(Bloomberg) — Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he plans to convene Germany\u2019s national security council to discuss the global energy crisis, signaling increased concern about its impact on Europe\u2019s biggest economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will convene a meeting of the National Security Council in Berlin very shortly,\u201d Merz said in a speech at the Hannover Messe trade show Sunday, which he attended with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The council is empowered to take immediate action to ensure Germany\u2019s energy security if needed, Merz said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe German economy and its citizens must be able to rely on the fact that the supply of central products such as gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel remain guaranteed,\u201d Merz said. \u201cAt the moment, the market situation is tense, but the supply in Germany is secure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Should the situation escalate, \u201cwe are prepared with measures,\u201d Merz added. He didn\u2019t specify what action the government might take.<\/p>\n
Deutsche Lufthansa AG, like other global airlines, has announced cuts to to its flight schedule in response to dwindling jet fuel reserves. Merz\u2019s government has decided to reduce taxes on automotive fuel for two months to provide relief to drivers in Germany, where the average price of E10 premium gasoline has risen to some \u20ac2.10 ($2.47) per liter from about 1.73 euros in January.<\/p>\n
The Handover trade show, considered the biggest industrial showcase of its kind worldwide, has been shadowed by Germany\u2019s sluggish growth as Merz\u2019s governing coalition has fallen short on pledges to spark the economy.<\/p>\n
Lula touted Brazil as \u201ca reliable partner in a world of instability\u201d that could \u201chelp the European Union to lower its energy costs\u201d. He attacked US President Donald Trump and the \u201cmadness of the war against Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n
Merz and Lula will head a meeting of their cabinets on Monday with the goal of strengthening their countries\u2019 strategic partnership. Both sides will adopt a series of joint projects on raw materials, defense, digital transformation and climate.<\/p>\n
Brazil is Germany\u2019s most important trading partner in South America with trade volume of more than \u20ac20 billion, according to government data. Brazil also plays a central role in Germany\u2019s efforts to become less dependent on China for rare-earth minerals.<\/p>\n