Austria sets up a commission to cancel gas contract

Austrian Energy Minister Leonora Hessler has appointed an expert commission to study whether Vienna can withdraw from the Russian gas supply contract.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Reuters.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer's conservatives said they agreed that Austria should abandon Russian gas. However, on the eve of the parliamentary elections scheduled for 29 September, the two sides of the coalition are increasingly at odds.

Gewessler said OMV had agreed to give the commission members access to the contract, the terms of which are kept in the strictest confidence. The commission, which consists of economists and lawyers, is chaired by retired judge and former Neos MP Irmgard Griss and law professor Andreas Kletzka.

"This is a very important and significant question: is there no way to get out of this treaty? Is there anything that can be used legally to get out of this contract?" said Griss at a press conference.

The first conclusions of the commission should be presented “by autumn” and the final report by the end of this year, the Austrian Energy Ministry said in a statement, but it did not specify whether this could happen before the September elections.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 10/07/2024