German gas storage levy will be abolished – positive signal for Austria!

German gas storage levy will be abolished – positive signal for Austria!

A significant step for European energy supply: the controversial German gas storage levy is about to be abolished. The regular surcharge of currently 2.50 euros per megawatt hour (MWh), which was introduced in the wake of the energy crisis in 2022, placed a heavy burden on the neighboring countries of Austria and the Czech Republic in particular. The levy represents annual additional costs of over 100 million euros for Austrian gas importers, as Elisabeth Zehetner, managing director of oecolution, explains. This measure is seen as an urgently needed Christmas present for the local economy, which is already facing major challenges. “The abolition of this unnecessary levy would be crucial for us,” said Zehetner, who, however, also points out the need for further measures to prevent future cost increases from January 2025. Also reported on this courier.

The agreement to abolish it is the result of political negotiations in the Bundestag after the designated CDU leader Friedrich Merz signaled his support. The final decision on the change in the law will be made from Friday, December 20th. It became known in insider circles that the CDU parliamentary group made a clear commitment to abolition at a meeting on December 17th, particularly due to the tense relations with neighboring countries. The Greens and the SPD, who had previously advocated abolition, also support this decision. This political rethinking could not only reduce the financial burdens on neighbors, but also contribute to stabilizing the European internal gas market oecolution highlights.

The intended removal of the surcharge represents an important step towards improving the competitiveness of the European markets. In Austria, the economy is waiting for a clear solution to avert the threat of production relocations and job losses. The pressure on political decision-makers remains high to implement sustainable measures to strengthen industrial competitiveness. The upcoming Bundestag decision could have significant effects, not only on short-term costs, but also on long-term cooperation within the EU.