AAs a result of the Constitutional Court’s budget ruling, the federal government will not extend the billions in state aid through the electricity and gas price caps until the end of March 2024 as planned. They would be “ended at the end of the year,” said Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) to Deutschlandfunk, according to information on Friday. Lindner left it open whether the reduction in network fees would also be eliminated next year. This must be clarified in the budget process for 2024.
The federal government introduced electricity and gas price brakes last year. This was intended to cushion the sharp rise in energy prices as a result of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine. Financing was provided via the Economic Stabilization Fund (WSF), which is worth up to 200 billion euros.
The Karlsruhe judges have declared such special funds inadmissible alongside the regular budget. The WSF is no longer available, said Lindner in the Deutschlandfunk interview of the week. “As of December 31st. This year the Economic and Stabilization Fund will be closed. There will be no more payouts from this.”
The reduction in network fees should actually be financed through the WSF. The federal government had budgeted 5.5 billion euros for this.
Lindner left it open whether the 2024 budget can be decided this year. The Finance Minister spoke of a very “ambitious roadmap” with a lot coming up. For example, interest expenses that have so far been paid by the WSF would have to be paid from the federal budget in the future.
In this context, Linder spoke of a double-digit billion euro amount. At the same time, the Economics Minister made it clear that aid for Ukraine would double from four to eight billion euros. “Support for Ukraine is not in question,” he said.
At the same time, the minister announced structural decisions. Financial aid to industrial companies would have to be compensated for by a reduction in expenditure elsewhere. Lindner specifically mentioned social spending at this point.
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