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German Chancellor Angela Merkel swore to the cohesion of the Grand Coalition and approved the controversial energy transition plans of Economy and Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel at the start of the cabinet meeting in Meseberg on Wednesday.
Merkel announced several major projects of the Grand Coalition and said that the energy transition will be a project of the entire government. "This time, the energy transition will certainly stand in focus," she said.
Gabriel's plan to cut down the support price in the promotion of green electricity has drawn a lot of criticism.
However, Merkel defended the his proposals on renewable energies. Gabriel's project would get "full support" from her, said the Chancellor.
According to Merkel, the challenges of the government is to secure the economic performance, pension improvements, solid finances as well as a safe, affordable and ecofriendly energy supply. She also stressed that the latter is the key to the future of the German economy.
As to the pension policies, Merkel said: "This is about the question of justice between generations."
Merkel called the goal of "solid finances", along with the role of Germany and Europe in the world, as other central topics of the meeting.
"I find the beginning of the government good," said Gabriel, challenging reports about a bad start of the coalition.
He also stressed that it was now the task of the entire cabinet to "bear everything together."
The closed-door cabinet meeting takes place at convention of the German parliament in Meseberg near Berlin on Wednesday and Thursday. Pension reform and energy transition are two themes topping the agenda of this meeting.
