FDP: No "artificial delays" in the heating law

A draft stipulates that from 2024 onwards, at least 65 percent of every newly installed heating system will be powered by green energy. Heat pumps could be the solution. © Daniel Reinhardt/dpa

It remains to be seen when the controversial heating law will be passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat. The FDP wants improvements, but promises not to make any "artificial delays".

Berlin - The SPD, Greens and FDP continue to look for ways to pass the controversial "heating law" in the Bundestag until the summer break. On Wednesday in Berlin, the Liberals again emphasized the principle of "thoroughness before speed". However, a spokeswoman for the FDP said at the same time: "There should be no artificial delays."

The FDP spokeswoman could not confirm a media report according to which the three party leaders of the SPD, Greens and FDP had discussed at a confidential meeting that the "heating law" should be passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat before the summer break. Negotiations are currently underway among the traffic light factions. "The substantive issues are clarified by the parliamentary groups," said the spokeswoman for the FDP.

The FDP wants fundamental improvements to a draft law already passed by the cabinet. This stipulates that from the beginning of 2024 onwards, at least 65 percent of every newly installed heating system will be powered by green energy. The changeover is to be cushioned socially by state subsidies, and there are also to be transitional periods and hardship regulations.

At the end of March, the leaders of the coalition agreed to pass the law in the Bundestag before the summer recess. The summer break begins after July 7th. Due to fundamental concerns, the FDP has so far prevented the bill on heating replacement from being dealt with in the Bundestag for the first time. The next part-session is next week.

FDP politicians had recently emphasized that the Liberals could not be put under time pressure. Whether the Building Energy Act - the so-called Heating Act - will be discussed for the first time in the Bundestag next week is to be decided by the beginning of next week. Dpa