As of: February 8, 2024, 11:30 a.m
By: Felix Durach
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The FDP's blockade stance on the EU supply chain law continues to make waves.
Criticism is now also coming from Strasbourg.
Linder and Co. would squander Germany's reputation.
Munich/Strasbourg – The dispute over the planned EU supply chain law is expanding.
Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) announced on Tuesday that Germany would abstain from the vote.
In his justification, Heil referred to the FDP's blockade stance.
The decision caused a dispute within the traffic light coalition.
But there is also great dissatisfaction with the Free Democrats in the EU Parliament.
The chief negotiator for the EU supply chain law announced consequences for the behavior.
The FDP is receiving criticism from Strasbourg.
Party leader Christian Lindner (r.) and Co. would gamble away Germany's reliability in the EU.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Chief negotiator: FDP is squandering Germany’s role in the EU – “For the third time”
“Colleagues are taking note of this,” Dutch MP Lara Wolters told
dpa
.
According to the Social Democrat, people in the EU would try to form majorities around Germany and no longer take Germany at its word because of the behavior of the FDP.
“That is reality.” Historically, Germany has played a leading role in the EU, Wolters continued.
But the FDP is wasting Germany's weight.
With a view to possible consequences for future negotiations with Germany, Wolters referred to an English proverb: “Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me.” me in twice - shame on me.) "Only that the FDP is doing this for the third time after the combustion engine deal and the AI law."
The FDP also took a stand in the debate about the end of new cars with combustion engines.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) criticized the lack of openness to technology with regard to so-called e-fuels.
The federal government then made additional demands on the law.
Until shortly before the decisive vote, it was also unclear whether Germany would agree to the EU law on artificial intelligence.
Traffic light coalition in dispute: Buschmann justifies FDP blockade of supply chain law
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) justified his party's position on Thursday with a view to the EU supply chain law.
“The coalition agreement stipulates that supply chain regulation must be SME-friendly, lean and legally secure.
But the current set of rules would have the opposite effect in many aspects,” says Buschmann in an interview with the
FAZ
.
Buschmann noted the “sometimes emotional debate” that arose in response to his party’s position.
“But anyone who holds a government office should concentrate on factual arguments.
“The current proposal is impractical for companies,” Buschmann continued.
With regard to the EU, the FDP politician said: “Unfortunately, key players in the European Parliament in particular lacked the willingness to deal with our concerns.”
The European supply chain law is intended to hold large companies accountable if they profit from child or forced labor outside the EU.
However, a German abstention could cause the entire set of regulations to fail because the necessary majority in Brussels is in jeopardy.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) and Justice Minister Buschmann fear disadvantages for the German economy as a result of the regulation.
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Traffic light ministers criticize FDP – there is a risk of loss of trust within the EU
Other cabinet members of the traffic light government criticized the positions of the Free Democrats.
Labor Minister Heil spoke on Tuesday of an “ideologically motivated blockade”.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Alliance90/The Greens) warns of a loss of trust within the EU.
Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Bündnis90/The Greens) emphasized that a failure of the EU supply chain law would be “bad for the competitiveness of the German economy in the EU, especially for the many companies that already operate sustainably.”
(fd with material from dpa and afp)