Helena Melnikov, the chief executive officer of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), warned that the war in the Middle East carries severe economic repercussions. She said in the Sunday edition of Bild that the conflict is “having a gravely disruptive effect on the world economy” and that Germany is hit particularly hard because of its extensive international interconnections. “Energy is likely to remain permanently more expensive, as key infrastructure has already been destroyed, which presents especially large challenges for our economy” she added.
Germany already bears the highest energy costs worldwide, even unrelated to the current crisis. Melnikov urged swift political action, arguing that the federal government should temporarily lower the taxes on diesel, gasoline, natural gas and heating oil to the EU‑minimum levels before Easter. According to the DIHK, this policy would directly reduce fuel prices by roughly 35 cents per litre for gasoline and about 17 cents for diesel.
