Traffic light relief package stands: "Extensive measures" against high energy prices
Created: 03/24/2022Updated: 03/24/2022 09:01
By: Katarina Amtmann
Traffic light relief package stands: "Extensive measures" against high energy prices © Michael Kappeler/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++
The leaders of the traffic light coalition partners have agreed on measures to relieve the burden on citizens and to strengthen energy policy independence.
Further information follows.
Update from March 24, 8:21 a.m .:
Since Wednesday evening, the leaders of the traffic light coalition have been negotiating a relief package in response to the rise in energy prices.
Now there is a breakthrough.
Measures to save energy are also planned.
In view of the increased energy prices, the heads of the traffic light coalition partners (SPD, Greens, FDP) have agreed on a relief package.
"Extensive and decisive measures" are planned to relieve the burden on citizens, as the German Press Agency learned from coalition circles on Thursday morning.
The coalition has also agreed on measures to strengthen "independence in energy policy".
The results will be published in the morning.
The talks had started at 9 p.m. the night before.
Federal government decides package of measures - Greens are pushing for measures to save energy
In the debate were several measures to relieve citizens and companies.
However, a push by FDP leader and finance minister Christian Lindner for a fuel subsidy met with resistance.
SPD and Greens also want to make mobility cheaper, but at the same time relieve people with low incomes more.
The Greens are also pushing for measures to save energy.
Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had called more efforts to save energy as a condition for a relief package.
For example, he described gas heaters as a “discontinued model”.
The German government's aim is to reduce dependence on gas, oil and coal from Russia in view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
The federal government rejects an energy embargo.
Ukraine war: Putin's announcement is likely to make consultations more difficult
A coalition working group had previously failed in several rounds to reach an agreement on relief in response to rising prices.
However, a "broad basis" has been developed not only for new relief, but also for decisive measures to strengthen energy independence, it said.
The deliberations are likely to be complicated by the surprising announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russian gas deliveries will in future be paid for in rubles.
Habeck called the announcement a breach of the contracts.
The federal government will discuss the step with its European partners.
The gas industry was irritated.
Traffic light relief package stands: "Extensive measures" against high energy prices
Berlin – The heads of the traffic light coalition partners SPD*, Greens* and FDP* have agreed on “extensive and decisive measures to relieve the burden on citizens and to strengthen energy independence”.
The German press agency learned this on Thursday morning from coalition circles. The results should be published in the morning.
(came/dpa)
Further information follows.
