Berlin The head of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV), Ramona Pop, has warned of permanent damage to the German economy due to the energy price crisis. “It is of no use to anyone if the industrial core of our economy is damaged,” Pop told the Handelsblatt. That is why politicians must ensure that companies get through this crisis well. “It’s also about the question of whether we will maintain prosperity and jobs.”
But companies also have to do their part, Pop said. “When subsidies flow, profits or salary bonuses cannot be paid out of them.” Pop criticized the traffic light government’s previous handling of the crisis. “There was too much bickering in the coalition and not enough joint crisis management,” she said. When Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) says that no one will be left alone, “then he must keep this promise and ensure that the situation is stabilized in a comprehensible manner.”
But the government’s crisis management so far is not convincing. It was rather “valuable time was lost”. The gas price brake, for example, comes far too late because the gas commission was not appointed “significantly earlier”.
Read the full interview here:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said “You‘ll never walk alone” sent the signal to the population that nobody will be left alone in the crisis. Does the federal government keep the promise?
The federal government has now initiated extensive relief, no question. This is good and will help consumers. But the government’s crisis management to date is not convincing. Some of the measures come very late. Valuable time has been lost. The gas commission, for example, should have been set up much earlier.
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But then she worked quickly and presented suggestions.
Yes, but lost time cannot be made up. The gas price brake comes much too late. Now it should probably apply at least retrospectively from February. Consumers need the relief in the short term because the high additional costs are being incurred in many households now and in the coming months. I therefore say that a retrospective start of the gas price brake from January would be important and sensible. Attempts are now being made to bridge the winter period with other solutions. From my point of view, it would be fatal if the aid stagnated in the winter.
It was foreseeable that the winter would be difficult. Didn’t you warn enough?
We have repeatedly emphasized that greater relief is needed and that the measures announced must reach people quickly and noticeably.
Were you not heard?
There was too much bickering in the coalition and not enough joint crisis management. There were arguments about financing, the right energy mix and much more.
Coalition has “no common line” on many issues
Also about the botched gas levy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs by Robert Habeck.
There were many issues on which the coalition did not have a common line. The bottom line is that everyone in the government did their part to ensure that things did not move quickly. A large relief package is now on the table, but it still contains imponderables.
A one-off payment for the high gas costs is to be credited to gas customers on their December bill.
(Photo: IMAGO/Laci Perenyi)
Which again leads to confusion and uncertainty?
Of course, this creates confusion. Who understands exactly how much he or she will receive and when? Now there should be a December down payment as emergency aid because of the delayed gas price brake. We welcome quick help. But this help must benefit everyone.
In what way?
Many tenants do not receive the one-off payment until their landlord’s utility bill next year, i.e. not in December. This takes emergency aid ad absurdum and cannot stay like this. And what about the people in the country who heat with liquid gas, for example?
>> Read also: What you need to know about the gas and electricity price brake
Consumers who heat with wood pellets or oil, for example, were also forgotten first. Now there should be help here too.
Especially in times of crisis, politics is called upon to keep promises. If the chancellor says that no one will be left alone, then he must keep this promise and ensure that the situation is stabilized in an understandable way.
Is there a need for better crisis communication?
Politicians must also take people with them emotionally and make it clear: there is a network that will catch you this winter. Not just in financial terms. It is also important that consumers do not lose their homes if they cannot pay their rent in full despite the relief. That’s why it’s good that the Gas Commission has proposed temporary protection against dismissal for tenants who are under a lot of pressure. That’s how it has to be! Just like a moratorium on energy lockdowns.
CO2 price allocation needs it now
The traffic light government also got stuck with the CO2 price distribution between tenants and landlords. The FDP wants to postpone the introduction planned for January.
The division is needed now in order to finally relieve the tenants, and also so that there is an incentive for landlords to replace heating systems and energetically refurbish residential buildings. So far, the CO2 price has been passed on to the tenants. It can’t stay like this.
The questions were asked by Handelsblatt editors Silke Kersting and Dietmar Neuerer.
(Photo: Handelsblatt)
The FDP does not doubt the goal either, but criticizes the bureaucratic effort for landlords in the current situation.
I think a fair distribution of the burden is appropriate. That’s what the coalition agreement says, and there’s a cabinet decision. Now the project must finally be launched.
Does the topic of saving energy get a raw deal in all the relief debates? Should citizens be motivated to save more?
The latest figures show that private households together with small companies have also saved a lot of energy in recent weeks and months. But nonetheless, that doesn’t relieve us all of the fact that we must not let up in our efforts and must continue to save energy this winter, every week, every month. However, I find it regrettable that the good proposals of the Gas Commission, especially when it comes to saving energy, have received far too little attention from the Federal Government.
>> Read also: So many additional costs arise in winter due to the home office
What do you mean specifically?
For example, the experts advised that people should be better informed about their consumption and that the federal and state governments provide more money for energy-efficient building renovation. We definitely need more financial support in this area so that we can also save energy in the medium and long term.
“Steering through the crisis together”
As a consumer advocate, you primarily have the interests of consumers in mind. What about the companies?
We shouldn’t build any opposition here, but steer through the crisis together. It is of no use to anyone if the industrial core of our economy is damaged. Politicians must therefore ensure that companies get through this crisis safely. It is also about the question of whether we will maintain prosperity and jobs. But companies also have to do their part. When subsidies flow, profits or salary bonuses cannot be paid out of them.
The Chancellor has promised the population the support of the Federal Government. “It is important for me to say it again clearly: the federal government leaves no one alone with the burden. You’ll never walk alone. That promise is true.”
(Photo: dpa)
Another issue that worries people is the delays in the train. Do the compensation rules at the railways have to be reconsidered?
In the summer there was chaos at the train station as well as at the airport. Unfortunately, unpunctuality is now part of the norm in long-distance transport. The track has to get better here, that’s for sure. Passenger rights should be put to the test. If delays are increasing now, then the train should pay compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more, not just one hour or more. That would also be an incentive for the train to be more punctual.
Shouldn’t compensation also be automatic – the railways know the booking data?
Passengers can apply for their compensation online – as long as they also bought their ticket online. But an automated compensation system would be the better and easier way.
More: How long does the gas last? These are the scenarios for the winter