The war in Ukraine is putting stress on Europe's energy policy. Apparently there is also a crisis between Germany and France on this issue. Planned government consultations will be postponed to next year. According to the federal government, there are too many differences.
Germany and France have postponed their government consultations planned for next week to next January. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit also cited substantive differences as the reason for the postponement in the afternoon in Berlin: There are "a whole range of different issues" on which the two governments are "not yet so far" that "one has come to a unified position ", he said.
Hebestreit did not say specifically which topics are currently still hooked. The federal government is currently "in close coordination with the French side on some bilateral issues," he said. "These votes will take some time, so both sides thought it would make sense to postpone this appointment now." The decision was made together with the French side.
Reuters, citing diplomatic circles, reported that the "inconsistencies" between Berlin and Paris also affected energy policy. Due to ongoing problems at nuclear power plants, which have had to be shut down for maintenance work or corrosion damage, Germany is supplying additional electricity to France this winter in exchange for gas from the neighboring country. At the same time, France sees the future of European energy security in the renaissance of nuclear power, while Germany intends to phase out nuclear energy by 2023.
Hebestreit cited "simple logistical difficulties" as another reason for the postponement: "Some ministers who were scheduled in the format could not have attended due to other commitments."
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is "known to be in very close contact" with French President Emmanuel Macron and will meet him bilaterally on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, which begins on Thursday, Hebestreit added. In addition, it is being considered whether the Chancellor will travel to Paris for another bilateral meeting with Macron next Wednesday - the consultations between the two cabinets in France should actually have taken place on this day.
