Due to the rise in fuel prices after the outbreak of the Ukraine war, taxes on petrol and diesel will be reduced for three months.
Late Thursday evening, the Bundestag decided to reduce the energy tax on fuels in June, July and August to the minimum permitted in the EU. In the case of petrol, the tax component falls by 29.55 cents per liter – including VAT even by almost 35.20 cents. In the case of diesel, there is a minus of a good 14 cents or 16.7 cents with VAT.
“In this way we are reducing fuel prices to the pre-crisis level,” assured SPD MP Carlos Kasper. Till Mansmann from the FDP explained that people dependent on mobility would be relieved of more than one billion euros a month. However, the measure is controversial: Although prices at gas stations exploded after the Russian attack on Ukraine, they have since fallen noticeably again.
Nevertheless, the law passed the Bundestag without dissenting votes, the opposition factions abstained. CDU MP Johannes Steiniger said the instrument was correct, but the three-month period was too short. Even at the end of August, when the measure expires, the Ukraine crisis and the high petrol prices will probably continue.
On Thursday, the Bundestag also cleared the way for the planned 9-euro ticket, which is intended to enable people to travel by bus and train at greatly reduced prices for three months. The law, which was passed late Thursday evening with the votes of the traffic light coalition and the left, regulates the financing of the project by the federal government. However, the planned subsidy of 2.5 billion euros does not go far enough for some countries, which is why the approval of the Federal Council, which is also necessary on Friday, is still open. If the Federal Council agrees, the sale of the 9-euro tickets should start nationwide this Monday.
According to the plans of the SPD, Greens and FDP, there will be monthly tickets for 9 euros in June, July and August, with which you can use all buses and trains throughout Germany in local and regional transport. The loss of income should be compensated by the federal government.
Criticism had been voiced again beforehand. The federal states and many associations basically demanded more money for local transport. The federal government must also support the states with the foreseeable additional costs for additional trains and personnel and grant aid for the increased diesel prices. The Baden-Württemberg Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) and his Bavarian colleague Christian Bernreither (CSU) even warned of the ticket being lost in the Bundesrat.
The Federal Council will decide on Friday (9.30 a.m.) on reducing the fuel tax and the 9-euro ticket.
