press reviews
Habeck sets early warning level in force
“No reason to panic yet”, but a “tipping point” for Europe: This is how the media view the gas emergency plan
Robert Habeck (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection
© Bernd von Jutrczenka / DPA
The gas is flowing – but the federal government is preparing with the so-called gas emergency plan that this could change. Commentators doubt whether that will be enough. The press reviews.
Because of the war in Ukraine and ongoing Russian threats, the federal government is preparing for a significant deterioration in gas supplies in Germany. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) put the early warning stage into effect on Wednesday as the first of three crisis stages of the so-called gas emergency plan and appealed to all consumers to save gas. However, the security of supply is still guaranteed.
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“Such an early warning level is no reason to panic,” says the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. Ultimately, it is a “bureaucratic act to prepare for the worst.” Nevertheless, caution is advised, comments the “taz”: Many citizens in the west of the continent have now become “part of Putin’s devilish poker game”. “Anyone who wants to bring Putin to his knees also needs a great willingness to suffer,” says the “Reutlinger General-Anzeiger”. The press reviews.
“Europe’s tipping point has now come”: the media response to the gas emergency plan
“Southgerman newspaper”: “Such an early warning stage is no reason to panic. Ultimately, it is a bureaucratic act to prepare for the worst. It is not yet clear whether the Kremlin really wants to break the contracts. But if the Russian deliveries don’t materialize, companies will start to appear in droves reduce their production or have to shut it down completely. Then public utilities will worry about whether the pressure in the pipes will hold up, then everyone will have to hope together that the gas storage tanks can be filled by next winter and that the winter won’t be too cold.”
“Taz”: “If anyone ever doubted Olaf Scholz’s ‘turning point’ statement after the attack on Ukraine – Europe’s tipping point has now come. In the west of the continent, too, many citizens have now become part of Putin’s devilish poker game. On Wednesday the Kremlin announced that it does not want to insist on paying energy bills in rubles overnight, which the West rejects, but only gradually, meaning that the tremors about a possible end to deliveries of climate-damaging natural gas could drag on for a long time. “
“Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”: “Our prosperity depends on a reliable energy supply that is very high on a global scale. That was always clear, but it was hardly ever a real problem. And if it did threaten to become one, it could usually be solved with money – because coal, Gas or oil were somehow still available. But now this thinking comes to an end on two points: Firstly, money and good words may only just be enough to satisfy our hunger for energy with fossil raw materials. Minister Habeck has to do it now in Qatar, so that our country can be on the safe side, at least in the short term. On the other hand, it is clear that combustion itself cannot be the backbone of the energy supply for much longer. It damages the planet.”
“Reutlingen General Gazette”: “Nevertheless, it is an illusion to believe that, despite the conflict with Russia, we can continue to lead our lives as before. Anyone who wants to bring Putin to his knees also needs a great willingness to suffer. How great this must be is gradually becoming apparent. (…) Anyone who goes to the store or goes shopping will already feel it. Many building materials have become enormously expensive. It’s just not enough to turn down the heating for two weeks or drive less. Anyone who wants to bring Putin to his knees economically needs a long breath.”
“Nuremberg News”: “In addition, it is important to define clear steps for savings. That does not mean that citizens with gas heating have to freeze. (…) In the medium and long term, Germany must create the infrastructure to become generally less dependent on fossil gas – for example through the Production of synthetic gas. Putin’s bellicose throwback to times long past forces us to press ahead with progress.”