Austria has so far refused to stop importing natural gas from Russia, the way Germany has done, because Austria depends on that for 80% of its total imports, and because treaties with Gazprom run until 2040. Now, the Austrian “Turquoise-Green” government coalition is, as pushed for by the Greens, committing itself to the goal of withdrawing from Russian natural gas supplies by 2027, several Austrian media reported over the past weekend.
The change in import policy is part of a deal between the two coalition partners, ÖVP and Greens, on a new national security doctrine which would no longer name Russia as a strategic partner (dating from the 1955 neutrality treaty between Austria and Soviet Russia,) but henceforth would define Russia as a risk and adversary. The Greens insist that the view on Russia change, offering in return their approval of the nomination of Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) as the new Austrian EU Commissioner. Both governing parties told APA on Aug. 3 that final negotiations are still being held on the security strategy.
The agreement on the energy shift was not officially confirmed, but only in secret. “In line with the decisions of the European Council, Austria wants to end its dependence on Russian energy imports in order to protect the economy and households from new price and supply risks,” the newspaper Kurier quoted them as saying.
The President of the European Commission has committed to the goal of a Europe-wide phase-out of Russian natural gas supplies by 2027. “Austria is also committed to these goals. The phase-out of Russian gas should take place as part of an overall strategy to transform the energy system, which takes equal account of decarbonization, security of supply and affordability for households, trade and industry. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring that households and industry receive the best possible support in this transition,” Kurier reports. The coalition does not yet have a concrete plan to achieve this goal, particularly how to find affordable alternatives to natural gas from Russia.
