National Council: decision of the UVP amendment of the ÖVP and FPÖ

For an NGO to receive party status in an EIA procedure, the badociation must now have at least one hundred members; An badociation must include at least five clubs. Originally, it was also planned that NGOs nominate 100 members to be recognized accordingly in the procedure. Although this is consistent with a party introduced in the amendment of the ÖVP FPÖ, the names are no longer the authority to name, but it is only the number "credible ".

In other words, you can call the names of notaries, accountants, tax advisers or lawyers who then proceed to the corresponding certification. However, this defusing did not silence critics of the opposition in the debate: the news was finally accepted only with the votes of the government groups ÖVP and FPÖ. SPÖ MP Klaus Uwe Feichtinger asked whether the project came from the Federation of Industrialists (IV) or the Economic Chamber (WKÖ).

ÖVP defended the amendment to the EIA

Johannes Schmuckenschlager, member of the ÖVP, defended the amendment. One of them had integrated the data protection concerns in the amendment, the allegations to be rejected to the strictest. But this is the question of transparency, it is an essential element: "What applies to politics should also apply to NGOs." since they have fewer than 100 members, he said.

By and large, NEOS had been positive in accelerating EIAs, Bernhard said – the amendments could not be supported, he said. "Personally, I have the impression that the Ministry of Sustainable Development has made strong proposals," but the House then decided to make changes "that are clearly directed against civil society, against the participation citizen, "said the mandate of NEOS.

Mushroom list: bullying against NGOs

Bruno Rossmann from the Mushroom List (LP) saw in the obligation to make credible the strength of 100 members, "nothing but a bafflement of environmental NGOs". This has no other purpose than to contribute to the intimidation of the militants. "They want nothing more than to put economic interests ahead of environmental interests," Mr Rossmann told the ÖVP and the FPÖ.

Walter Rauch, FPÖ MP, described criticism of the opposition as "a storm in a glbad of water". The decision was not about NGOs, but about transparency. Environment Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) did not understand the criticism. "What we decide is a strengthening of environmental organizations, not a weakening," she said. NGO recommendations – "that names and personal data will never be in the hands of the authorities" – have been taken into account, but there are other options, such as those on a notary.

In addition to the restrictions imposed on NGOs, the amendment provides that, in the case of case-by-case examinations, the deadline for official decision is limited to six weeks. In addition to the protection of public interests, it is planned to use a lawyer – in addition to the lawyer in environmental law. In any case, for projects with significant negative effects on the environment, the EIA obligation must be guaranteed, as project advertisers must also submit measures to avoid damage.

Government retreat ÖVP-FPÖ

The government also had to accept its first defeat in its draft amendments to the EIA amendment. Even before the vote, NEOS had announced that it would not agree to anchor the economy as a state goal if the amendment of the UVP was adopted by the National Council. For the new State of destination, ÖVP and FPÖ would require a two-thirds majority, namely the approval of NEOS or SPÖ. Both opposition parties have already rejected the government's proposal before the constitutional committee.

As a result, the ÖVP was irritated. NEOS's approach was "amazing," said Minister of Economic Affairs Margarete Schramböck (ÖVP). The link with another subject is the old political style. NEOS was "partly responsible for setting up ten-year procedures in the future, as for the third runway of the Vienna International Airport," said ÖPP Secretary General, Karl Nehammer.

Criticism of the amendment UVP does not stop

Despite the change, environmentalists and environmentalists have continued to criticize. "Even with the amended EIA amendment, the ruling parties are insisting on an illegal approach by the EU that would create legal uncertainty for the protection of the environment and the environment. harbadment of environmental protection organizations, "said Leonore Gewessler, managing director of Global 2000." Ironically, the Environment Minister is making every effort to ensure that major critical projects can be tested in the environment. future, "he said in a statement from WWF.

"Important parts of the news are orders for commercial and industrial interests," said Hanna Simons, director of nature conservation at WWF. Recognized environmental organizations, with fewer than 100 members, want to exclude the federal government from future environmental procedures. Greenpeace organized a demonstration against a construction crane this morning in front of the historic parliament. The coalition has been accused of violating civil and environmental rights and creating legal uncertainty in construction projects.

The eco-office saw its criticism softened: "The problem of the data protection law would be defused from the initial drafting proposal, a development that we are recording as a clear success in the negotiations."

Praise of the business world

Approval has been given by representatives of companies: WKÖ therefore expects significant relief and speeding up accreditation procedures that are currently cumbersome and time-consuming for large projects. "This strengthens the location of the company and allows the rapid modernization of obsolete infrastructure," said WKÖ Secretary General Karlheinz Kopf.

Likewise, IV: "The resolution expected today by the National Council on the EIA amendment is an important step in the establishment of more effective approval procedures – of course, with full respect for the level of protection of the environment, "said Peter Koren, deputy secretary general of the IV. "It means a real step forward if the audience clarifies all the pros and cons of a project."