Voestalpine calls for easier conditions for industrial production in Austria

The company's CEO advocates for lower taxes, lower energy costs and simplified bureaucracy

The political decisions to be made in the coming months will have a significant impact on the Austrian economy and the operations of voestalpine. This was stated by Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG.

Today, voestalpine is one of the largest employers in the country, employing around 23,600 highly skilled workers and generating €7.7 billion in added value annually. However, maintaining this stability requires a quick and effective government response.

Herbert Eibensteiner outlined key measures that will help strengthen Austria’s economic base:

• rejection of new corporate taxes;
• reduction of labor costs;
• reducing bureaucracy and reporting for businesses;
• ensuring affordable energy and compensation for electricity prices by 2030.

The CEO emphasized that an effective climate policy should combine environmental protection with industrial competitiveness. He suggested focusing on meeting EU targets and taking into account the recommendations of Mario Draghi’s report on ETS certificates under the Cross-Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Despite the challenges, voestalpine remains committed to innovation and development. In particular, the greentec steel program, which aims to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, continues to be implemented at full speed.

“We are adapting, innovating and delivering results. This is our strategy,” summarized Eibensteiner.

As GMK Center reported earlier, the European People’s Party has proposed to change the approach to the EU’s climate and economic policies to support the bloc’s declining economy. The political group proposes to abolish renewable energy targets and simplify company reporting.