BERLIN, April 22 (Xinhua)-The Federation of German Industries (BDI) on Friday called for tax policy measures to cushion the economic consequences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict for the German economy.

Companies in Germany were in "existential difficulties due to the energy price crisis," said BDI chief executive Joachim Lang in a statement. "They need relief to secure their liquidity."

To address the "acute fiscal challenges," the German government would need to reduce the electricity tax in Germany to the minimum tax rate of the European Union (EU) "as quickly as possible," Lang stressed.

Germany has among the highest energy taxes in Europe. The share of the tax and levy burden on the industrial electricity price was around 50 percent in the first half of 2021, significantly higher than the EU average of around 33 percent, according to a BDI paper.

"A lower electricity tax relieves the burden on consumers and sends an important signal to the economy and society in terms of climate policy," Lang said.

There should also be a reduction in the tax rates for natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The tax rate for natural gas should be reduced from 5.50 euros/MWh (5.94 U.S. dollars) to 0.54 euros/MWh, and the tax rate for LNG from 60.60 euros/ton to zero in line with the European requirement, according to the BDI.