National Defense Committee postpones opposition motions
Vienna (PK) – The National Defense Financing Act (LV-FinG) came into force at the beginning of 2023. Against the backdrop of a worsening security situation in Europe, it is intended to gradually and sustainably improve the military capabilities of the Federal Army by increasing the defense budget. On the basis of this law, the Defense Ministry presented two reports, which the MPs discussed today in the National Defense Committee. The 2023 National Defense Report continues to give a rather sobering assessment of Austria’s defense capabilities and shows measures that have already been taken and are planned to improve them. The top priority should be given to recruiting personnel. This was also the central topic of the committee debate with Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. The report was noted with the votes of the ÖVP, FPÖ, Greens and NEOS.
The 2023 annual report of the Procurement Review Commission (BPK), which was also established on the basis of the LV-FinG, states in particular that the basis for the necessary transparency in procurement processes is in place in the Ministry of Defense. It is fulfilling its responsibilities through an extensive set of procedural rules and guidelines. The members of parliament took note of the report unanimously.
There were also several opposition motions on the agenda, all of which were postponed. While the SPÖ is demanding €500 million to build the necessary structures for peace work and to promote civil society peace initiatives, the FPÖ is again calling for the reintroduction of the eight-month basic military service. The NEOS believe that a redefinition of so-called dual-use technologies is necessary, which were developed for civilian use but can also be used for military purposes.
National Defense Report 2023
Against the backdrop of a further deteriorating threat picture and the Federal Army’s capabilities not yet sufficiently restored, this year’s findings by the Ministry of Defense (BMLV) are also rather critical, as can be seen from its 2023 National Defense Report (III-1043 dB). Despite the budget increase, the Army is still “only partially” able to defend itself against both conventional and subconventional opponents due to the length of the procurement processes and the implementation of the necessary capabilities. In order to improve this situation, in addition to a further stable budget increase for national defense, the development of rapidly deployable reaction forces and ensuring adequate protection of the airspace, the highest priority should be given to the recruitment and training of personnel, as the report states.
Romana Deckenbacher, Andreas Minnich (both ÖVP), Volker Reifenberger, Gerhard Kaniak (both FPÖ), Eva Blimlinger (Greens) and Stephanie Krisper (NEOS) were also interested in recruiting staff. The question of staff will continue to be a concern for the armed forces for some time to come, explained Defense Minister Tanner to the MPs. Numerous measures and investments have already been made in this area, and more are “indispensable” because staff are the key factor in the successful reconstruction of the armed forces. Thanks to conscription, the armed forces have the opportunity to present themselves as an attractive employer to around 40,000 young people every year, which is also being used, said Tanner. It is about being competitive with the private sector. To this end, Tanner has already implemented the measures that are to be determined in her own department. Necessary improvements in pay are not just the responsibility of the BMLV.
The focus was also on the personnel component with regard to the militia mentioned by Volker Reifenberger. For years, the militia had been neglected by politicians and militia exercises had been cancelled, explained Tanner. The decades of neglect could not be made up for “from one day to the next”, but the militia was “taken into account” in all measures for the reconstruction of the Federal Army. In addition, around 200 militia exercises were planned or already carried out this year alone. According to Tanner, basic military service must also be used for training and not for assistance missions in non-military areas. This is the only way to “enthusiasm” enough young people for the Federal Army and the militia. Tanner was pleased that there were now hardly any basic military service members in assistance service at the border, for example.
As far as the army’s foreign missions are concerned, the army should not “underestimate” its achievements in international comparison, replied Tanner to Eva Blimlinger and Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (both Greens). However, personnel are a scarce resource in this area too. Salary improvements must be made “urgently”, as enthusiasm for voluntary foreign missions “will end” if the pay for them is the same as for assistance missions at home.
The willingness of the population to defend themselves, which Stephanie Krisper mentioned, is “consistently low,” said Tanner, regretfully referring to relevant surveys. Only around 20% would be prepared to defend their country with weapons. This is the result of the previous neglect of intellectual national defense, said Tanner. Raising awareness of this is a task for society as a whole and must be “brought into people’s heads” through school curricula, for example.
Reinhold Einwallner (SPÖ) criticized the lack of transparency and involvement of parliament with regard to Sky Shield. Tanner replied that transparency was a key concern for her and that parliament would “of course” be involved as soon as a legally binding act was passed. Einwallner’s parliamentary colleague Robert Laimer (SPÖ) criticized the federal government’s still outstanding security strategy. Tanner replied that the part of her department had already been dealt with for some time. Hubert Fuchs (FPÖ) was also interested in the calculation of the defense budget based on GDP, Gerhard Kaniak (FPÖ) in the development of the medical service and David Stögmüller (Greens) in the European obligation to provide assistance.
Annual Report 2023 of the Procurement Audit Commission
In order to ensure legal enforcement and economical management of procurement projects, the establishment of the Procurement Review Commission (BPK) was ordered on the basis of the LV-FinG. The six-member commission is an advisory body for the Minister of Defense, but acts autonomously and independently, as can be seen from its annual report for 2023, which is now available for the first time (III-1128 dB). Accordingly, the central processes of planning projects and implementing procurement procedures of the Ministry of Defense (BMLV) were recorded this year for preparatory basic work. According to the BPK, the national defense report is also central to the selection of the audit projects.
The BPK states that the basis for transparency and documentation is in place in the Defense Department and that responsibility in procurement is met by an extensive set of procedural rules and guidelines. It will therefore be important for the BPK to check compliance with the rules on the basis of selected projects during its audit work and to develop recommendations from this. The existing mechanisms are to be supplemented and not duplicated, for which purpose suggestions and lists of questions have been drawn up. The 2023 annual report contains the catalogue of criteria for audit projects, recommendations from the Commission on compliance and the work program for 2024.
In addition to the BPK’s valuable support in the legal implementation of procurement, its added value can be seen above all in the “immediate impact on the culture” of the organizations, Tanner answered Irene Neumann-Hartberger, Maria Neumann (both ÖVP) and Rudolf Silvan (SPÖ). The main focus of the commission in 2024 will be on the topic of “cooperative procurement”. The focus will be on the procurement of medium-range air defense systems and around 36,000 combat boots, the replacement of the C-130 “Hercules” transport aircraft and a construction project at the Brumowski air base in Langenlebarn (Lower Austria), as Tanner explained.
When asked by Hubert Fuchs (FPÖ) about an event at the Brumowski Air Base with the Italian arms company Leonardo, Tanner pointed out the large proportion of Austrian companies that would benefit from the reconstruction of the Austrian army. Volker Reifenberger (FPÖ) also spoke about procurement within the framework of Sky Shield and David Stögmüller (Greens) and Stephanie Krisper (NEOS) called for the promotion of joint European procurement.
SPÖ demands €500 million for peace work
In a motion for a resolution, SPÖ MP Katharina Kucharowits addresses the particularly devastating effects of armed conflicts on women and girls and calls for the strengthening of peace institutions (3757/A(E)). Several of these are based in Austria, but receive little public funding. Kucharowits is therefore calling on the federal government to make €500 million available for peace work in order to build the necessary structures and promote civil society peace initiatives.
SPÖ representative Robert Laimer stressed in the committee that a neutral country like Austria has peace work “in its DNA”. Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens) referred to a number of initiatives already taken by Austria to ensure peace, and Friedrich Ofenauer (ÖVP) believed that the Foreign Minister was more responsible for the SPÖ’s proposal. Volker Reifenberger (FPÖ) agreed with Ofenauer and explained that he would prefer to invest €500 million more in the Federal Army, as this would represent the “best peace work”.
FPÖ for reintroduction of eight months of basic military service in the 6 + 2 model
The reduction of basic military service to six months has caused lasting damage to the Federal Army and in particular to the operational readiness of the militia, FPÖ defence spokesman Volker Reifenberger and his parliamentary colleague Axel Kassegger point out in a motion for a resolution (4061/A(E)). The militia associations have a “dramatic shortage” of personnel, which must be eliminated immediately. The Freedom Party is therefore calling on the federal government to submit an amendment to the Defence Act to the National Council that includes the reintroduction of eight months of basic military service in the “proven 6 + 2 month model” in order to make compulsory militia exercises possible again to the full extent. This is particularly relevant in view of new threats and modern, complex weapon systems.
Voker Reifenberger (FPÖ) reminded everyone that this was not the first time his group had made this request. In view of the national defense report, it was more relevant than ever. “The militia system is dying,” said Reifenberger. Stephanie Krisper (NEOS), David Stögmüller (Greens) and Defense Minister Tanner both said that a decision for the federal army or the militia must be made voluntarily. Work must be done to ensure that the activity is perceived as “meaningful,” as Tanner and Krisper put it.
NEOS: New definition for dual-use technologies
In the war in Ukraine, but also in other armed conflicts, such as that between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Austrian technologies have appeared in weapons systems, as Douglas Hoyos-Trauttmansdorff points out in a motion for a resolution (3324/A(E)). These include drones or drone engines that were developed for civilian use but could also be used militarily – so-called dual-use technologies. According to Hoyos-Trauttmansdorff, the main difficulty for the Austrian authorities is identifying them in order to keep them away from sanctioned states and companies. Classification according to the relevant EU regulations is neither simple nor effective. He therefore requested that the Ministry of Defense use its expertise to revise the definition of dual-use technologies and to advocate for an amendment to the rules for determining dual-use goods at the European level.
In the committee, Stephanie Krisper (NEOS) underlined the “reputational damage” that Austria suffers every time domestic technologies appear in war zones. David Stögmüller (Greens) confirmed this, but like Friedrich Ofenauer (ÖVP) questioned whether the Ministry of Defense could be solely responsible for this. Ofenauer justified the motion for postponement with the complexity of the issue. (End of the National Defense Committee) wit
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