Berlin sues European Commission in dispute over renewables law

The German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy confirmed on 17 February 2015 it had issued a complaint against the European Commission (EC) in the European Court of Justice. The aim would be to achieve clarity over the country's 2012 Renewable Energies Act (EEG), which Brussels still considers to be state aid.

For years, Germany and the European Commission have been at odds over precisely this question. Brussels repeatedly criticised the green energy rebate system, which largely exempts energy-intensive industries from paying the EEG’s surcharge.

The dispute was generally settled by a 25 November 2014 decision, in which the EC approved the 'majority of reductions' on the surcharge granted under the (old) 2012 EEG. But Brussels said it considered 'a limited portion of the reductions exceed what is permitted under EU state aid rules'.

ESO: Background information: State aid: Commission approves German aid scheme for renewable energy (EEG 2012); orders partial recovery http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-state-aid-commission-approves-german-aid-scheme-for-renewable-energy-eeg-2012-orders-partial-recovery/

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