German Ministry faces criticism over undisclosed gas lobby meetings

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs is facing criticism for failing to disclose details regarding meetings with the gas lobby concerning the building modernization act, commonly known as the heating law. According to research by Correctiv based on a parliamentary inquiry by the Green Party, the ministry has left most questions from the opposition unanswered.

The ministry stated that no official protocols exist for meetings with interest representatives, and that telephone calls or electronic communications were not documented. While the ministry acknowledged numerous professional contacts, it claimed it could not provide a specific list, citing staff changes as a reason.

Green Party MP Alaa Alahmwi described the government's responses as ‘hair-raising,’ arguing that if the government removes the 65-percent rule to allow for new oil and gas heating systems, it must disclose which interests influenced that decision. Additionally, Philipp Schönberger from the transparency initiative FragDenStaat noted that the lack of documentation regarding these discussions casts doubt on the ministry's record-keeping practices.