“Peace comes at a cost and we have to be willing to pay for it”, said Prime Minister Bettel during the press conference. Pressure against Russia will be maintained at a high level with a set of unprecedented measures, which will necessarily also be felt in Luxembourg in return. The government is now determined to act since Russia is preparing counter sanctions.
A package of €75 million has thus been mobilised to help ease pressure from private households. Minister for Energy Claude Turmes explained that the price of gas increased most, which is why network costs will be reduced. This should help save up to €500, noted the Greens politician. Further measures to help stabilise electricity costs this year and next year are currently being planned.
Minister for Family Affairs and Integration Corinne Cahen announced that an energy bonus will be introduced for people who already receive the ‘benefits for elevated living costs’. The bonus will range between €200 and €400. The DP politician further emphasised that more people should receive the aforementioned benefits, which is why the maximum amount of what people are eligible to earn will be increased by 25%. This in return will allow more people to apply for the energy bonus.
In terms of aids for businesses, no announcements were made on Monday afternoon.
When the floor was opened to questions, PM Bettel was asked about Ukraine’s potential joining of NATO, to which he replied that Luxembourg will not stand in their way. Nevertheless, there are certain criteria that have to be met if the treaty is not amended, he concluded.
