Millions for S-Link remain: Greens demand clarity in the state parliament!

Millions for S-Link remain: Greens demand clarity in the state parliament!

The Ministry of Climate Protection announced today that in connection with the Salzburg S-Link project, despite the stop in the environmental impact procedure (RRP), no repayment of the federal funds is required. A total of around 20 million euros flowed into the planning phase, of which 10.5 million euros came from the federal government. This decision has already triggered controversy because the green skepticism expresses and fear that the funds may be tied to the conclusion of the UVP procedure. There are also concerns in the population after there is a negative result from a recently carried out citizen survey.

The country and the city of Salzburg have decided not to continue the UVP process. In an urgent request in the state parliament, the Greens then called for a clarification of the financial resources and their use. However, the ministry makes it clear that the existing financing agreement also applies to this special case. Talks about the final billing of the project are already underway, although the future of the concession and potential sub -projects such as the trade fair railway remains uncertain.

Economic re -evaluation

In this context, Mayor Auinger expressed that specific aspects such as the test bores have to be re -evaluated from an economic point of view. This illustrates the uncertainty that continues to be about the project and its effects on regional development. The ambiguities about the future use of the collected funds and the enforcement of the planned infrastructure projects raise questions about the economic potential of the region.

The environmental impact assessment on which the project relies is a central part of planning. Directive 2011/92/EU regulates the implementation of these exams for public and private projects to ensure a high level of environmental protection. The goal is to integrate environmental considerations in the approval phase and thus minimize harmful environmental impacts at an early stage. This is particularly relevant for projects with potentially significant environmental impacts, as is the case with S-Link planning. The process of a UVP procedure includes several phases, including the mandatory information and consultation of the public to promote transparency and participation.

An important change in the UVP guideline due to the change 2014/52/EU, which has been in force since April 25, 2014, aims to reduce the administrative effort and to improve the protection of the environment. These adjustments are particularly important in the context of the current discussions about the S-Link, where the pressure on those responsible grows, effective decisions.

Like the reporting of OE24 shows that the financial situation of the project is already limited, despite the considerable sums that have been invested. Local politicians and the public are excited to see how the S-Link will continue, especially in view of the critical feedback from the population and the need for environmental exams.

For further information and a deeper analysis on the challenges and regulations within the UVP procedure, the comprehensive content overviews of the European legal provisions be referred.