Controversial EU legislation: regional agricultural councils want a say in renaturation

Under the chairmanship of Upper Austrian MP Michaela Langer-Weninger (ÖVP), the regional agricultural councils of the eight federal states (all except Vienna) reached an agreement on a common position on the EU renaturation law on Thursday. Because the regulation will come into force – even against their will – the state politicians refuse to allow the Ministry of Climate to go it alone in the national implementation.

Coordination point required
The central demand is the establishment of a “jointly supported coordination body,” Langer-Weninger said after the meeting of the agricultural councils of state: “The states, municipalities and the sectors concerned, in particular agriculture, forestry and water management, are fully involved in the implementation of the EU Renaturalisation Regulation that is to be included.”

“Don’t endanger rural infrastructure”
The ÖVP politician also warns of an “avalanche of costs that will fall on the shoulders of the taxpayer”. “This requires an assessment of the follow-up costs and the associated compensation payments for the measures to be taken”, says Langer-Weninger. It was also noted that the national implementation of the EU regulations must not endanger “the rural infrastructure, especially in the areas of energy, transport, tourism and affordable housing”.

Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) supports the initiative of the state representatives: “Nature conservation can only succeed if those affected take the implementation of this controversial regulation into their own hands.”