Berlin - Germany hardened its stance Friday in a dispute with the European Union and Porsche about state influence over Europe's biggest carmaker, Volkswagen. German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries said Germany would keep legislation that grants the state of Lower Saxony veto powers at VW, despite this week's proclamation by Porsche that it has an effective majority of VW.
"There is no reason completely to abolish the Volkwagen Law. The EU Commission should accept that," Zypries told members of the Bundesrat upper chamber in Berlin, referring to a threat by the European Commission to fine Germany.
Lower Saxony has been backed by the German government and trade unions, who see political influence at the huge company as a guarantor of jobs. Porsche has the backing of its home state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and the EU.
In Bundesrat speeches Friday, envoys from the two states criticized one another.
Baden-Wuerttemberg says Germany must comply with the EU order to repeal the law, but did not move a resolution in the Bundesrat that would have put this to the vote.
"German company law is no business of the EU," said Lower Saxony state premier Christian Wulff in the debate.
Luxury car maker Porsche owns more than 35 per cent of Volkswagen. Lower Saxony owns just over 20 per cent, but exercises shareholder rights normally requiring a minimum 25-per-cent stake under German law.
Earlier in the day, Wulff denied Lower Saxony had bought more Volkwagen shares, saying it did not need to.
The stock rose 27 per cent to more than 300 euros in trading on Wednesday, but slipped back to 282 euros Thursday in Frankfurt.
