Energy costs: coalition committee advises on electricity tax

The heads of the Union and the SPD came together in the Chancellery for a meeting of the coalition committee. You want to advise on a possible expansion of the planned electricity tax reduction to private households and all companies. So far – unlike in the coalition agreement, only relief for industry as well as agriculture and forestry is planned.

According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, an inclusion of all consumers, which is primarily required by leading Union politicians, would cost around 5.4 billion euros in the coming year. For their financing, the coalition would have to cut back on other projects.

Consultations awaited until late in the evening

Before the consultations, Merz has been confident that a solution is possible: “If we can do more for private households, we will do that.” Advice is expected until late in the evening.

The coalition committee now meets the second time since the new government took office. It is considered the central planning committee of the CDU, CSU and SPD alliance and advises at least once a month. He deals with “matters of fundamental importance that must be coordinated between the coalition partners and leads to consensus in the event of conflict”, as the coalition agreement states.

Ten men and a woman

The committee belong to ten men and only one woman, which has caused a lot of criticism. In the first session, Saskia Esken was still there as a SPD leader. This time her successor Bärbel Bas has her premiere in the committee, which was elected to the party leadership at the weekend.