On the agenda are consultations on cushioning the extremely high energy prices, which are now increasing as a result of the Ukraine war. “We have to act quickly to cushion the rising energy costs, which have risen again as a result of the war in Ukraine and are causing people problems. This will require further financial support,” said Nehammer.
The war also brings with it significant uncertainties in oil and gas supplies, driving up energy prices. In addition to a number of politicians, top representatives from economic research and the energy industry have also been invited to the discussion at the weekend.
Countries are also demanding tax cuts
Meanwhile, calls for tax cuts came from the countries. Vorarlberg’s governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP), currently chairman of the state governors’ conference, is demanding that the federal government reduce income tax and social security contributions in order to relieve citizens, as reported by the “Vorarlberger Nachrichten” in advance in their Saturday edition. Energy taxes are also to be suspended in order to maintain purchasing power. Value-added tax reductions could be made more accurate by restricting them to certain areas. “We must now counteract that inflation remains manageable and that there are no higher wage agreements,” said Wallner.
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP), Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens), the head of the Economic Research Institute (Wifo), Gabriel Felbermayr, Board Member Bernhard Painz (AGGM Austrian Gas Grid Management), Director General Werner are to take part in the meeting Steinecker (Energie AG), OMV CEO Alfred Stern, General Director Michael Strugl (Verbund), CEO Werner Szyszkowitz (EVN), CEO Wolfgang Urbantschitsch (E-Control) and General Director Peter Weinelt (Wiener Stadtwerke).
Discussion with economic experts
“We already put together a package against inflation at the beginning of the year, which relieves people with low incomes in particular. There are now many different proposals on the table, which we want to discuss and examine with economic experts and energy companies,” announced the Chancellor on Friday sending to. “In a next step, we will then discuss at the political level which measures we can take to effectively combat inflation,” Nehammer said.
At the end of January, the federal government put together an anti-inflation package from which people on low incomes are to benefit with up to 800 euros a year. According to the information, this package has a total volume of around 1.7 billion euros.
Source: Nachrichten
