Budget compromise: Austria relies on stability and securing the future!

Budget compromise: Austria relies on stability and securing the future!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - On January 16, 2025, the managing ÖVP club chairman August Wöginger presented the new budget at a joint press conference with a Member of the FPÖ Fuchs. This was announced as an important step towards stability and security for Austria. The goal is to reduce the Maastricht deficit under three percent this year, which means consolidation of around 6.3 billion euros for 2025. Wöginger emphasized that the EU deficit procedure could be averted through intensive negotiations, which is considered a great success. He expressed special thanks to the Ministry of Finance and the employees for their work. These measures are crucial to ensure confidence in the state finances, as well as Kurier.at reported.

budget consolidation and reforms

A central point of the budget plan is the expenditure efficiency through reforms that are scheduled to bring savings of a total of 242.5 million euros this year. Wöginger explained that the retirement age requires a reform to save an economic overpass of 150 million euros, as well as a reduction in the minor additional earnings for recipients of unemployment benefits, which should bring in a further 82.5 million euros. In addition, a reduction in the funding rates is planned, which could enable additional savings potential of 3.18 billion euros. This is also considered inevitable by Wöginger to stabilize the household.

The CEO of Wienerberger, Heimo Scheuch, expressed urgent demands to the government in a current interview to strengthen Austria's industrial location. He emphasized the need for a policy that takes responsibility and actively approaches the citizens. According to Scheuch, a continuous dialogue with industry was missing in the past. He pointed out that the compulsion to save could also have a negative impact on competitiveness, which is why he calls for the future government for more investments in infrastructure and residential construction. According to his words, a new spirit of optimism in Austria could be necessary to cope with the various challenges sustainably.