State Governors' Conference in Styria Before Start

Budget, finances, and reform partnership - these are the topics the governors want to address by Friday noon at their conference under the leadership of Governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) at Seggau Castle in southern Styria. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) will informally discuss the financial situation with the state leaders on Thursday.

Reiter Instead of Doskozil at Governors' Conference

On Thursday afternoon, the leaders of the states will arrive - at least those who can attend. The governor of Burgenland, Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ), still needs to rest after his recent surgery. Doskozil will be represented by State Office Director Ronald Reiter.

Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) had already announced last weekend the topics he wants to bring to the conference: He wants to work towards a joint approach by the state leaders on e-commerce. Specifically, the federal government should be urged to strengthen local trade while holding online corporations accountable. It is demanded that the enforcement of European safety standards should be more consistent. The tax component is also being addressed. Due to the splitting of shipments into partial deliveries, customs duties are often not paid, it is said. The low prices compared to domestic products also result in significant tax revenue losses, it is lamented. Another proposal from Ludwig deals with medication safety.

Upper Austria's Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) primarily wants to address the financial situation of states, municipalities, and the federal government: "The states are under massive pressure with their dynamically growing tasks, such as in health and care, while they are not adequately considered in new federal tax revenues. Even though Upper Austria is the only federal state that manages to comply with the Maastricht criteria, these developments are a challenge even for us. We states must act together and with one voice to steer the negotiations on the Stability Pact in the right direction. Because it is clear: The federal government is responsible for the majority of the debt," Stelzer made clear before the conference. A second central topic for him is the reform partnership between the federal government and the states. "The start in early summer was ambitious, but now we need speed. It's about moving from headline level to results - that's too slow for me at the moment."

Tyrol's Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) also wants to address the budget issue at the Governors' Conference: "Weakening revenues and a very dynamic development in expenditures have significantly worsened the situation of the states and municipalities in recent years," his office told APA. Additional revenues, such as the CO2 levy or energy crisis levies, "were regularly designed by the federal government - without the consent of the states - as exclusive federal taxes." The "scope of action of the states" should therefore not be "further restricted." Additionally, Mattle is coming to Styria with a proposal for the "Austria Surcharge." This is intended to signal that Tyrol supports the federal government on this issue. From the perspective of Vorarlberg's Governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP), the Stability Pact is the focus of the meeting, and it will be the most important point of the conference, his office said.

Marterbauer as Guest

Probably for this reason, Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) is also a guest on the first day. During the dinner with the provincial governors, the head of the department will informally discuss the current situation with the country representatives. It is still unclear whether the budget plan for 2025 can actually be adhered to, as rumored, due to unexpectedly high deficits of the federal states and municipalities. Additionally, the date for the next round of the Stability Pact, which according to EU requirements should still be agreed upon this year, is still missing.

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl referred to the now expected deficit of 4.9 percent of economic output as a "budget disaster." Kickl sees a breach of trust towards the European Union (EU) and the population, as he said at a press conference on Thursday. He accused Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) of lacking leadership qualities and suggested the government should resign.

According to Lower Austria's Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP), measures to combat inflation, the end of the "Austria surcharge," and demands for further investments in broadband expansion to stimulate the construction economy are also on the agenda of the LH conference. "Of course, we will not relent in the reform partnership. Here, it's not about quick headlines, but long-term results. We need to clarify competencies and make the republic more efficient."

Preliminary Talks and Dinner

The country leaders will only arrive in Styria in the afternoon and will hold factional preliminary talks in the evening. This will be followed by a joint dinner at the Kogel 3 inn, located among vineyards. On Friday, the conference will finally begin after breakfast around 9:30 a.m. Late in the morning, the federal government's report on the status of the reform partnership in health, energy, administration, and education is also on the program, albeit without Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP). However, he will be connected to the conference. Salzburg's Governor Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) will be welcomed as the "newcomer" in the circle of country leaders.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.