Austria’s recovery and resilience – Supported projects: Reforms

Disclaimer: This page exclusively serves information purposes and is not an exhaustive database of projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Notably, the map provides a snapshot of projects based on the current status of their implementation. It does not reflect the distribution of the projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility across the different areas within Austria. The map will be regularly updated to include additional projects and information. The showcase of the projects in this page is without prejudice to any future assessment by the Commission in the context of the verification of the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The measure references mentioned below are those contained in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision approving the Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan and allow for easy identification of the measures

For more info on the projects, please contact the Commission’s representation: Sabine Berger Sabine [dot] BERGERec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Sabine[dot]BERGER[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Introduction of KlimaTicket

(reference 1.B.2 in the Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The KlimaTicket aims at facilitating sustainable nationwide and regional public transport.

The reform introduced a flat-rate season ticket covering all public transport in Austria. The user can choose to have a ticket valid across the whole country, in two selected regions or in a single region. Since its launch in October 2021, more than 200,000 nationwide climate tickets have been sold as of 31 January 2023. Including regional KlimaTickets more than 13% of all people living in Austria now have annual tickets for public transport networks.

More information can be found on the project webpage here or on social media here

 

Enhancing primary health care

(reference 4.A.1 in the Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan)

This reform aims at promoting inter-professional cooperation among health professionals, patient organizations, health care system public administration and education and science-related stakeholders, through the creation of the Austrian platform for primary healthcare. Such platform has been launched in September 2022 and it will promote innovation within primary health care, thus fostering the attractiveness of healthcare jobs. By mid-2026, the platform should have at least 150 registered members from all over the country.

More information can be found on the project webpage here or on social media here

 

Eco-social tax reform good for climate, households and businesses

(reference 4.D.5 in the Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan)

This reform, adopted in February 2022, aims at strengthening social inclusion and combating climate change, thus contributing to expected annual greenhouse gas emission savings of 2.6 million tons by 2030 compared to the amount of 2019. To reach such objectives, the reform introduces a national CO2 price on fossil fuels (starting at €30 and to be gradually lifted to €55 in 2025), and a tax relief worth of €18 billion by 2025 for people and businesses, comprising i.a. lower income tax rate, a higher “Family Bonus Plus”. A regional Climate Bonus serves to mitigate the impact of carbon pricing on individuals. Businesses benefit from a reduced corporate income tax rate (from 25% to 23%), a higher tax-free profit allowance (Gewinnfreibetrag) and an increased limit for immediate depreciation of low-value assets. According to the Austrian Finance Ministry, the reform will boost Austria’s GDP by 1 p.p., generating an estimated additional 30,000 jobs. The national CO2 price became effective on 1 October 2022.

Detailed information on national emissions trading in Austria is available here.

More information can be found here and press releases can be found at the following links:

• https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/PR/JAHR_2022/PK0056/index.shtml
• https://www.bmf.gv.at/presse/pressemeldungen/2022/februar/steuerreform-beschlossen.html

 

 

 

Fair and equal access of pupils to basic digital competence

(reference 2.B.1 in the Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the reform is to set out the framework conditions and provide supporting measures to enable fair and equal access for all lower-secondary-schools pupils to basic digital competences. It consists of several supporting actions facilitating the digitization in schools, including in-service training for teachers to improve their digital teaching skills.  This reform will help improving the overall infrastructure in the various school buildings involved in order to ensure the optimal use of the digital-end devices provided to pupils. Furthermore, the reform shall provide digital solutions to simplify pedagogical and administrative exchanges through a portal consolidating all applications for education and administration. With the entry into force of the ‘School Digitalization Act’ in 2021, the implementation of the reform is well underway and shall be completed by mid-2025.

More information and press releases can be found on the project webpage here