| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Today
Polls
RSS Feed General News27. 12. 11. - 18:00
Häupl says no to tuition fees
Vienna Mayor Michael Häupl has dismissed calls to reintroduce tuition fees.
Speaking to the Kurier, the Social Democrat (SPÖ) called the discussion about a comeback of the fees – which were abolished in 2008 – as "exaggerated". Häupl claimed new charges would channel "only 140 million Euros" into the state coffers.
Tuition fees are a federal political concern – and a hotly debated topic. The People’s Party (ÖVP) is in favour of reintroducing the charges to improve the situation at Austria’s 21 public universities. The conservative party was the only faction which spoke out in favour of the fees when they were abolished in parliament a few days before the general election of 2008.
The SPÖ is officially against a comeback of the tuition fees. However, its unity in this concern is at risk after SPÖ Salzburg Governor Gabi Burgstaller called for an open debate about socially fair fees. The SPÖ’s Carinthian branch suggested charging students for the rest of their working lives after graduating. The party’s Lower Austrian branch supports the Carinthian model.
Häupl said a reform regarding financial support for students was needed instead. He told the Kurier today (Tues) too many students were currently forced to work to finance their studies. He also appealed on the federal government coalition of SPÖ and the People’s Party (ÖVP) to lower the number of students professors had to work with to improve the quality of courses. The left-winger – who became mayor of Vienna in 1994 – said poor families but also the middle class should benefit from such measures.
Häupl promised that the city of Vienna would not reintroduce charges on families who sent their kids to kindergartens. The mayor ruled out such a measure despite the tense financial situation of the city. The province of Styria started charging families with children in kindergarten only recently as part of a strict cost-cutting package which also affects cultural and public service institutions.
Vienna’s debts shot up by 1.87 billion Euros to 3.07 billion Euros in 2010. Häupl stressed today that the sum resembled just five per cent of the city’s gross domestic product (GDP). Referring to suggestions by designated ÖVP Vienna chief Michael Juraczka, Häupl dismissed calls to privatise the city’s port and its waste disposal service unit.
Juraczka recently said the recent fee increases of the Viennese coalition of Social Democrats and Greens revealed that the city government lacked a concept. The parties decided to charge more for the supply with tap water from next year. Owning a dog and parking a car in the city centre will become more expensive too. Firms have to fork out more on the so-called U-Bahn tax soon while households with televisions and radios must hand over higher sums to the city government to ensure financial support for cultural events.
Häupl said today: "We did not increase any charges for fun." The mayor underlined that tap water had cost the same in the city for 19 years – a fact he branded as "almost irresponsible". Häupl made aware of the city government’s decision to reduce the price for an annual public transport pass from 449 to 365 Euros. The reduction will come into effect in May. Several other public transport tickets will become more expensive at the same time.
Austrian Times
Related articles: Vienna focus
-
Knoflacher emphasises pedestrian zones' economic effects
» General News 2012-05-24
A renowned traffic planner has stressed that shop owners are generally appreciating the introduction of pedestrian zones.
-
» Business 2012-05-24
Austria’s biggest airport has managed to increase its profit.
-
Vienna road toll on the agenda again
» General News 2012-05-22
The Vienna Greens are risking a coalition-internal conflict by calling for a city toll.
more related articles tagged "Vienna focus"
Related articles: EU
-
» Business 2012-05-24
Telekom Austria (TA) investor Ronny Pecik has declared himself a team player.
-
IV demands focus on industry in crisis
» Business 2012-05-24
The general secretary of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) has appealed on Europe’s political leaders to strengthen the continent’s industry.
-
» Business 2012-05-24
Austria’s biggest airport has managed to increase its profit.
more related articles tagged "EU"
Related articles: crisis
-
Coalition accelerates anti-corruption ambitions
» General News 2012-05-24
The government is intensifying its attempts to pass a transparency package in parliament.
-
» Business 2012-05-24
Telekom Austria (TA) investor Ronny Pecik has declared himself a team player.
-
IV demands focus on industry in crisis
» Business 2012-05-24
The general secretary of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) has appealed on Europe’s political leaders to strengthen the continent’s industry.
Tag cloud:
charges water Austria fees financial Vienna students rsquo families Euros reintroduce charging Ouml tuition ndash mayor government coalition unity auml
Turks flattened by lone asylum seeker
A furious Nigerian went on the rampage at a refuge for asylum seekers in Leibnitz, attacking several people and damaging property.
Woman bites toddler
A woman who bit a two-year-old tot during a road rage row with her mother is being quizzed by police in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
New Dany Boon comedy to be filmed in Austria
The French film star Dany Boon, one of the highest paid actors in Europe after his hit film "Welcome to the Sticks", is filming in Salzburg.
China meets Hallstatt
After a long time of speculation and anticipation the exact copy of Austrian world heritage village of Hallstatt-Dachstein in China will be unveiled, and there will be real-life Austrians present for the ceremony.
Skier in court after accident
A man from Graz is in court today accused of having inflicted negligent injury upon a five-year-old when skiing in Carinthia last year.
Two fires in Ottakring claim one life
Two fires started on Thursday evening in the Vienna district of Ottakring, one of which claimed a man’s life. Several people were evacuated as a result of the two blazes.
Cows zapped to death by lightning
Four cows were zapped to death after a lightning strike hit the barbed wire fence they were leaning on in Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria.
Wolf babies born in Schönbrunn
These cuddly Artic wolf cubs have got every right to look a bit frosty - after they emerged into the world for the first time in the middle of a 27 degree heatwave.
Cleaned Out
A Hungarian cleaning woman who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of antique jewellery from an Austrian Countess and then sold it for "pocket money" unaware of its real value has been jailed by a court in Austria.
Great expectations for summer tourism season in Vorarlberg
The Vorarlberg tourism industry is currently riding high after a record breaking winter season, and the summer season is expected to follow that same trend.
The most popular stories –
last 7 days
|
Dune And Busted |
|
Swastika Shaped Austrian School Rebuilt |
|
Nazi still honoured in Austria |
|
20th Vienna Life Ball a fiery success! |
|
Thieves caught trying to nick F**king Sign |
Eric Price wrote on 29. 12. 2011 from Neuwaldegg about "Häupl says no to tuition ..."
Häupl is spupid. Everything has to be paid for in life;: further education is no exception. To make it free has caused already many problems including providinfa low-level suniversity standard - like a mass supermarket education system - or trying to create a Master-Rece again? No, such politicians are very bad for this country as they just don't understand.
Reply