Heated debate over energy policy in coalition talks

Differing views on Germany’s future energy system are emerging as a major source of contention between the parties attempting to establish a new German federal government, Andreas Mihm writes for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The Greens want Germany to end coal-fired power production within the next decade, while the pro-business FDP and the conservative CDU/CSU insist coal is indispensable for the foreseeable future, Mihm writes. After two weeks of talks, the parties “have not made it beyond the general conclusion that the climate protection goals should be achieved” while preserving energy supply, security and affordability, Mihm writes.

Read the article in German here.

For background on the talks check out CLEW’s Coalition watch and the article German coalition talks stuck over climate, energy policy.

Also see the CLEW factsheets Climate & energy stumbling blocks for Jamaica coalition talks and German parties’ energy & policy positions.