Press conference with Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck: The Green politician comments on the gas levy and explains what relief is planned for the population. You can read the press conference from 3.30 p.m. here in our live ticker.
1.40 p.m .: Welcome to the live ticker from FOCUS Online. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck will hold a press conference on the gas levy at around 3.30 p.m. We accompany the press conference in the live ticker.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck wants further, targeted relief for citizens because of the state gas levy. In addition, aid programs for the economy should be extended, the Green politician made clear on Monday in Berlin. The surcharge will initially be 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour from autumn.
According to Habeck, twelve gas importers have reported their replacement procurement costs to Trading Hub Europe, a joint venture of the gas transmission system operators. Based on the levy period up to the beginning of April 2024, these gas importers claimed 34 billion euros in costs, which corresponds to 90 percent of the expected replacement procurement costs for this period.
The surcharge is intended to benefit gas suppliers who have to buy a replacement for the missing, cheaper gas volumes from Russia at high prices.
The levy is “by no means an easy step”, but necessary to maintain the heat and energy supply in private households and the economy, said Habeck. “Otherwise the security of supply would be endangered.”
The levy must and will be accompanied by a further relief package. “Energy prices have risen enormously overall as a result of the Russian war of aggression,” said Habeck. “Especially for those who don’t have much, this is a heavy burden that is difficult or impossible to bear.” “But I think that further targeted relief is necessary. In this crisis, we have to secure the democratic consensus in socio-political terms.”
Habeck reiterated that the state should ultimately not generate any higher VAT revenue from the levy. “We’re going to find a way to make sure there isn’t an additional burden.”
After resigning from her top positions at ARD and RBB, Patricia Schlesinger has now also lost her position on the supervisory board at the ARD film subsidiary Degeto. In the evening it became known that the RBB wants to fire her on Monday with immediate effect.
He drives a Porsche privately. Luxuriously, he just got married on Sylt. In the ZDF summer interview on “Berlin direct”, however, Finance Minister Christian Lindner does everything to avoid too much comfort – and adds a clear warning: “One cause of inflation is the state’s spending policy.”
The fire brigade watered the hillside of the fortress in Koblenz for the “Rhein in Flammen” fireworks display. This is met with criticism in view of the dried-up Rhine and the high risk of forest fires.
