BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Several environmental associations are calling for a legislative package for the expansion of solar energy to be passed as quickly as possible. The Federal Cabinet had already passed the so-called solar package in mid-August, and since then it has been the Bundestag's turn. There is a lack of a "constructive and solution-oriented debate culture", the associations wrote in a joint statement on Wednesday. The actions of individual players were irresponsible. "This delaying tactic is not only increasingly undermining the necessary climate protection, but also acceptance among the population," said BUND, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Germanwatch, NABU, Umweltinstitut München, WWF Deutschland and the environmental umbrella organization Deutscher Naturschutzring. They accused the FDP of a "blockade attitude".

FDP parliamentary group deputy leader Lukas Kohler rejected the accusations as "wild allegations". "The FDP parliamentary group has always campaigned for a quick conclusion to the solar package this week," he told the German Press Agency in Berlin. "Unfortunately, this has not yet been possible with all coalition partners. However, I hope that everyone involved will soon become aware of the urgency so that we can pass the solar package in the coming session week."

On Tuesday, Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Droge put pressure on the Bundestag to pass the solar package swiftly and called on the coalition partners to do so in the next week of the Bundestag session, i.e. in the second week of April. "I can't understand why it takes so long to negotiate bureaucracy reduction in parliament," Droge explained.

The solar package is intended to remove bureaucratic hurdles to the expansion of solar energy in Germany and thus drive the expansion forward. The operation of balcony power plants and the use of self-generated photovoltaic electricity in apartment buildings should become easier. The possibilities for solar installations on fields are also to be expanded./hrz/DP/men