Karl Nehammer has reiterated his opposition to a higher EU budget. However, the ÖVP leader expects higher costs to combat illegal migration. Criticism comes from the coalition partner – but the Chancellor is not alone in his negative attitude.
Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) does not want to spend even more money on the EU, but at the same time sees an enormous financial need in the fight against illegal migration. “It is also said that it would cost a lot of money,” Nehammer said in Parliament’s main EU committee on external border control, processing centers and repatriation agreements on Wednesday.
However, this is “definitely a better investment than the money we otherwise spend.” In his opening speech, Nehammer praised the recent agreement between EU interior ministers on an asylum and migration package.
Criticism of no to budget increase
The chancellor now wants the new rules to be implemented in concrete terms, for example through agreements with North African states about processing centers. “The organized crime business model is dead once the asylum procedure in third countries becomes the central procedure,” he stressed.
Although the chancellor expects additional costs in the area of migration, he still does not want to vote for an increase in the EU budget. Several MPs criticized Nehammer’s negative attitude. NEOS mandatary Niki Scherak found it “funny” that precisely the government that “unpacks the cornucopia and throws money very intensively at everyone” in Austria now wants to be very careful at EU level.
The coalition partner also objected. Nehammer would “now take a position that you know won’t get out, and then have the FPÖ accuse you of breaking your word,” said Green politician Jakob Schwarz. His clubmate Michel Reimon made a similar statement. The chancellor has a negotiating position that he knows he will “ultimately not be able to keep”.
Nehammer’s back door
However, Nehammer left a back door open: he made it clear that he “would not now agree to any increase” and pointed out that there was still €400 billion in the EU cohesion fund and €80 billion in the loan fund.
The European Commission should “submit constructive proposals” in this regard. “We are net payers, we have to represent taxpayers’ interests,” the ÖVP leader stressed. He does not categorically rule out a future increase.
According to the European Commission, the EU budget is overstretched. For this reason, the Brussels authorities are still asking the EU member states to pay: the EU states must provide an additional €66 billion over the next four years. For Austria, the additional costs would amount to an additional EUR 1.9 billion.
Austria is not alone
But resistance is not only emerging in Austria. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has made a similar statement. “Given the serious budgetary situation in many Member States, now is the wrong time to register additional financial needs,” said the FDP politician on Twitter.
Other net contributors such as the Netherlands and France have already rejected the demand. The gist is: the EU Commission should “exhaust” the existing funds. According to the head of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the world has changed “dramatically” in recent years.
Von der Leyen: raising “a must”
The aftermath of the Russian attack on Ukraine “felt very painful” in Europe, for example in the form of increased energy prices and high inflation. The increase in the budget is “a must”, Von der Leyen emphasises. All EU countries and the EU Parliament must agree to an increase in the EU budget. The subject is not yet on the agenda of the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday – at least not officially.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
