The FDP rejects an excess profit tax, but politicians from the SPD and the Greens are in favor of it. At RTL, Federal Economics Minister Habeck calls for at least working on a concept for skimming off extreme profits from the war in Ukraine.
Despite the rejection by the FDP and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Economics Minister Robert Habeck is sticking to the demand for a so-called excess profit tax. “I think it’s right not to accept every prize,” said Habeck in an “RTL Nachtjournal Spezial” on Wednesday during his visit to Jordan. There are companies that made extreme profits from the Ukraine war. “Profiting from the war isn’t really the way to go.” The problem, however, is how to differentiate these profits from others. Lindner keeps pointing this out, according to Habeck. “Nevertheless, I think you should work on it, knowing that it’s complicated.”
At the same time, the Green politician dampened hopes of further relief for citizens in view of high energy costs. The debt brake will apply again next year. “In any case, the playing possibilities are not as obvious as we could do in 2022.”
During his visit to Jordan, Habeck defended the increased cooperation with Middle East countries in the field of renewable energies. It felt good to use their oil or gas in the past. That’s why it’s “amazing” when people ask about renewables now. You have to address human rights and push for improvements, “on the other hand, it’s a region that needs a bit of our help so that global warming doesn’t completely erase everything here.” During his visit, the main focus is on strategies for adapting to climate change and the expansion of solar energy. “I try to support business models that also lead away from the wealth that has arisen from fossil fuels and that has of course also cemented power structures.”
Habeck praised newly established partnerships in the Middle East. Financed with money from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan is building a large solar park from which electricity will flow, with which Israel in turn will desalinate water from the Mediterranean Sea, which it will return to the region. This Arab-Israeli partnership based on renewable energies is “very special” and “substantial” for the region, said Habeck. Oil-exporting countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait would also expand renewable energies at high speed and start hydrogen production. “That’s exactly the trend we need.”
In the short term, individual countries in the Middle East would increase their gas production volumes. There are buyers in Germany for this, since a temporary replacement for Russian energy is needed. But the countries in the region should also understand: “This boom, now we want to make natural gas, natural gas, natural gas at all – and preferably over the next 40 years – that’s wrong.”
Habeck called on the federal states in Germany to designate more areas for wind turbines than previously promised. “You can’t be satisfied with that.” The expansion of renewable energy is not only important in the fight against climate change, but also with a view to energy prices. There are states that are significantly further in the expansion of renewable energies and at the same time have lower inflation. “Because the high prices we are currently having to bear are mainly due to fossil fuels.” Habeck admitted that Germany had a lot of catching up to do. “We start in the minus, we are on the defensive.” But improvements are possible. “Now let’s do it.”
