In a recent Federal Council meeting, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler debated the EU's renaturation law. The FPÖ submitted two urgent questions and criticized Minister Gewessler's approval of the law. They argued that it would endanger the livelihoods of farmers. The ÖVP was also criticized for its commitment to the law, although it had criticized the breach of the constitution. However, a motion for a resolution by the FPÖ to dismiss Minister Gewessler remained in the minority.
Minister Gewessler defended her decision and emphasized the positive effects of the Renaturation Act. Constitutional Minister Edtstadler also criticized Gewessler's approach and called it the "Gewessler method." ÖVP members in the Federal Council also criticized Gewessler, but emphasized responsibility to the state and rejected a "free play of forces." The Greens, SPÖ and NEOS, on the other hand, welcomed the Climate Protection Minister's approach and saw the Renaturation Act as an opportunity for agriculture without endangering food supplies.
The Federal Council meeting also discussed other laws and initiatives. The Federal Council approved the introduction of special maternity allowance for mothers on maternity leave who no longer receive childcare allowance and have another child. Another law on violence prevention and protection was also approved, which enables the federal government to conclude funding agreements with violence clinics. Midwife care for miscarriages was also not objected to, nor was the recognition of "professional criminals" as Nazi victims.
The Chamber of States also spoke out in favor of measures to make the militia more attractive through the Military Law Amendment Act 2024. Other laws concerned the new regulation of the media privilege in the Data Protection Act and the establishment of an authority for cybersecurity certification at the Federal Chancellery. The flat-rate agricultural diesel compensation for farmers was extended until the end of 2025 in order to relieve them in view of rising energy prices. An amendment to the Telecommunications Act is also intended to optimize the energy consumption of mobile communications systems.
In the area of migration, Ukrainians who fled the war were given unrestricted access to the labor market in Austria with the "Red-White-Red Card Plus". In addition, digitalization in the AMS is to be expanded. In the energy sector, an obligation for gas suppliers to implement security of supply concepts was advocated and measures against price abuse in the energy sector were adopted. Federal funds are also being made available to promote the production of renewable hydrogen.
The outgoing President of the Federal Council, Margit Göll, took stock of the past six months and announced the change of the presidency of the Federal Council from Lower Austria to Upper Austria. In addition, a new Federal Councillor was sworn in and an SPÖ member said goodbye to the Federal Council to move to the European Parliament.
Source: Seen in an article from www.parlament.gv.at
Source: die-nachrichten.at
