• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English
  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. Germans told to wear a sweater to cope with soaring energy prices
Europe

Germans told to wear a sweater to cope with soaring energy prices

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Mar 08:54
  • 1 Shares

What did German officials do to fight spiking energy prices? They tell their nationals to wear sweaters.

  • Germans told to wear a sweater to cope with soaring energy prices
    Germans were told to wear a sweater to cope with soaring energy prices. 

The European Union has adopted a strategy to reduce its reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2030. In response to Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Baden-Württemberg Minister of Agriculture and Consumer Protection Peter Hauk has endorsed a total German prohibition on importing gas and oil from Russia, which contradicts Scholz's statements of energy supplies from Russia being exempt from the sanctions since there are no other ways to ensure energy security in Europe for the time being. 

At the beginning of the operation in Ukraine, Germany's Minister of Economy made claims that Germany can ensure energy supply without Russian gas, saying, "We will buy more gas, but also coal from other countries," he told ZDF national broadcaster.

Germany, for many months, has been working with the European Union to develop alternatives to Russian supplies, according to Scholz.

"The federal government has been working for several months with its partners in the European Union and beyond to develop alternatives to Russian energy. But this does not happen overnight. Therefore, it was a conscious decision on our part to continue the activities of commercial enterprises in the field of energy supplies with Russia," Scholz had said in a statement.

Regardless, Hauk backed the response to Russia's activities, despite the potential impact on his country's residents, who are already battling skyrocketing energy bills, making it difficult for them to heat their houses.

“You can withstand 15 degrees in winter in a sweater. No one dies of it. But people are dying elsewhere,” Hauk said.

The lawmaker, a member of the Christian Democratic Union party, provoked a strong response from the German Tenants' Association, which said it demonstrated little understanding of the requirements of the elderly or those working from home.

Although the organization acknowledged that Europe needs to lessen its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, it warned that decreasing room temperatures and relying instead on wearing more garments could result in people being unwell during the winter months.

“With a ministerial salary or a presidential pension, you can afford exploding energy costs and do not need to freeze yourself,” Stuttgart state chairman Rolf Gassmann said.

The association went on to remind Gassmann that, concerning rented accommodation, German landlords have a legal obligation to ensure rooms can be heated to 22 degrees and to install proper ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and mold infestation.

The European Union plans to reduce its reliance on Russian oil and gas by two-thirds this year, starting with a reduction in demand for Russian gas of two-thirds this year. According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the region "cannot rely on a supplier that blatantly threatens us."

  • Germany
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • European Union

Trending Now

All
Denmark declares "early warning" over Russia gas supply worries

Denmark declares 'early warning' over Russia gas supply worries

Most Read

The Richard G. Lugar Center for Public Health Research, outside Tbilisi, is purportedly the mothership in a network of U.S. bioweapons labs in the post-Soviet space, according to Russian government officials. (US Army Lt. Col. Jamie Blow)

Head of Lancet Covid-19 board: Coronavirus might have come from US lab

  • US & Canada
  • 1 Jul
Ecstasy drug lab found at NATO airbase in Belgium

Ecstasy drug lab found at NATO airbase in Belgium

  • Europe
  • 29 Jun
Poll: 25% of Americans willing to take up arms against US government

Poll: 25% of Americans willing to take up arms against US government

  • US & Canada
  • 1 Jul
Refugees on the border between Melilla and Morocco. (AP)

They didn't just die - Spain massacred 37 refugees crossing in Melilla

  • Europe
  • 28 Jun

Read this

All
Raisi sent a message to Lukashenko on the anniversary of Belarus' Independence Day
MENA

Raisi tells Belarus president Iran eager to strengthen ties

  • 3 Jul
An Israeli occupation vessel patrols in the Mediterranean Sea
MENA

Israeli media: How do we respond to Hezbollah now?

  • 3 Jul
A destroyed British-made Saxon armoured personnel carrier in Lysychansk, Donbass
Europe

Ukraine announces retreat from Lysychansk

  • 3 Jul
Sanaa government deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Al-Ezzi
MENA

Yemenis with liberation battles if accords prove futile

  • 3 Jul
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS