Austrian chancellor threatens environment minister with legal challenge to nature restoration law

By Timo Kirez

GENEVA (AA) - Austria’s chancellor from the Austrian People's Party (OVP) is threatening his Greens Party environment minister to seek annulment of a new nature restoration law at the European Court of Justice.

Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler had announced on Sunday at a press conference in Vienna that she would approve the EU nature restoration law, which passed the following day.

But the Federal Chancellery told Austrian news agency APA on Monday morning that Chancellor Karl Nehammer insisted Austria would abstain from the vote.

Nehammer told Belgium’s EU Council Presidency on Sunday evening that an approval by Gewessler would in fact be illegal, according to the Vienna Federal Chancellery.

“The Austrian federal states have issued a negative opinion and the necessary agreement between the federal ministries concerned has not been reached,” said a chancellery statement.

“The conditions for approval of the present draft are not met,” it added.

According to the chancellery, an action for annulment would have to be brought to the European Court of Justice by the responsible member of government.

Gewessler on Sunday justified her planned approval of the law by saying she wanted to "send a signal of determination and courage."

According to Gewessler, she does not fear a break in coalition with the OVP, saying she had secured her approval with several legal opinions.

Under the law, EU member states must restore at least 30% of natural habitats in poor condition by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050, according to the European Parliament website.

"Over 80% of habitats in the EU are in poor condition," it said.

Austrian Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig from the OVP told public broadcaster ORF on Sunday: "For ideological reasons, Gewessler wants to vote with a crowbar for a law that will bring a flood of overregulation and duplication to our country."