The Finance Committee decided that the Federal COVID-19 Financing Agency, or COFAG for short, should be dissolved as of July 31, 2024. The bill provides for COFAG to be wound up as a company and its previous tasks to be reorganized. This decision also complies with a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which found that the transfer of administrative tasks to a GmbH was unreasonable.
By the end of July, COFAG aims to complete as many of the COVID-19 funding applications as possible. Unfinished funding applications will then be the responsibility of the federal government and the finance minister. The Greens expressed confidence that the tax authorities could handle this task. This will ensure that all companies have a fair and just claim to financial aid.
The Finance Committee also voted in favor of funding of 70 million euros for a new gas infrastructure pipeline. The "WAG Partial Loop" project envisages the expansion of a 40-kilometer-long pipeline between Oberkappel and Bad Leonfelden. This measure is intended to increase the security of the gas supply and reduce dependence on Russian gas.
The NEOS made a demand for legal requirements for public food procurement. They criticize failures in the implementation of the action plan for sustainable public procurement in ministries. The NEOS demand legal minimum criteria for food procurement, which should be based on the current criteria of the naBe action plan. The SPÖ signaled its agreement with this demand.
The NEOS criticized COFAG, which resulted from constitutional concerns about the establishment of the agency. In contrast, the Greens praised the work of COFAG and stressed that the NEOS's substantive criticism was unfair. COFAG had done good work under great pressure and operated on the basis of legal principles.
In addition, the Finance Committee decided that the Finance Minister should specifically take over guarantees from COFAG. These are intended to maintain the solvency and bridge liquidity difficulties of companies. The total amount of the guarantees may not exceed 300 million euros.
The dissolution of COFAG and the new legislation were passed with the votes of the ÖVP and the Greens. The opposition parties had concerns and voted against the legislative package.
Source: die-nachrichten.at
