Fixed cost subsidy: only 200 million out of 8 billion paid – Coronavirus Vienna

For the fixed cost subsidy, which aims to replace part of its fixed costs for companies affected by the crown crisis, the EU Commission approved 8,000 million euros in the first phase until mid-September. Of these, so far only 200 million euros have been disbursed and another 100 million euros have been requested, the Ministry of Finance has confirmed to the “ORF-Mittagsjournal”.

Most of the money went to small and medium-sized companies, mostly around 10,000 euros. Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) told the “Mittagsjournal” that 24,000 applications had been submitted so far and two-thirds had been approved. It is known that applications for 100 million euros are still being prepared, so companies are waiting for the right time to apply. It’s about deciding which month was the most difficult for a company. “We are very satisfied with this aid product,” said the finance minister, and in other countries the number of requests was “very similar.”

According to the “Mittagsjournal”, the EU Commission is also hesitant to approve the second phase for the fixed cost subsidy because the funds were very little exhausted in the first. It also claims that the request for the second phase was submitted on an incorrect legal basis. The Finance Ministry counters this by claiming that a request made on the proper legal basis would result in less funding for domestic companies and accuses the EU Commission of “paragraph disturbances”.

A political dispute is developing around the issue, with all parties accusing the other of squinting mainly at the Vienna elections. NEOS chief Beate Meinl-Reisinger told Blümel: “Either you are absolutely incapable and you want to distract people with your attack on the EU Commission or it is purely a matter of calculation before the Vienna elections. In any case, those who suffer are the entrepreneurs and that cannot be. ” The EU must respect the rule of law, which is particularly important for a small country like Austria. Meinl-Reisinger recommends that the finance minister submit a new, legally sealed application.

Peter Haubner, economy spokesman for the People’s Party, jumped to the rescue on Thursday by broadcasting Blümel. He noted that the EU Commission does not approve of some of the subsidies introduced by Austria. “We resist this in the interest of Austrian companies, in whose interests Finance Minister Gernot Blümel also acts,” Haubner said. “This is not about making Brussels officials happy, but about helping our Austrian companies in difficult times.” The NEOS turmoil is causing massive damage to the national economy.

SPÖ tourism spokesperson Petra Vorderwinkler also criticizes Blümel. “The EU is not blocking the fixed-cost subsidy, it has made several proposals on how to design and approve the package according to EU law, without additional deadlines. But Blümel is reluctant and unreasonable, although he has not done his homework well. “, writes. .

The secretary general of the Federation of Industrialists (IV), Christoph Neumayer, makes it clear how important an agreement would be for the economy. “The fixed-cost subsidy in the amount set by the federal government has proven to be an important support for the economic sectors particularly affected by the Crown crisis. The implementation of phase 2 would be an important signal that can help strengthen liquidity in companies, ”he writes.