The Evil EU

The Austrian federal government intends to ban the internal combustion engine. To avoid domestic resistance, the matter is being pushed through the EU. A commentary by Rainhard Kloucek.

When things in the European Union don’t go as they should, it is, of course, “the EU” that is to blame. Just as some provincial governors in Austria are quick to criticise Vienna, it is common practice in EU member states to hold Brussels responsible for all failings. The EU’s modus operandi is conveniently overlooked in the process, for a scapegoat should not defend itself. The weaker the leadership of the EU Commission, the easier this game becomes. And the current Commission leadership is weak.

Of course, the EU does not function with a bureaucracy in Brussels that is completely detached from reality, making decisions from an ivory tower that are out of touch with the world. Government members in EU states understand how it works, and know that it is occasionally very convenient to push measures through the EU that would fail with a national public. In the worst case, they then declare that they were unable to assert themselves. A prime example of this was the chips regulation.

Now, such a game is underway once more, and the government of the Republic of Austria is right in the thick of it. Here in Austria, however, one reads nothing about this story. Yet the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on 10 March (online) that nine EU member states are demanding a concrete date from the Commission for the end of the internal combustion engine. Naturally, the Austrian federal government is among them, seeking to bring about the definitive end of the innovation-driven market economy through centrally planned methods. It is not the best and most innovative product that should prevail, but what politics dictates. The internal combustion engine remains the best technology for automobiles, but politicians do not want it. So it must go, if necessary with an EU-wide ban, because a corresponding initiative in Austria alone would not be sensible. Furthermore, the Austrian public would likely rebel against this destructive intervention.

And when the Commission then presents the proposal, they will all look completely innocent (as with the chips regulation) and point the finger at Brussels.

Feature image c Rainhard Kloucek