EU State aid: Electricity price relief is not the way to go

"From the perspective of the skilled crafts sector, the European Commission would have been better off limiting itself to regulating compatible investment aid in the new state aid framework - as announced - to achieve the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. Instead, it gave in to pressure from the German government and paved the way for electricity price relief for energy-intensive users. Even if this relief is limited in time and subject to conditions, the fact remains that an industrial electricity price is fundamentally unsuitable for strengthening Europe and Germany as a business location. On the contrary, it distorts competition to the detriment of small and medium-sized craft businesses, which in fact must help finance this relief.

What is really needed in Germany and Europe is structural relief in terms of energy costs, not just for industry, but for all businesses and companies, especially energy-intensive businesses in the skilled crafts sector. It is essential that there is a holistic energy policy that strengthens supply, advances the grid and storage infrastructure and completes the EU internal energy market. One-sided privileges, on the other hand, do not help and should not be supported by the European Commission."