Germany's acting Finance Minister Peter Altmaier said on Monday that it was fundamentally positive that RWE would become a much stronger player in renewables after a planned carve up of Innogy with rival E.ON.
"That is a decision of both involved companies. The companies have recognised that the energy switch (from nuclear power) is pushing ahead," Altmaier told reporters before a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Brussels.
"RWE will for the first time get a foothold in a bigger way in renewables. That is for me a fundamentally positive development," he continued, adding that the government would not seek to interfere in the decisions of companies.
Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop