Scholz holds the government statement - and then has to go to the summit with angry EU partners

Created: 2022-10-20 08:31

By: Florian Naumann

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on his way to the plenary session of the Bundestag.

(Archive image) © Kay Nietfeld/dpa/Archive image

Olaf Scholz has to explain his energy policy.

First in the Bundestag and then – probably even more difficult – in Brussels.

The news ticker.

• Olaf Scholz

  explains his

  energy policy

  : There are two important dates for the chancellor.

• A

  government declaration

  is followed by a trip to the

  EU summit

  : There is a risk of disputes over price caps, gas purchases and debts among EU colleagues.

• This

  news ticker

  will be updated regularly on Thursday (October 20th).

Berlin/Munich – Olaf Scholz has cleared the nuclear issue for the time being.

Nevertheless, the SPD chancellor is stuck in an explosive energy policy marathon: On Thursday (October 20), the chancellor will first make a government statement in the Bundestag.

Later he travels to the EU summit.

The subject of the speech to the MPs in Berlin is the meeting with the heads of state and government in Brussels.

And they in turn want to talk about a solution to the energy crisis.

Among other things, about a possible gas price cap.

A step that Olaf Scholz wants to prevent - although a majority of EU countries have spoken out in favor of it.

Scholz government statement before the EU summit: double trouble in Brussels?

The federal government points to possible problems with the supply of gas because sellers could then deliver the raw material to other countries that pay more.

But the situation is quite complex.

Recently, voices had been raised warning that Germany had bought gas supplies from other countries with its financial strength.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also presented a legislative proposal for joint gas purchases.

The aim is for companies in the EU countries to bundle their needs and thus lower prices in negotiations with other countries.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has already let it be known what he thinks of the plan.

This is reminiscent of the joint EU purchases of corona vaccine: "slow and expensive".

He expects a big discussion at the summit.

Scholz in the energy crisis: there is a risk of a dispute in the EU – Selenskyj-Switche takes a back seat

The EU states are also divided on the question of how price caps and other relief should be financed.

Germany and the Netherlands, for example, point out that substantial funds are still available in existing pots or are already being mobilized.

To the annoyance of many countries, the federal government wants to launch a national package of up to 200 billion euros by 2024 - the much-cited "double boom".

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As in the Corona crisis, countries like Italy want to take on debt at European level.

Such a program could be based on the EU short-time work program Sure.

The EU Commission takes out loans on the financial market with the help of guarantees from the EU states and passes them on.

This is favorable for countries that would have to pay more interest on the financial market themselves.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is also connected on Thursday – but given the energy dispute, his appearance could almost be a minor matter.

Even after Scholz's departure for Brussels, the Bundestag will continue to work on relief.

The energy price flat rate for pensioners (12.35 p.m.) and the second heating cost subsidy for needy households (5.20 p.m.) will be voted on.

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