Finanzen: Koalition findet Haushalts-Kompromisse – Zuckersteuer später

The coalition agreement for the 2027 federal budget has reached compromises on several contentious issues. The sugar tax on sweetened beverages will only begin in early 2028, delayed by several months from the original plan. A proposed new tax on plastic packaging has been postponed for another year. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) personally championed the reduction of the electricity tax for all, but this possibility seems increasingly unlikely.

The SPD and Union parties concluded their budget negotiations late in the evening, with the Union debating significantly longer than the SPD. A sense of urgency permeated the room as the powerful Bundestag budget committee was set to meet on Thursday for a so-called cleaning session for the 2027 budget. The Union and SPD found no funding for the energy price relief in the relief of energy prices so far.

The sugar tax, as initially proposed by the cabinet, was initially set to begin on July 1, 2027. However, the Union had advocated for a later start on January 1, 2028, to allow manufacturers to adjust their recipes. The tax will be introduced in three stages based on sugar content, targeting beverages such as colas, lemonades, iced teas, energy drinks, and fruit juice drinks with added sugar.

The Union and SPD had agreed on introducing the tax as part of a legislation aimed at stabilizing health insurance contributions. The recommendations of a commission established by the Ministry of Health played a significant role in this decision.