Renewable energies: Kogler announces “acceleration package”.

Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) announced in the APA interview a “renewables expansion acceleration package”, which should also include the reform of the environmental impact assessment. Incentives for working longer should also be an issue in Mauerbach. The Green veteran is not very happy with sticking and pouring campaigns in the name of climate protection.

During the two-day retreat, advice will be given on how to achieve energy security “via the energy transition, via sustainability” and become more independent “at top speed” – especially from Russian oil and gas Kogler. Preparations for next winter need to be made. The aim is to accelerate energy transition projects. Most recently, the Greens had complained that the ÖVP was on the brakes on the EIA amendment – which is intended to enable faster expansion of renewable energies. The resolution of the amendment in Parliament was actually announced for last autumn. In the exam, the government could step on the gas again: “Whether and to what extent this can be presented in detail is still an open point,” said Koglerbut “the goal is that we make progress there”.

However, the Vice Chancellor also emphasized that the EIA amendment should be part of a package, because there are several projects in this area that require laws or regulations. “We will not only accelerate projects that are subject to EIA, but also others – so if you will, a renewables expansion acceleration law and package par excellence.”

ÖVP wants incentives for working longer

The labor market and the acute shortage of workers should also be a topic in Mauerbach, i.e. a work program for the next one or two years. The ÖVP, in particular, has been pushing for incentives for longer work for some time. In the run-up to the exam, the Federation of Industry insisted on the waiver of pension insurance contributions if you continue to work at the standard retirement age. “In fact, it should also be about how we can create incentives here by moving into retirement or when you’re already retired,” said Kogler. However, he was not sure whether the model named by the IV was the right one, he restricted. The instrument is still open, there will be “tinkering” here.

Kogler hopes for the approval of the SPÖ

On the occasion of the retreat, the coalition was reminded of outstanding projects from several sides, including the climate protection law that has been missing for more than 700 days. There are many laws that “are part of the climate protection laws in the umbrella term,” replied Kogler. The Renewables Expansion Act is already having an effect, the Vice Chancellor pointed out to a “tenfold increase in the expansion of photovoltaics”. He also mentioned the Renewable Heat Act and the Energy Efficiency Act – although you still need a two-thirds majority in the National Council. He assumes that the Social Democrats will “ultimately take part here”, although Kogler with a few exceptions, gave the impression that social democracy was “definitely on the wrong side – against environmental and climate protection”, as it was in the 1970s and 1980s. But he thinks so Kogler“social democracy will not be able to afford to oppose the energy transition and energy security when it comes to these two-thirds matters”.

The climate protection law itself will “have a chance if everyone is willing to compromise, and that will also affect those in the ÖVP who were still stuck to the old way of thinking here,” said Kogler. The Greens insist on a certain level of commitment – but what happens if climate targets are missed is still unclear. Whether and to what extent there are actually consequences in the climate protection law itself or there will only be references to other laws is “still an open point”, pointed out Kogler willingness to compromise. In any case, he is “confident” because: “All the other laws that I have listed were also a drilling of hard boards”, but it “almost always” succeeds.

With the current climate protests – from Monday, for example, the “Last Generation” adhesive group wants to block streets in Vienna for a week – the Greens boss can’t do too much. The motives were “serious and important,” he admitted, but the forms of action had to be assessed “on a case-by-case basis.” “So what I don’t think much of is attacking works of art,” said Kogler. “It does generate attention, it goes for a lap, but then there is an increasing lack of understanding, and that’s why it backfires,” he believes. “Apart from that, everyone asks the question: What danger for the climate do works of art pose?” What kind of Kogler “Not at all” are dismantling acts on vehicles, as he emphasized with a view to corresponding reports from the Vienna police.

Aside from climate protection, there are still open projects from the government program, some of which are stuck in tough negotiations. The reform of the criminal law on corruption – a “closing the gap” so that Austria can play “in the top league” – is going Kogler Assuming “that we will get there in the first half of 2023”. It’s all about little things to “remove last doubts”. The coalition is currently doing another round with the “Freedom of Information Act”, i.e. the end of official secrets. You will get that done in the coming months and decide, stays Kogler optimistic. holds a consensus Kogler also possible with the faltering reform of the gambling law.

The ÖVP and the Greens have recently slowed each other down Kogler in agreement. One is, also against the background of the biggest crises in the Second Republic, “on the right track”. For example, big things like the taxation of random profits from energy companies were brought in as financing for the electricity cost brake. The Greens do not want to be disturbed by the recent sharper tones of the coalition partner in the asylum debate. He does not want to talk about an asylum crisis; there are “challenges and yes, problems too,” admitted Kogler to, “but it’s not a crisis yet”, because “that can really be managed”. Problems should not be “talked about”, but tackled.

In any case, surveys show that the population is dissatisfied with the government’s work. “I do believe that it has a lot to do with these turbulent times, with these times of war and crisis,” believes Kogler. “The fact that many individual worries also increase and that sometimes turns into suspicion, sometimes even into aggression,” is understandable for a long time. One of the keys to winning back trust is working together on results Kogler. “Of course that means chopping. But that also happens.” The loss of trust also affects opposition parties and other institutions, so “everyone should approach each other more and look for the common ground, especially in such critical times”.

Generally eyed Kogler Polls skeptical – also that the FPÖ is fighting for first place there. “They just manage to give the impression that solutions are also associated with very simple slogans that are blathered around here. That’s wrong, of course.” Rather, one always sees the same cycle at the FPÖ: “Opposition bench, government bench, dock.”

If Kogler wants to lead the Greens in the next National Council elections, he left open. He’ll think about it when the relevant elections are due. It has been decided that he will be federal spokesman for the Greens by 2025. “We have now done well as Greens, because we act very much according to our instincts and plan for no longer than half a year in these difficult times.”