National Council: Plenary week in detail – Austria

The start and climax of Wednesday’s National Council meeting is Finance Minister Gernot Blümel’s (ÖVP) budget speech. The waypoints have already been filtered in advance. Consequently, the government again expects a high deficit of almost 21 billion euros by 2021. It is Blümel’s first “real” budget speech: its spring premiere was downgraded to a “financial statement” after it the crisis in the crown will make their figures obsolete. The following is the plenary week in detail.

Blümel presented the 2020 budget as the “crisis budget” and next year it will also be significantly affected by the pandemic: In 2021, the federal government will likely spend 21 billion euros more than it earns.

According to the figures leaked in advance, the government expects expenses of 97,000 million euros and income of 76,000 million euros. Nine billion euros are planned just for the help of the crown. The opposition has recently been outraged that the tax reform is not taken into account in the financial framework. AMS funds for training and qualification will be adjusted to the increase in unemployment. There is more money for investments in transport, including a 1-2-3 ticket, for the Ministry of Defense and for the economic department.

The general public deficit, which is decisive at the EU level, including federal states and municipalities, is estimated at 6.3% of economic output (gross domestic product / GDP). It would be slightly higher than expected by the economic research institutes WIFO and IHS (6.1 and 4.7 percent, respectively). For comparison: this year the Ministry of Finance expects a 9.5 percent decrease.

It continues with an amendment to the Law for the Promotion of SMEs. Here, grants of up to 300 million euros are decided to stimulate congress tourism, which has been depressed by the pandemic. The amendment was unanimous in the tourism commission.

It continues with foreign policy issues, including the government’s European and foreign policy report and the government’s mandate to uphold EU sanctions against those “responsible for violence, repression and electoral fraud in Belarus”. This is supported by ÖVP, SPÖ, Greens and NEOS.

4. LAW OF ESTABLISHMENT AND RESIDENCE

The settlement and residence law will be developed again in the afternoon. In view of the ongoing infringement procedures, members of the extended family of EU citizens who have the right to easier residence will in future receive a “residence permit”. This allows them to work independently in Austria and switch to a “red-white-red card” after two years. The provisions on “Brexit” are also being adapted, including the fact that (in the Asylum Act) Britain remains a “safe third country”.

According to an EU directive, the labeling requirements for firearms and firearm parts are more stringent. However, there are generous transition periods for the new rules. For example, they do not apply to weapons purchased before 14 September 2018. Furthermore, the Law on Police Cooperation makes it clear that not only police forces from other Member States can participate in Frontex operations, but also personnel themselves. from the EU Border Protection Agency. These “statutory personnel” will be employed as of January 1, 2021.

Parliamentarians then debate a series of opposition motions. Finally, in view of the crisis in the crown, the National Council asks the government to provide a clear legal basis for managing the crisis at the national level. The corresponding motion was approved unanimously in the Interior Committee. The law to be drawn up by the government must contain, among other things, clear responsibilities of the federal and state governments, a clear definition of the crisis situation and its proclamation, as well as measures, norms on the flow of information and crisis prevention.

Following the budget speech the day before, MEPs voiced their opinion on Thursday: They will debate the 2021 budget in a “first reading” right at the beginning of the session. Discussions on the budget will continue on November 6 with the traditional expert hearing on the budget committee.

The popular climate initiative was supported by 380,590 Austrians in June. He easily jumped the 100,000 hurdle for debate in parliament, but with nearly six percent of the electorate he only managed 21st out of 50 referendums so far. Core demands are the anchoring of climate protection in the constitution, a binding reduction pathway for CO2 emissions, a “climate audit office”, an eco-social tax reform, and a complete abolition of climate-damaging subsidies. . Additionally, all new laws and regulations must be verified by an independent body for climatic compatibility.

Then, the deputies debate the demand for constitutional safeguard of the ban on smoking in restaurants. The popular initiative “Humo – No” had the support of 140,526 people. It landed in 39th place in previous referendums. The opposing “Smoke – Yes” referendum initiated by the same initiators failed with 33,265 votes at the 100,000 barrier.

European solidarity in the care of refugees demands the popular initiative “Implement asylum in accordance with Europe”, which has the support of 135,087 people. On the wish list is “financial compensation for asylum” and functional management of the EU’s external borders.

The referendum to withdraw from the Euroatom Treaty barely overcame the obstacle to be dealt with in parliament. EU opponent Robert Marschall has found 100,482 followers.

6. DISTRUST REQUESTS TANNER

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) is then facing a motion of no confidence from the opposition. SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS want to fire the minister due to her army reform plans that were aired in the summer. However, because the ÖVP and the Greens have a majority in the National Council, the measure has no chance.

FPÖ president Norbert Hofer, meanwhile, has to deal with the investigations of the Vienna prosecutor. The prosecution has asked the National Council to extradite its third president because they want to investigate charges against Hofer for inciting hatred and degrading religious teachings. Hofer said at a Freedom Party rally in Viktor-Adler-Markt in June that Islam’s holy book was more dangerous than the corona virus. Extradition is considered unlikely.

Finally, there are two “first reads” about the U-Committee: the NEOS want to make the sound and image recordings public under certain conditions, the FPÖ wants to make video polls possible.