24hoursworld

Industry: Association: Austria suffers from a migration-critical image

Industry: Association: Austria suffers from a migration-critical image

The right-wing FPÖ recently coined the phrase “Fortress Austria”. Word is getting around that the country is critical of migration, says the head of the industrial association. That has consequences.

According to the Federation of Austrian Industry, Austria suffers from its anti-immigration image in the competition for foreign skilled workers.

The country’s appearance, which is also characterized by the buzzword “Fortress Austria”, which was recently used by the right-wing FPÖ, is getting around, said the head of the Federation of Industrialists (IV) Georg Knill to the Association of Foreign Press. “We feel that, we notice that.” Politicians have failed to make a clear distinction between illegal migration, which everyone rejects, and the often desired influx of skilled workers. “There is no differentiation in the public discussion,” Knill continued.

Criticism of the no to the trade pact with Mercosur

The head of the association also criticized Austria’s foreseeable renewed no to the desired trade pact between the EU and the South American confederation of states Mercosur. “That has a fatal signal effect both internally and externally.” The trade pact would be important not least because of the possibility of having access to the rare earths that have so far been supplied primarily by China. But the resistance of the agricultural sector and climate protection is probably too strong for a rethink, said Knill, referring to the coalition of the conservative ÖVP and the Greens.

Austria had already vetoed the trade pact in 2019. The EU has been negotiating with Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil, which are part of Mercosur, since 1999. The pact would create one of the largest free trade zones in the world with more than 700 million people. Environmentalists and human rights activists warn against exploitation and environmental destruction as a result of the agreement.

In Germany, Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) believes that the interests of German farmers are sufficiently taken into account in the free trade agreement. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) also sees a chance of concluding the agreement.

Source: Stern

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts