Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – Baden-Württemberg’s Economics Minister Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (CDU) has welcomed the aid package announced by the federal government to combat the energy crisis. “The abolition of the gas surcharge was urgently needed,” said Hoffmeister-Kraut of the German Press Agency on Thursday in Stuttgart. Of course, gas importers or final suppliers who are in trouble must be supported, but the burden should not be borne by the gas customers alone.
The economic stabilization fund that has been announced is a good solution in order not to further fuel inflation and not to further burden companies’ price competitiveness. “Quick implementation is urgently needed,” said Hoffmeister-Kraut. Companies needed planning security in these difficult times.
The federal government wants to spend up to 200 billion euros to protect consumers and companies from high energy prices due to the Ukraine war. Gas and electricity prices are to be capped, and the controversial gas surcharge for all gas customers is off the table. The ailing gas suppliers are to be rescued by other means instead. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke on Thursday of a “double boom” – and thus reminded of the state aid in the Corona crisis, which was supposed to lead out of the crisis with “boom”.
