EU: Almunia baffled by Germany’s green energy accusations

The European Commission’s competition chief Joaquin Almunia said Thursday he is baffled by recent remarks made from Germany accusing the EU of undermining Germany’s efforts to boost green energy production, say reports.

The Commission initiated a probe last December into the project, which aims to phase out nuclear power over the next eight years. While green power energy production has spiked, the plan has lead to higher energy costs for consumers thanks to an electricity surcharge.

Some of the nation’s highest energy users are exempt from that surcharge, however.

While the Commission investigates how Germany’s green energy project impacts competition, German Economics Minster Sigmar Gabriel slammed the EU’s efforts last week, accusing the Commission of looking to “destroy” the plan and Germany’s green energy industry.

”I’m a bit surprised at the noises coming out of Berlin,” Almunia said at a press conference. “Sometimes I don’t understand voices saying we have big problems when we don’t have big problems.”

The Commission is set to close part of the investigation by the end of the month, reports say.

Full content: Wall Street Journal

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.