Geschenk für Industrie - Energieintensive Unternehmen sollen entlastet werden

# Germany's government has agreed to water down its plans to phase out environmental tax breaks for heavy industry. Smokers are to make up the budgetary shortfall - with price increases on tobacco from next year. The governing coalition caved in to pressure from small and medium enterprises, who said a removal of the rebate would cripple their businesses. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble negotiated the deal after returning to work from a recent illness.