The improvement of the framework conditions for companies and the high energy costs were the focus of the further debate of today’s Federal Council plenum. The starting point of the discussions was the EU annual preview of the Federal Minister of Economics, Energy and Tourism as well as a novella of the Renewable Expansion Act. State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner gave an insight into the planned measures of the federal government.
FPÖ and Greens initiatives remained in the minority. For example, the freedoms called for a package of measures for the renovation of alpine infrastructure, the tax and tax freedom of drinking money as well as the extension of the electricity price costs compensation law to support the economy in the face of high energy costs. The Greens also competed for measures to maintain alpine shelters and hiking trails.
From the Federal Council and overall from politics, Federal Councilor Sandra Böhmwalder (ÖVP/Lower Austria) said goodbye.
Minister of Economics presents EU annual preview 2025 for economy, energy and tourism
It EU project report 2025 For economy, energy and tourism, the Federal Council took: today as an opportunity to discuss the necessary priorities in this area. According to the report, more competitiveness and deregulation are the European policy priorities of Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer. A deepening of the internal market is needed, especially in the area of services, and a real capital market union. Bureaucratic regulations such as the supply chain guideline would have to be simplified and gold plating would have to be avoided. With regard to energy prices, it is important to work together and ensure competitive prices. The report can be found to secure the availability of critical raw materials in industrial change and sector -specific strategic partnerships. The majority of this was noted.
The Federal Government aimed to improve the economic situation in Austria sustainably, emphasized State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner in her speech. It is important to improve competitiveness and location conditions. This can only be mastered together with the European partners, said Zehetner. A functioning internal market, competitive energy prices and a noticeable bureaucracy is needed. The Federal Government will work that new legislative proposals are more likely to be checked for need, proportionality and subsidiarity. It no longer needs to be a better and smarter bureaucracy. In addition, measures against high energy prices are significant because they are a “significant” burden on companies and households. In European trade policy, the focus is on relations with the United States. The federal government is committed to an open, partnership and self -confident dialogue at eye level. The EU should react to one -sided measures with clarity and sense of proportion in order to avoid a trade conflict and to achieve more planning security and fairness in economic exchange. Zehetner also emphasized the growing importance of trade agreements.
In view of the “greatest de-industrialization of all time” and loss of wealth, Michael Bernard (FPÖ/Lower Austria), on the other hand, demanded an immediate “turnaround” in EU economic policy. The Federal Council described the planned reduction in bureaucracy as a small ray of hope. He also saw difficult framework conditions in tourism, for which protective huts and hiking trails were particularly important. However, these would threaten to “crumble” due to a lack of means. Bernard therefore called for a comprehensive package of measures that guarantees the necessary basic renovations of protective huts and hiking trails as well as the increase in federal funding for the alpine infrastructure. The package of administrative relief for volunteers should also: Interior and hut operator: include inside. The motion for a decision -making application introduced in the course of the debate remained in the minority, as was another FPÖ claim. In it, Irene Partl (FPÖ/T), given the discussion, asked whether drinking money should be subject to social security contributions that they are defined as personal grants of guests to employees and should remain permanently tax and tax-free. Partl argued with the difficult economic situation of the companies and the lack of staff. With regard to the attractiveness of the professions in this area, drinking money is an essential incentive, she said.
The economic situation is currently “challenging,” said Sandra Lassnig (ÖVP/K). It is therefore important to work at full speed in order to strengthen companies through fair competitive opportunities, less bureaucracy, accelerated procedures, better framework conditions and in the long term by reducing the non -wage costs.
The business location as well as the people would have benefited massively from Austria’s membership in the European Union, emphasized Christoph Thoma (ÖVP/V). He also emphasized the importance of European cooperation in view of the current profound structural change.
The goal must be that Carinthia and Austria as model regions for sustainable and fair tourism are further developed with ecological responsibility, social balance and economic stability, said Claudia Arpa (SPÖ/K) and also emphasized the benefits of EU accession for Austria.
Gabriele Kolar (SPÖ/ST) tested the energy prices. When energy becomes a luxury material, not only social justice, but also economic stability, is in danger. The planned EU measures are therefore an opportunity to make energy safe, fairer and sustainable.
Every day on dependence on fossil energies produces long -term damage and at short -term high costs, emphasized Simone Jagl (Greens/Lower Austria). Instead of funding, a “turbo” in the expansion of renewable energies, which would also contribute to lower energy prices, need it. Jagl also addressed the preservation of alpine shelters and hiking trails. The Federal Councilor demanded that the latter have to be secured sustainably financially. The existing federal funding for alpine infrastructure should be increased significantly. The motion for a decision -making application for the debate remained in the minority.
Change of the Renewable Expansion Act and debate about energy policy priorities
The Federal Council: On the inside continued to support one Novella of the Renewable Expansion Act. This provides for changes in investment grants for photovoltaic systems and electricity storage. In the future, this should also be granted if essential components come from Switzerland. So far, this criterion to increase regional added value was limited to countries of the European Economic Area.
State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner presented the federal government’s energy policy priorities. Lower energy costs, more investments and “more in Europe”, she emphasized. Affordable energy is a basic requirement so that the economy is running, the welfare state is preserved and stability in society is provided. More Europe is needed because the EU Stromben market is a key to security of supply, but also for low energy costs. In addition, investments in a clean, safe and affordable energy supply must be stimulated. The goal must be overall to get competitiveness, climate goals and security of supply. In view of the budget situation, it should look closely at how any funding works work.
Markus Steinmaurer (FPÖ/OÖ) described the change in the law as a sensible measure, but doubted the meaningfulness of photovoltaic grants. In the interest of the industrial companies that still suffer under high energy costs, to maintain jobs and to protect against emigration, “urgently” need financial compensation, said Steinmaurer. The motion for a decision -making application for the debate remained in the minority. In concrete terms, the FPÖ should be extended by 2030. This regulation set for the year 2022 had compensated for the indirect C02 costs of energy-intensive companies with grants.
As a further step towards the implementation of the energy transition, Sandra Böhmwalder (ÖVP/Lower Austria) described the change in the law. In her last speech in the Federal Council, she emphasized the need for clear framework conditions, the rapid expansion of renewable energies in Lower Austria and the importance of citizen participation models.
Every barrel of oil and every gas that does not have to be imported by the expansion of renewable energies make Austria more independent and is a profit for both the trade balance and nature, explained Mario Trinkl (SPÖ/B). The Renewable Expansion Act is a central component of the Austrian energy and climate strategy and supports the goal that the entire current should come from renewable sources in the future. (Continued National Council) PST
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