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Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
Photo: IMAGO/Political Moments
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) gave an insight into the topics of the day at the start of the closed conference in Meseberg.
Scholz said the members of the government first discussed the national security strategy, which should be drawn up by the end of the year.
This is all the more urgent given the war in Ukraine.
"Putin brought the war back to Europe," said Scholz.
The secure supply of energy and raw materials is also part of German security policy.
The talks were a prelude to dealing with the content of the topic.
Germany is a "strong country" that is firmly rooted in Europe.
The Chancellor sees Germany prepared for the winter.
One could say “with all due caution” that “we have done what is necessary and can do even more to get through this winter and next winter”.
For example, the gas storage tanks are much better filled than expected some time ago.
Sánchez pushes for Spain's gas connection
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez took part in the opening and the following press conference and in his statement urged Spain and Portugal to be connected to the European gas grid.
"We could cover 30 percent of the EU's liquid gas requirements" if this line existed, says Sánchez.
If this is not possible via France, a pipeline connection via Italy would have to be chosen.
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Scholz left unanswered the question of whether a special tax on excessive corporate profits could also be used to finance the relief.
The Chancellor merely replied that they were working "very intensively" on the relief package, and that proposals would be presented "very soon".
However, the talks are still confidential.
Spanish prime minister promotes excess profit tax
Sánchez, on the other hand, reported that in Spain energy and financial companies are already being asked to pay for special profits.
The measure is met with great approval by the population, who have the impression that burdens are distributed more fairly.
It is a redistribution in favor of the working middle class.
Italy, Greece, Great Britain, Romania, Spain and Hungary have already introduced taxes or levies to siphon off high revenues from companies in the wake of the Ukraine war and the energy crisis.
MPs from the SPD and Greens had recently also spoken out in favor of an excess profit tax.
The FDP, on the other hand, sees this as the »end of the social market economy«.
The traffic light government met for two days at a retreat in Meseberg Castle, about 70 kilometers from Berlin, to discuss urgent political problems.
Recently, the mood within the coalition had come to a head during debates on topics such as relief or excess profit taxes.
mfh/muk/dpa