“Disagree” – National Council: Ongoing dispute over the renaturation law

He assumes that Gewessler will “abide by the legal system” and not agree to the EU renaturation law at the meeting with her EU colleagues next Monday, Totschnig said during question time in the National Council. When it comes to soil protection, he considers the target of 2.5 hectares ‘realistic’.

Deep divisions between coalition parties
The EU Renaturation Act once again exposed the division between the two coalition parties in the National Council. The Greens took advantage of Question Time to call on the Minister of Agriculture in the person of MP Ulrike Maria Böker to ensure that Austria agrees to the EU renaturation law next week.

Totschnig rejects this, he referred to the uniform negative ruling of the states, to which the climate minister is bound during the vote. But even if this were withdrawn, Gewessler would not be able to agree without the consent of the coalition partner, according to the ÖVP’s legal opinion. The Minister of Green sees it differently.

Gewessler confirms his agreement
On the sidelines of a press conference Thursday, Gewessler emphasized that she wanted to continue campaigning for the renaturation law. “I will do everything I can to ensure that Austria can agree to the most important nature protection law at European level. We are not there yet, I must say, but you can be sure that I am working on it,” said the Climate Minister when asked whether she would agree to the law. The fact that the state government of Vienna confirmed its approval of the law is “a step in the right direction,” Gewessler said.

FPÖ senses a possible dismissal
The FPÖ wanted to know from Totschnig whether preparatory talks were already underway to dismiss Gewessler as minister if the EU law were approved. The Agriculture Minister was confident that his Green minister colleague would adhere to the legal system. Totschnig justified his opposition to the EU nature restoration law by saying that it had “a historical perspective”. It would also have a negative impact on agriculture as it would lead to excessive bureaucratisation.

Regarding soil protection, the Minister of Agriculture was confident that the government’s target of reducing soil consumption to 2.5 hectares per day could also be achieved without a binding target. Unfortunately, they have not succeeded in establishing the target formulation with the federal states. However, the measures have been formulated and “if they are implemented as agreed, achieving the 2.5 hectare target is realistic,” says Totschnig.