Schwerin (dpa/mv) – The Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania see the increased energy costs as a threat to the existence of companies in the state and are demanding relief. “When it comes to making value-based foreign policy at the price of destroying large parts of the German economy, then we have to take note of that, but we cannot accept it like that,” said Schwerin Chamber of Industry and Commerce President Matthias Belke on Monday in Schwerin at a press conference with representatives from Rostock and Neubrandenburg. From his point of view, politicians in Berlin and Schwerin do not react constructively to concrete solutions, and the IHK believes that there is a lack of economic expertise.
In order to ensure the survival of the companies, the industry representatives demand in an eight-point catalogue, among other things, the use of all possibilities for energy production, such as the use of oil as a gas substitute in the heat supply. In addition, consumer prices are to be capped at German and European level and companies and citizens are to be relieved through tax and duty cuts.
The previous relief packages from the federal government are seen by the chambers as insufficient. There was a complete lack of relief for small and medium-sized businesses in the country, it said. Belke was particularly disappointed by the results of the EU energy ministers’ meeting last Friday, which only produced flowery words but no concrete results.
