Focus Areas for Government Retreat Set

At the government retreat, the areas of economic recovery, combating inflation, and reducing bureaucracy are "the three concrete pillars we will focus on. I logically cannot yet specify concrete measures, as that will be part of the retreat," said State Secretary Pröll.

Government Retreat Works on Recovery for Austria

"Of course, we will always ensure that there is concrete counter-financing. But it is clear that we are now doing everything to create incentives for economic recovery. Detailed negotiations are currently underway, so I cannot say more about it yet." More concrete measures will probably be available with the "approval turbo" to accelerate procedures in the future, said Pröll. However, he cannot preempt the negotiations. "The motto is, we are working on the recovery for Austria."

The government members from ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS will meet on September 2nd and 3rd at the Chancellery to discuss the plans for the coming months and set political priorities. External experts are also expected to participate in the retreat. The conclusion of the government retreat will be the Council of Ministers and the subsequent press foyer on Wednesday with the government leaders.

Badelt with Advice for Government Before Government Retreat

Suggestions ahead of the retreat have been prepared by the President of the Fiscal Council, Christoph Badelt, for the federal government. Badelt advises the three-party coalition to consider a pension increase below inflation and to reconsider the salary increase for civil servants decided last year, as he explained to the daily newspaper "Die Presse": "Everything done here also reduces the basis for the following years. It is difficult to consolidate a budget if the two largest expenditure blocks are not addressed," argued the head of the Fiscal Council. Especially civil servant salaries have a signaling effect for the autumn wage round. He considers this argument "even very important in realpolitik," said Badelt: "Because, of course, the negotiators are watching each other."

Pensions and Civil Servants Not a Topic for Stocker at Government Retreat

Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) reaffirmed on Friday to ORF the goal of at least one percent economic growth and a maximum of two percent inflation in the coming year. However, he ruled out linking this area with pensions and public sector salaries at the retreat. Instead, the Federal Chancellor wants to insist on an EU-wide regulation against different food prices in the EU, namely against the "Austria surcharge."

(APA/Red)

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