European state aid rules define the conditions under which state support measures are permitted in order to prevent distortions of competition within the EU internal market. According to a recent report in the Handelsblatt newspaper, the prospects of approval by the EU Commission for the industrial electricity price planned by the black-red coalition are “highly uncertain”. This is the conclusion reached in a submission from the Federal Ministry of Economics.
Dennis Helmich, state chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens Saxony-Anhalt, commented: “The energy-intensive industry in Saxony-Anhalt is under enormous pressure. It is therefore to be welcomed that Economics Minister Katherina Reiche is taking up Robert Habeck’s proposals to ease the burden and is planning a reduction in electricity tax and grid fees.
However, it is alarming how the CDU and SPD have squandered trust with grandiose announcements in recent months. Friedrich Merz, Jens Spahn and Carsten Linnemann have ignored European state aid rules and thus deceived the people in the country. Haseloff and Merz’s policy of announcements is now collapsing.
“We are calling on Prime Minister Haseloff and the federal government to enter into negotiations with the EU Commission by the summer in order to finally implement the promised relief for energy-intensive companies. The CDU now has a duty to put its numerous promises into practice.”