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Steffi Lemke and Robert Habeck (both Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
Since Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine, the question has been raised across Europe as to how the individual countries of the Union can become less dependent on Russian energy imports.
Germany and ten other EU countries have now called for the EU climate package to be implemented more quickly.
"This is the key to making the EU fit for energy independence from Russian fossil fuels and the only way to deal with the climate crisis," it said in a statement.
"Any delay or hesitation will only increase our energy dependency."
The communication was signed by Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) as well as their colleagues from Austria, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Latvia, the Netherlands, Sweden and Slovenia.
Europe is to consume almost 30 percent less gas by 2030
According to the Commission, the climate package would result in the EU consuming around 30 percent less gas by 2030.
In particular, renewable energies, environmentally friendly gas and energy efficiency must be expanded more quickly.
"Negotiations on the package should therefore be accelerated and ambition increased." Emissions trading in particular is a cornerstone of the package.
Industry or electricity providers, for example, have to pay for climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions.
The EU Commission's "Fit for 55" climate package aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990.
By 2050, the EU should become completely climate-neutral - i.e. no longer emit greenhouse gases that cannot be bound.
Parts of the package - such as an extension of emissions trading - are currently being negotiated by the EU countries and the European Parliament.
col/dpa
