Austria

National sections

The Association of Public Services and Public Enterprises Austria (VÖWG) supports and advises its members from various spheres of activity at national and European level. The president of the VÖWG is the Executive City Councillor of Finance, Economic and International Affairs, Ms. Renate Brauner.

It is particularly important to have representation at EU level at a time when the institutions are broadening their range of activities and influence. This impacts on our members’ freedom to run their services of general interest. As a member of the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services (CEEP), we closely monitor the legislative process in Austria and the EU. CEEP is one of the three General Cross Industry Social Partners recognised by the European Commission. The VÖWG regularly takes part in consultations with the Commission on their draft regulations, directives and other legislation of interest to our members. Furthemore, the VÖWG team are members of a number of committees, and therefore, are always up-to-date with developments at EU level. Taking an active role within the decision-making process in Europe, we are a strong voice against Brussels’ on-going attempts to liberalise public provision of services.

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The VÖWG represents more than 100 companies that represent the whole spectrum of public-service providers. Our members guarantee the security of energy supplies, from highly efficient district heating and cooling to grid operations. The health sector and social services are also well represented. When it comes to mobility, public transport not only facilitates the movement of people but also contributes to a reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions in an affordable way. On top of that, our member associations provide Austrian citizens with high-quality water services, a universal product that is much more than a “commercial good” in the sense of the internal market doctrine. As they provide services of general interest, VÖWG members have a key function in helping the EU meet its ambitious environmental targets. The public sector plays an essential part in securing supply on the one hand, and advocates sustainable development on the other. This reflects its holistic approach, which covers the whole life cycle of services and goods.

The VÖWG acquires a huge amount of information and develops a precise information tool for our members. We are in constant contact with different stakeholders and defend the interest of our members at the right time in the right place.

Newsletter: 

The VÖWG offers various thematic newsletters:

  • VÖWG Bildung-Spezial: brief news relevant to the education and lifelong learning sector.
  • VÖWG Cyber Spezial: relevant news for the field of the digital future and cybersecurity.
  • VÖWG Förderung Spezial: current information on selected European and Austrian funding opportunities.
  • VÖWG Konsultationen: ongoing public consultations of the European Commission.
  • VÖWG Legislativ-Vorschau: weekly overview of the European Commission’s activities.
  • VÖWG Medienfilter: current information on European policy and legislation.
  • VÖWG Sozial-Spezial: relevant short news on the social and health sector.
  • VÖWG Umwelt-Spezial: short news from the fields of environment and sustainable development.
  • VÖWG Verkehr-Spezial: brief news relevant to the transport sector.
  • VÖWG Wirtschaft-Spezial: brief news relevant to the Austrian and European business and economic sector.

Available in German.

To register: to receive the registration form, please send an email to info@voewg.at.

Officers

(updated: October 2021)

President:
Peter HANKE
Executive City Councillor of Finance, Economic, Labour and International Affairs, City of Vienna

Vice-Presidents:

Renate ANDERL
President, Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour

Erich HAIDER
Chief Executive Officer, Linz AG

Martin KRAJCSIR
Chief Executive Officer, Wiener Stadtwerke Holding AG

Thomas PÜHRINGER
Board Member, IKB Innsbrucker Kommunalbetriebe AG

General Secretary:
Heidrun MAIER-DE KRUIJFF

Video “Services of General Interest during the Corona Crisis in Austria” – 2020 
Version EN  –  DE

Section details

Address
Verband der öffentlichen Wirtschaft und Gemeinwirtschaft Österreichs (VÖWG)
Stadiongasse 6-8
AT-1010 Wien
Österreich
Phone (+43-(0)1) 408 22 04/20
Fax
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