On Friday, the European Commission again called on Austria to submit its National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP). The Brussels government opened an infringement procedure in December 2023. Austria did not send its NEKP draft to Brussels in time and is therefore one of the only defaulters together with Poland: all 25 other EU countries have already sent their draft to Brussels.
The reason for the domestic delay is that the draft submitted in October by Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) was withdrawn by Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP). Edtstadler justified her actions by saying that the NEKP did not correspond to the position of the Austrian government. The Ministry of Climate contradicted this statement and emphasized that the design was “developed with the involvement of the relevant ministries”.
Last resort: European Court of Justice
Austria must now respond to the Commission’s allegations and quickly submit a draft. After the deadline has expired, the Commission will issue a reasoned opinion setting a second deadline. An infringement procedure is opened when a Member State fails to comply with EU law. As a last resort, the Commission can refer the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
All Member States must submit their final, updated plans by 30 June 2024, taking into account the Commission’s recommendations and individual assessments. The NECPs outline how member states want to achieve their 2030 energy and climate goals. The Commission published on Friday its assessment of the draft updated plans from Belgium, Ireland and Latvia. Bulgaria should follow suit. By 2023, 21 evaluations had already been submitted.
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.
