Chamber of Commerce president Harald Mahrer accuses the EU commission of thinking “only half the brain” when it comes to sanctions against Russia. If companies have to close because the EU commission is “too good and too noble” to change the design of the electricity price, “that is a kind of attack on the whole European competitiveness,” he said in the “Journal zu Gast” on Saturday. . O1.
Mahrer sees the economic situation due to the energy crisis more seriously than during the Covid crisis. The Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Labour, ÖGB, Federation of Industry and Chamber of Agriculture are all “very concerned because we have never had a situation like this”.
The first warnings were already given in the spring
Like fiber manufacturer Lenzing, which has to cut production in Burgenland due to high energy prices, many different sectors and sizes of companies are considering rigorous measures, Mahrer said. The social partners warned since the spring that such a situation could arise “if no timely action is taken at European level”.
threat of closures
Many export companies are no longer competitive in the international market, “because nobody pays the prices that companies worldwide have to pass on”, according to the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. These are energy-intensive companies in the metalworking sector, the paper industry and cardboard boxes and the chemical sector. These are not only large companies, but also medium and small bakeries, carpentry companies and trading and trading companies.
“Russian pipeline gas cheaper than liquid LNG”
Mahrer accused the EU Commission of having thought about the sanctions “only with half the brain”, i.e. without the necessary accompanying measures, and “fortunately the will-o’-the-wisp of the Commission continue”, for example with the planned “price cap” for Russian pipeline gas. This gas is cheaper than liquid LNG.
“The problem is the high price in the spot markets of the stock exchanges, and not primarily Russian pipeline gas. I think that sanctions should be re-decided, that is the real idea of the Commission, and not something that would help out.”
It would be important to separate the electricity price from the gas price, Mahrer demanded. If that takes some time, “because this is an exceptional situation, we are talking about a bellicose economy where normal market mechanisms do not work, the Republic must of course support private households, workers and businesses.”
The social partners had already proposed to do something in the spring with regard to housing costs compensation for households and companies. A package is pending approval by the European Union, “although it must be said that the established budget framework is far too small”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
