CAPTION: German Economics Minister Habeck. (picture alliance/dpa)
Energy-intensive small and medium-sized companies in Germany are to receive new subsidies for their gas and electricity costs as quickly as possible, according to German Economics Minister Robert Habeck. "However, it now crucially depends on how quickly we can reach agreement in the federal government and quickly get implementation underway," Habeck said. It is possible that the subsidies could also be granted retroactively from September.
Above all, Habeck wants to open up existing funding instruments so that the skilled trades also benefit. Small and medium-sized companies from all sectors of the economy that are severely affected by rising energy costs should be able to receive grants more easily. "I mean: We must now muster all the financial strength needed to secure the sound basis of our economy and jobs in this country and lead them into the future," Habeck stressed.
According to his plans, the energy cost curbing program, which has so far been aimed at industry, is to be opened up to the skilled trades and service industries. The program supports companies that cannot pass on sharply increased energy costs to their customers because of international competition. The more a company is affected by high energy costs, the higher the subsidy is to be.
However, the state cannot compensate for every cost increase, the Ministry of Economics emphasized. In addition, there must be an incentive to save gas. Habeck also wants to extend the subsidies until at least April 2024 and is therefore holding talks with the European Commission.
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