German Energy Minister Faces Coalition Resistance Over Renewable Slowdown Plans

Germany and the Netherlands have signed a treaty to jointly exploit cross-border hydrocarbon fields in the North Sea, aiming to enhance energy security and resource sustainability while maintaining national regulatory control. Meanwhile, within Germany, a political debate has emerged over the future direction of the country's energy transition. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche advocates for slowing the expansion of renewable energy subsidies and incorporating more gas-fired power plants to reduce costs and improve supply security, a stance supported by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This approach faces opposition from the SPD, particularly from Schleswig-Holstein's SPD leader Serpil Midyatli, who argues that rolling back renewable energy expansion would harm the state's economic and environmental progress. Reiche plans to implement ten key measures, including reducing subsidies and abolishing fixed feed-in tariffs for new solar installations, emphasizing affordability and grid stability to prevent economic strain. The debate highlights tension within Germany's coalition government about balancing climate goals with economic and energy supply concerns.