Austria does not have a clearly defined short-term plan to reduce Russian gas imports, the European Commission said as part of its European Semester review on Wednesday (24 May).
As part of its European Semester review, the European Commission looks at the EU government’s economic, budgetary and social policies, giving targeted advice to help coordinate member state policies and avoid debt, budget deficits and reform backlogs.
For Austria, the Commission found that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed the vulnerability of energy supply security.
Still, Austria managed to reduce its share of Russian gas imports compared to overall gas imports from 80% in 2021 to 57% the following year, APA reported.
However, the country still faces “major challenges” regarding energy security, even after it took measures like establishing a strategic gas reserve, according to the Commission.
In addition, “the potential for the production and transport of renewable gases is not yet sufficiently utilised”, the EU body concluded.
The Commission thus recommends Austria accelerate the use of renewable energies and push for the setting up of the necessary infrastructure, especially through simpler approval procedures.
Energy efficiency must also be improved, emissions, especially in transport, must be reduced, and the “green transition” must be given greater consideration in education, the Commission added.
Reacting to the Commission’s findings, the liberal NEOS sharply criticised the Austrian government for not having a plan to reduce dependence on Russian gas.
“Now the government has its certificate of poverty in black and white: even after more than a year of war, we are Putin’s best customer and can be blackmailed mercilessly,” said NEOS MEP Claudia Gamon.
“And we continue to support Russian bombs on Ukraine,” she added.
(Chiara Swaton | EURACTIV.de)
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