the old government announced in November that the funding for energy-efficient building renovation will expire at the end of January. "This led to an unprecedented surge in applications and a boom," says Habeck. He mentions numerous numbers. He says there is “overfunding” given the high number of applications. "In the situation, the Executive Board of KfW could not decide otherwise than to withdraw the program from the market over the weekend, because otherwise it would have continued to make unfulfilled budget promises." "For the ladies and gentlemen who have submitted applications in the hope of surcharges, this is really bitter news," stresses Habeck.

Update from January 26, 1:04 p.m .:

The federal government has updated its aid programs, Habeck explains in his statement at the beginning.

The bridging aid IV was activated for the first time before the prime ministers' conference.

"The inquiries are considerable," says Habeck.

Update from January 26, 1:02 p.m .:

The government survey with Robert Habeck (Greens), Economics and Climate Minister, begins in the Bundestag.

Update from January 26, 1 p.m

.: The gong has just sounded in the Bundestag, the beginning of the session.

Robert Habeck is about to step up to the microphone.

After a short opening statement, the MPs will ask the Economics Minister a few questions.

Update from January 26, 12:50 p.m .:

In ten minutes the time has come: Then the Bundestag debate begins this Wednesday.

First, Robert Habeck from the Greens, Economics and Climate Minister, will make his appearance in the plenum.

The deputies can ask him numerous questions during the government consultation.

Later in the afternoon, there will be an orientation debate on a possible compulsory vaccination in Germany.

Government survey with Habeck (Greens) in the Bundestag - fight against climate change is "task of the century"

Update from January 26, 12:10 p.m .:

Economics Minister Robert Habeck sees the fight against climate change as a “task of the century” and wants to convert the social market economy into a social-ecological market economy.

"Our economic order must take the interests of future generations and the protection of global environmental goods into account more systematically and much more reliably," writes the Green politician in the annual economic report that the cabinet decided on Wednesday

.

Possibly Habeck will have to go into this in more detail during the government survey at 1 p.m.

Robert Habeck (Greens), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection © Sven Hoppe/dpa

Update from January 26, 11:25 a.m .:

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) has several appointments in the calendar again today.

At 1 p.m. he faces a government

.

This should last an hour.

He will then present the government's annual economic report for this year at 2.30 p.m.

According to media reports, the government is once again expecting significant inflation averaging 3.3 percent this year.

Consumer prices had recently climbed immensely, in December the inflation rate was 5.3 percent.

On average for 2021, inflation reached 3.1 percent.

Government survey in the Bundestag with Minister Habeck - traffic light promises new regulation after house construction noise

Update from January 26, 9.30 a.m .:

At the beginning of today’s Bundestag session, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) presented himself to the MPs in the government survey.

From 1 p.m. he will answer various questions - topics could include climate protection and energy prices - but there has also been a lot of fuss recently about the stop to federal funding for energy-efficient buildings

.

Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) has already promised a quick new regulation.

"Anyone who tackles such a large project as building a house needs secure framework conditions," she

.

The government is already working on a new funding concept.

Habeck faces government survey: confrontation course also in the Bundestag?

First report from January 25th:

Berlin – New government, old measures: So that the Bundestag has the opportunity to keep a close eye on the government and control its activities, there are government surveys.

In the past, many ministers and chancellors came through the battle of questions largely unscathed, but the deputies can also put the department heads to the test.

Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck has to face parliamentarians on Wednesday.

From 1 p.m., the Green * minister should stand at the microphone for an hour.

There can be a lot of topics, so members of the government should be well prepared for the surveys.

Robert Habeck (Greens) during a government survey in the Bundestag

On Tuesday, Habeck was a guest in Brussels for the inaugural visit to the EU - and went a little way on a confrontational course. He reiterated the German government's no to classifying nuclear power as a sustainable energy source. "I hope that the Commission will follow our recommendations and comments that nuclear energy is not sustainable energy," Habeck said on Tuesday after a meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Commission wants to classify natural gas and nuclear energy as “green” energies* under certain conditions. This would amount to a recommendation to financial investors to invest in nuclear and gas plants. Possibly Habeck should give further details on the subject on Wednesday.

In connection with the Ukraine conflict, on the other hand, it can be seen that "geopolitical and security policy issues" are "connected" with climate policy, Habeck said on Tuesday.

"The phasing out of the combustion of fossil fuels also strengthens Europe geopolitically and protects the climate." The tensions with Russia could also become important for the Minister of Economic Affairs again in the Bundestag.

Green Minister Habeck faces MPs: Energy prices, Ukraine and climate protection could become issues

As far as rising gas and electricity prices are concerned: Many citizens are concerned about the issue, and low-cost energy providers have taken advantage of the problem.

Habeck had already announced that he would like to intervene *.

There should be a change in the law.

What such legal innovations should look like in concrete terms, he might reveal to the members of parliament and the audience in the plenary session.

Completely surprisingly, Habeck recently stopped federal funding for energy-efficient buildings prematurely.

Among other things, Habeck could be asked why his state secretary made the previous government responsible.

In addition, questions are also conceivable as to how wind power should continue in Germany - Habeck has already visited Bavaria in this regard.