Economic policy

E-fuels, green energy: SPÖ and ÖVP at odds

SPÖ leader Andreas Babler is in the process of drawing up his economic policy profile. He is positioning himself as the antithesis of the ÖVP. While the chancellor's party is focusing on combustion engines and synthetic fuels (e-fuels), Babler is focusing on the green transformation of the economy.

The SPÖ and ÖVP are also thinking in completely different directions when it comes to managing CO2 emissions. The People's Party is currently working intensively on the issue of storing CO2 in empty underground gas storage facilities, while Babler is propagating CO2 reduction through innovation. The state should play an important role in this.

SPÖ leader backs more government
Babler wants to create a 20 billion euro transformation fund that is managed by the state holding company ÖBAG and invests in companies. The money is to flow in the form of grants, guarantees or company investments. "We run the risk of oversleeping the transformation," says Babler. He wants to secure jobs and the location with state investments. He accuses the turquoise-green government of inaction.

Babler: Government oversleeps transformation
The SPÖ cites the production of batteries for electric cars as an example of this. While 40 plants are being built across Europe, the majority of them in Germany, Austria has been asleep and not a single plant has been built.

The SPÖ sees e-cars as the future.(Bild: Volkswagen)

"Securing jobs in the industry"
According to the SPÖ, ÖBAG should be developed into an "active state investment and energy transition holding company" in the medium term. The SPÖ argues that the state holding company already has the option of acquiring minority stakes in companies relevant to the location. However, the government has not yet made use of this option, even though it is obliged to do so in the event of an impending exodus or plant closure of key companies.

Germany as a role model
Germany has shown how this works. During the pandemic, Austria paid 105 million in subsidies to AUA. The Germans, on the other hand, have invested in Lufthansa and have now made a profit of 760 million euros, "we have lost 105 million".