Franziska Brantner, head of the Green Party, has called for tighter European coordination on energy security in view of the war in Iran and its repercussions across the Persian Gulf. She told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that Europe is once again at a tipping point in energy policy. “The sharply rising prices for oil and gas caused by the conflict in Iran are painfully showing us how vulnerable we still remain, despite all the progress we have made” she said.
The price spikes have hit consumers and businesses directly, while also heightening geopolitical tensions. High oil prices, in particular, act as a windfall for authoritarian regimes such as that of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Brantner stresses the need for an European “energy‑security task force” that is capable, decisive and has a clear mandate. The body should coordinate a swift exit from fossil dependencies, accelerate investment in renewable energy, and address bottlenecks in grids, storage and other infrastructure. “Energy sovereignty isn’t an abstract vision – it is a matter of strategic resilience and economic strength” she added. “Our response to crises must be faster deployment of renewables, not reliance on fossil fuels”.
Co‑party leader Felix Banaszak took a harsher line against Economy Minister Katarina Reiche (CDU). He accused her of speaking of affordability and security while her legislation has actually had the opposite effect. “If she’s serious, she should scrap the heating law, the grid package and the EEG reforms” Banaszak told the RND. “These proposals should never become law; they reinforce fossil dependence”. He further pointed out that over 44 million renters are being pushed into a cost trap, with new legislation effectively locking them into energy poverty. In contrast, solar electricity is still affordable and scalable, and he urged the Greens to relieve citizens by cutting the electricity tax instead of imposing more restrictive laws.
After the reform plans from the Union and SPD, property owners are still allowed to install oil and gas heating in their homes. Reiche’s grid package aims to eliminate compensation for new wind or photovoltaic parks in heavily burdened network areas when the grid cannot absorb the power. The updated Renewable Energy Act (EEG) will also end subsidies for small solar installations.
