The Carinthian state government celebrated a small anniversary on Monday. In the 25th session the focus was on the topics of the EU, Hypo and a new bathhouse.
In keeping with the upcoming EU elections in June and Europe Day on May 8th, Governor Peter Kaiser addressed the development and use of the EU action programs in a press conference after the government meeting and took stock of the previous EU funding period: “From Carinthia’s perspective, many funding programs have been implemented The EU was used very well.”In which areas Carinthia benefited from the EU: 23.7 million euros flowed to Carinthia through youth programs (“Erasmus+”, “Discover EU” and European Solidarity Corps) alone. Through this support, a total of more than 2,100 young Carinthians got to know Europe and its different countries and cultures. In addition to the university sector, the private sector has also received funding amounting to 47.7 million euros in recent years. “The largest single item is the trans-European networks, which have been able to bring over 72 million euros to Carinthia since 2014 in the areas of rail, road and waterways, energy and digital networks,” said Peter Kaiser, who represents the federal state of Carinthia as financial “net recipient” of the EU. “A net profit of around two billion euros has flowed to Carinthia since our membership.”More transparency in fundingIn order to stick to the money: An agreement was also decided, which will now be forwarded to the Carinthian state parliament. This is about establishing a transparency database across local authorities. “It’s about making it transparent what funding and support advertising bodies or private individuals receive,” explains the state governor, explaining how double-track funding and personnel costs should be saved in the future. However, this must be anchored in the state constitution.New bathhouse at Lake OssiacherDeputy State Governor Martin Gruber also has good news: “Through the KBV, a lake property was purchased from the municipality of Steindorf am Ossiachersee for 1.92 million euros!” Together for one reason Old inventory of the Carinthian investment management and a property purchased in 2017, an area of around 1.6 hectares is now owned by the KBV. “A tourist project in the form of a year-round bathhouse with public access to the lake is to be built there,” as Gruber announced. The area will only be leased, not sold. The tender is now being prepared. Gruber also presented the operational statistics for the state’s mobile inspection train, which was able to inspect a total of 696 vehicles in 2023, of which 332 had serious defects and 170 vehicles in which there was imminent danger. “Unfortunately, this results in a slight increase in the number of vehicles with defects to 47.7 percent.” In the next few years, the test train will not only receive a new inspection station along the B20, but will also be technically upgraded by 1.6 million. In addition, new decisions have been made two risk wolf regulations that “allow us to better manage the wolf predator and intervene more quickly,” said Gruber. Among other things, specific alpine pastures were designated as protection zones. “Facing bankruptcy more than once” As the “Krone” already reported, financial officer Gaby Schaunig also presented new figures for Hypo. The word “pleasant” is the wrong word, but specifically, after Heta is wound up in 2027, a total of 350 million will flow to the state of Carinthia. “In all of this, it should not be forgotten that this highly risky gambling has brought the state of Carinthia to the brink of insolvency more than once,” reminds Schaunig. What will happen to the money would be decided in 2027 depending on the interest rate situation. “That would be reading the crystal ball,” says Schaunig. One option would be to use the unexpected windfall to pay off debts.
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