According to the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, the industry urgently needs lower prices for energy, otherwise there is a risk of job losses. Berlin must therefore decide quickly.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst has pushed for a speedy decision on an industrial electricity price. A solution is needed “as quickly and as effectively as possible,” said the CDU politician on Thursday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. The 16 heads of government of the federal states had initially exchanged views on the topic with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday evening.
“Von der Leyen does not hesitate. The EU Commission can only deal with things that the nation states want from it, namely in this case the approval of an industrial electricity price,” said Wüst. “It’s up to the federal government to decide whether Germany wants it. They’re arguing, again.” The ball is still in Germany. According to the NRW head of government, the federal states hope that the federal government can be convinced “to send this clear signal for the industrial location, which we urgently need”.
The root of the problem is the high energy prices, which is where you have to start for Germany’s competitiveness, demanded Wüst. When asked how a subsidized industrial electricity price should be paid, he referred to the federal government. “The only thing that would be more expensive than what is currently being discussed is to do nothing.” That would cost industrial jobs every month and high investment sums in future technologies would be lost. NRW currently co-chairs the Prime Ministers’ Conference. In Brussels, the federal states wanted to continue their consultations with the EU on Thursday.
Source: Stern
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