Initial relief, but many promises remain unfulfilled
The non-ferrous metals industry initially greeted the agreements in the coalition agreement—such as those on falling energy prices, reducing bureaucracy, and streamlining EU implementation—with cautious optimism. After 100 days, it is clear that the cabinet's draft bill to reduce the electricity tax is a first step in the right direction. However, further measures such as reducing grid fees, securing long-term electricity price compensation, and introducing a competitive industrial electricity price are crucial for the industry. So far, there are no concrete implementation plans in this regard.
European regulation: departure from 1:1 promise
WVMetalle is particularly critical of the current implementation of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). The federal government had promised a strict 1:1 transposition into national law. However, the second draft bill presented in July 2025 goes significantly beyond this. Additional national requirements mean more bureaucracy, higher costs, and increased pressure on the location without any discernible added value for environmental protection.
Demands of the non-ferrous metal industry
WVMetalle has formulated clear expectations for the federal government:
- Energy policy relief measures, as promised in the coalition agreement, must be implemented in full and without delay.
- EU requirements must be transposed into German law without any additional national restrictions.
- Bureaucracy must be consistently reduced in order to ensure planning security, investment, and employment.
Conclusion
WVMetalle acknowledges the positive signals of the first 100 days, but now calls for concrete decisions: “Our companies do not need further declarations of intent, but reliable framework conditions that ensure competitiveness and investment.”
