CDU’s Thomas Bareiß to become state secretary in energy ministry

Thomas Bareiß, member of the German parliament and energy policy representative of the conservative CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group, will become parliamentary state secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), reports Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). Bareiß was part of the Christian Democrats’ (CDU) negotiating team on energy, climate and environment in the January coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party (SPD). In a pre-election interview with the Clean Energy Wire, Bareiß said he supports the phase-out of subsidies for new renewable power plants, and favours the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) as the main instrument for CO₂ reduction. CDU politician Oliver Wittke from North Rhine-Westphalia will also become parliamentary state secretary in the new BMWi under Peter Altmaier, long-time ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, writes FAZ.

Find more information on Thomas Bareiß and his views in this CLEW interview, and also read the CLEW article on the next energy minister Altmaier Merkel puts long-time confidant in charge of energy transition.