Politics check takes stock of the government's work: mastering the energy crisis, fulfilling the coalition agreement

The rising prices for energy, but also in many other areas of life, are putting a strain on consumers. Dealing with the energy price crisis is therefore necessarily the focus of the Federal Government's work. The government is now behind on other pressing consumer policy projects.

A year of government work in the policy check

In the policy check a year after the federal election, the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv) is increasingly critical of the fact that other consumer policy projects are being neglected in the course of overcoming the crisis.

“We are currently experiencing the biggest consumer price crisis in decades. It is right that the federal government has made crisis management a priority in its work. What is crucial is that the announced billions in relief reach people noticeably and in a targeted manner.”

Ramona Pop, board member of vzbv

At the beginning of September, the federal government launched a third relief package. The vzbv welcomed the package in principle. However, the vzbv sees a need for improvement, particularly when it comes to the successor to the 9 euro ticket and the threat of gas and electricity bans. The vzbv absolutely calls for an energy moratorium in the event of insolvency.

“In addition to acute crisis management, there are also other projects for which time is increasingly running out. “The federal government must act quickly to fulfill its announcements from the coalition agreement.”

Ramona Pop, board member of vzbv

Policy check from the consumer's perspective

With the interactive web tool Politicscheck vzbv.de/politikcheck, the vzbv regularly evaluates the implementation of selected consumer policy projects from the coalition agreement. The current political check published one year after the federal election shows: Little progress has been made on many projects so far. This is particularly noticeable when it comes to two pressing points:

Representative action

There is currently no published draft bill from the Federal Ministry of Justice for the implementation of the EU Collective Action Directive. Time is of the essence because the directive must be implemented into national law by December 25, 2022.

“Implemented in a consumer-friendly manner, the EU representative action can easily help consumers obtain their rights and relieve the burden on the judiciary. It is time for the federal government to get the directive implemented.”

Ramona Pop, board member of vzbv

Independent patient advice

Time is also of the essence when it comes to reorganizing the Independent Patient Advice Germany (UPD). The Federal Ministry of Health says it has drawn up a key issues paper, but a draft bill is not yet available. The Federal Government must tackle the legislation quickly in order to complete it by the end of the year and to ensure that patient advice continues seamlessly.

“In order to work in the interests of the patients, the independence of the new UPD must be the top priority during the reorganization. Patents need a strong lawyer.”

Ramona Pop, board member of vzbv

background

As in the last legislative period, the vzbv accompanies the work of the federal government with a policy check . The web tool shows the development of 21 selected consumer policy projects from the coalition agreement. This includes energy policy questions, but also other topics from everyday consumer life. The policy check regularly evaluates the work of the federal government - after 100 days in office, one year after the federal election, at the halfway point of the legislative period and one year before the next election.

In addition, the vzbv takes stock at the end of a legislative period. Detailed information on the status and assessment of the individual projects can be found at vzbv.de/politikcheck .

Policy check

The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv) regularly evaluates the federal government's most important projects from a consumer perspective: Which consumer policy projects has the government started and which have they completed? And how many of vzbv’s core demands have been implemented?

Source: Federal Association of Consumer Organizations

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