One year after the EU decision to tackle the restructuring after the corona crisis with a 750 billion euro expansion program, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is currently on tour to distribute the commitments for the projects. The third of 27 heads of government was Sebastian Kurz (VP) yesterday. Austria will receive 3.5 billion euros in grants and loans for submitted projects, both emphasized.
In the long term, this should increase gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.21 percent and create 25,000 jobs, according to an IHS forecast. In total, Austria submitted projects worth EUR 4.5 billion for the “Development and Resilience Plan”. According to calculations by the EU Commission, based on the 3.5 billion euros, 59 percent of the investments and reforms fulfill climate protection purposes, 53 percent are driving digitalization.
The proportions required by the EU for these areas, 37 percent for climate and 20 percent for digitization, are thus clearly exceeded. Von der Leyen therefore spoke of an “ambitious plan with foresight”. The commission president was “impressed” after a local inspection at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. A total of around 107 million euros in EU funding is to flow into quantum research in Austria by 2026.
Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) named three priorities of the Austrian plan with emission-free public transport, climate-neutral transformation of industry and preservation of biodiversity.
For Kurz, Austria is one of the frontrunners with regard to the requirements set by the EU. The funding is not a “gift” because “we are net contributors”.
The dispute initiated by Kurz over the distribution of vaccination doses was also discussed. The Chancellor wanted “no falsification of history” as the criticism was directed more towards the member states than towards the head of the commission. Rather, the fact that von der Leyen was able to accelerate the delivery of vaccination doses meant that “we have caught up”.
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