Germany announces energy windfall tax and €65bn package to help ease prices

Olaf Scholz addresses a press conference in Berlin on the government's relief plan to cope with soaring energy costs. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Germany “will get through this winter”, said Olaf Scholz as he announced a €65bn (£56.1bn) package to help households and companies manage soaring energy prices, including a windfall tax on electricity producers.

The Social Democrat chancellor said on Sunday he was “very aware” many Germans were struggling to cope with rising prices, and that the government was prepared to help.