State Chamber
Federal Council decides to use more coal-fired power plants
The energy transition was just one topic in the Bundesrat. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Shortly before the parliamentary summer break, a number of important legal changes will be approved in the Bundesrat – including the use of more coal-fired power plants in the gas crisis.
In view of the looming energy crisis in Germany, the Federal Council has approved the use of more coal-fired power plants. On Friday, the Bundesrat approved numerous other laws recently passed by the Bundestag. The reform to lift the advertising ban for abortions and the federal student loan reform were also approved. The most important decisions:
Money
In view of the energy crisis and the Ukraine war, countries voted to use more coal-fired power plants. For the time being, more coal-fired power plants are to be used to generate electricity instead of gas. In addition, federal aid for ailing energy companies such as Uniper is to be made easier. The reforms are a reaction to the throttling of Russian gas supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) also called on the federal states to save energy again.
green electricity
In terms of renewable energies, a comprehensive package of laws was approved for a faster expansion of green electricity from wind and sun. The share of electricity generated from renewable energies in electricity consumption is to be increased to at least 80 percent by 2030; it is currently just under 50 percent. In order to be able to achieve the goal, two percent of the entire federal area on land should be designated for wind turbines – that’s more than double.
Nato
Germany officially approved Finland and Sweden to join NATO. After the Bundestag, the Bundesrat also approved the accession of Finland and Sweden. The law is the prerequisite for the acceptance of corresponding protocols by Germany.
abortions
The Federal Council also gave the go-ahead for lifting the controversial advertising ban on abortions. At the end of June, the Bundestag had already decided to delete paragraph 219a in the Criminal Code without replacement. In future, doctors will be able to provide detailed information about the possibilities of terminating a pregnancy without having to fear criminal prosecution.
Bafög reform
Students can look forward to a higher Bafög rate: in future there will be 452 instead of 427 euros per month. Anyone who no longer lives with their parents can also get 360 euros instead of the previous 325 euros for the rent. Students who have health and long-term care insurance themselves and not through their parents also receive higher supplements. The rates will also be increased for students and trainees. Students can also earn more through part-time jobs.
back taxes
Retroactive to January 1, 2019, taxpayers only have to pay 1.8 instead of 6.0 percent interest per year on back payments. However, the interest rate from which you benefit from a refund from the tax office also falls to the same extent. There are interest rates for income tax, corporation tax, property tax, sales tax and trade tax. They become due if an additional tax payment or refund is delayed by more than 15 months. In the first case, the Treasury benefits, in the second, the taxpayer.
Press Funding Plans
Several countries want the federal government to give press houses financial support in view of the number of printed subscription newspapers that has been shrinking for years. In order to be able to guarantee regional and local press diversity, the federal government should present a funding concept as soon as possible, according to the application submitted by Saxony and Lower Saxony and supported by Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein. The whole thing will now be dealt with first at committee level.
excess profit tax
The demand of several countries for a special tax on high additional profits of companies from the Ukraine war did not find a majority in the state chamber. The application was submitted by the federal states of Bremen, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Thuringia. The federal government is also divided on the issue: while the SPD and the Greens are open, the FDP and Finance Minister Christian Lindner clearly reject such a tax.