“It is important to avoid public policies making carbon solutions less expensive than carbon-free solutions,” summarized Agnès Pannier-Runacher at a press conference on Friday.
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After the government’s presentation of the draft budget for the year 2025, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, responsible for the Ecological Transition, defended the position of her ministry on Friday October 11 at a press conference. She praised a “increase” of the envelope granted, since it amounts to 19.5 billion euros for 2025, compared to 16.8 billion euros for 2024, while recalling that this increase is linked to the support of renewable energies, mechanically in increase of 4.5 billion euros.
“This is a misleading amount, because the public energy service obliges the State to support renewable energies when electricity prices fall, which is the case at the momentconfirms with the World Nicolas Garnier, general delegate of Amorce, an association which supports communities engaged in the ecological transition. This budget is quite far from the promise not to sacrifice the transition on the altar of financial austerity.”
“I assume (…) to take my part in the budgetary effort of the finance bill for 2025”declared Agnès Pannier-Runacher, conceding that her ministry “is limited in terms of resources to invest during the year”. She recognized a “reduction of expenses” notably on the Green Fund, intended for community projects, and a reduction of 500 million for the electrification of cars. His office immediately clarified that discussions were underway on how this reduction would be distributed, with the idea of supporting the poorest households and continuing to support the market.
The energy check is “sanctuary” for 2025, underlined the minister. “All people who are entitled to it must ask for it”she insisted, specifying that she wanted to relaunch automation of this system for eligible people.
In a delicate budgetary context, the minister highlighted the need for the effectiveness of each public euro invested and defended the work on revenues aimed at “brown niches”such as the penalty on the most polluting vehicles, the abolition of reduced VAT on boilers using fossil fuels (gas, fuel oil, coal), or the increase in taxation on plane tickets and gas. “It is especially important to prevent public policies and public money from making carbon solutions less expensive than carbon-free solutions”she summarized.
However, Agnès Pannier-Runacher anticipates modifications to the copy presented Thursday by the government. “Parliament will take it up and I expect developments. I am at the service of parliamentarians.”