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Robert Habeck: »My mood was never bad«
Photo: MICHELE TANTUSSI / REUTERS
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) is experiencing difficult days - the technical errors in the gas levy burden the opposition and the coalition partners on the Green Minister of Economics.
At a press conference, Habeck tried to highlight successes in the field of energy security.
Germany has already taken precautions on many points.
That's why it was possible to say in a "very, very difficult situation": "We have now mastered the situation well."
Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, Habeck said, Germany had begun to make itself less dependent on Russia as a gas supplier.
Since then, investments have been made in terminals and ships that are intended to replace parts of Nord Stream 1's gas infrastructure.
New supply contracts have been concluded and the share of Russian gas has fallen significantly.
Coal-fired power plants have been brought onto the market and energy efficiency measures have been promoted.
In addition, energy was saved over the summer.
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Habeck has already announced improvements to the gas levy.
"All of this gives us no guarantee that we will survive the winter in this difficult situation and unscathed as an economy and as a society," he said in Meseberg.
But you can see how much has already been done to make this situation manageable.
All of this happened under great pressure.
The federal government also wants to decide on another relief package to cushion the burden on citizens from the increased cost of living and energy.
The relief package should then take effect when the prices reach consumers, said Habeck when asked.
However, he did not want to say by when the coalition would finish it.
The gas surcharge is important for security of supply, but it must also be legally secure.
When asked about the bad mood in the coalition, Habeck said: "My mood was never bad."
Recently, the pressure had increased to find quick solutions to the impending energy shortage.
During the two-day retreat at Schloss Meseberg, the traffic light wants to solve these problems.
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