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German Leader Hoping for a "Long-Term Energy Concept"

Posted on: Thursday, 23 March 2006, 15:00 CST

Text of report by German news agency ddp on 23 March

Stuttgart: Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) [Christian Democratic Union] hopes that the energy summit in early April will provide important stimuli for a long-term energy concept. "The energy talks should lead to an energy concept for Germany by the autumn of 2007, with an outlook until 2020," Merkel said to the Stuttgarter Nachrichten (Thursday edition). In addition to cabinet members, the top people in the energy industry, the industry's trade union and consumer associations are expected to take part in the energy summit at the Chancellor's Office on 3 April.

With respect to the debate about extending the operating times of nuclear power plants, Merkel referred to the coalition agreement. She said that at the summit all questions would be discussed "on the basis of the coalition agreement". The chancellor added, "Together we shall discuss in depth the question of which energy sources we shall entrust with which share of our energy supply in the future with the objectives of supply certainty, economic efficiency and climate protection."

With respect to the phase-out of nuclear energy in general, Merkel said that she had always made clear her personal attitude, according to which Germany has the "safest nuclear power plants in the world". For the federal government, however, what was set forth jointly in the coalition agreement for this legislative term applies, she said.

Source: BBC Monitoring European

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