Embargo
Austria has indicated its willingness to go along with an import ban on Russian oil, provided the EU's other member states will agree
Servus!
We return to the subject of Ukraine. Russia’s war against the country continues in spite of military losses British intelligence officials have characterized as staggering; around a quarter of its combat forces deployed in Ukraine have been “rendered combat ineffective.” Ukrainian officials continue to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, a city which has been besieged by Russian forces for weeks; in total, more than 5.5 million Ukrainians have been driven into exile by Russia’s invasion of their country. The Russian government’s rhetoric is becoming evermore unhinged, with foreign minister Sergey Lavrov claiming Adolf Hitler had Jewish roots, adding: “For a long time now we’ve been hearing the wise Jewish people say that the biggest antisemites are the Jews themselves.”
Statistics published last week by the interior ministry indicate that, since the war’s beginning, around 64,000 Ukrainian refugees have crossed the border into Austria, with around 38,000 seeking to establish temporary residence in the country. Those refugees who formally register in Austria receive a so-called ‘blue card,’ a residency permit that grants the holder access the labor market. At the beginning of April, the government established an online platform that brings together job adverts targeted at Ukrainians in fields ranging from IT to hospitality, enabling refugees to more easily find work.
There remains a internal disagreement, however, as to whether Ukrainians are or should be entitled to welfare and other social security benefits. Last week at a joint press conference with health minister Johannes Rauch, the People’s Party’s (ÖVP) parliamentary party boss August Wöginger declared refugees would be entitled to access benefits. He was later contradicted by his party’s spokesperson on integration Ernst Gödl, who said this week that creating a special law granting Ukrainian refugees parity with other asylum seekers in this regard would need to be more closely examined. How these benefits would be financed and the burden shared between federal and state government would also need to be considered.
Inflation continues to climb in Austria as in the rest of Europe partly as a consequence of the war in Ukraine. In April, the rate of inflation hit 7.2 percent—up from 6.8 percent in March. Inflation in Austria now stands at levels not seen since 1981. Fuel costs in particular have exploded, and Austrians began receiving vouchers in the mail this week worth €150 per household designed to offset rising energy costs. The unemployment situation in Austria, by contrast, remains favorable. The unemployment rate in April stood at 6.1 percent: the lowest level recorded in the month of April for 14 years.
European leaders are currently preparing another round of sanctions against the Putin regime. On Wednesday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU would pursue an embargo on Russian oil. The intention would be to ban oil imports from Russia within the next six months and refined oil by the end of 2022. Energy payments from Europe to Russia continue to finance the Russian war machine. Sanctions targeting oil and gas have been most strongly resisted in central Europe, where countries including Austria are most dependent on Russian exports to meet their energy needs.
At a meeting of European energy ministers on Monday, Leonore Gewessler said that Austria would be prepared to go along with a European embargo on Russian oil provided all other EU member states were on board with the idea. For Austria, an oil embargo would be neither here nor there, considering that since March, not a drop of Russian oil has been handled or processed in Austria, according to Gewessler. Far easier to agree to an embargo, then, than be seen as the wrecker of another EU sanctions package. Were Europe talking about a gas embargo, it would be far more difficult for Austria to acquiescence, but for now, such a measure remains very much off the table.
Bis bald!
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Kogler K.O.
The Greens re-elected vice-chancellor Werner Kogler as their leader at a party conference on Saturday. Kogler won the internal election with 96.41 percent of the vote. Energy minister Leonore Gewessler was elevated to the role of deputy leader.
Good COVID News
New COVID-19 infections have hit their lowest levels in four months. The seven-day incidence rate per 100,000 people nationwide stood at 465.1 as of May 1. Austria’s hospitals are also handling fewer COVID-19 patients both in regular and intensive care.
Rangnick’s The Pick
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has been appointed the new head coach of the Austrian national soccer team. The former RB Leipzig and Schalke 04 boss was the unanimous choice of the football association’s selection panel. Rangnick will remain with Manchester United in an advisory capacity.