German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday defended his 200 billion euro energy support plan against criticism from the European Commission.
The decisions taken will finance support measures in 2023 and 2024, said the chancellor, who was speaking at a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Berlin.
Overall, it is a "very balanced, very smart, very decisive package that serves to keep prices low and tolerable as long as the challenges exist," the German chief executive stressed.
Germany's announcement of a 200 billion euro plan to protect its economy from rising energy prices has raised concerns among some of its European partners that it will face unfair competition if it cannot mobilize such sums.
The federal government is considering introducing an emergency brake on gas and electricity prices and abolishing a previously planned gas tax for consumers to prevent further price increases.