European sustainable development rural actor database
- Language:
- German
- Currency:
-
Euro
- Area:
- 83,858.00
- Population:
- 8.20
- Density:
- 97.80
- GIP:
- 245
- GIP per cap.:
- 29,800.00
- Political regime:
- Republic
- Head of State:
- M. Heinz Fischer (Social Democratic Party – SPÖ)
- Head of governement:
- M. Alfred Gusenbauer (Social Democratic Party – SPÖ)
- Eutropean Union Membership:
- 1995
- National anthem:
- Land der Berge, Land am Strome (Land of mountains, land on the river)
Administrative organization
Form of State: federal State.
Article 10 of the Federal Constitution lists the reserved legislative powers of the federation:
- foreign policy
- finances
- trade policy
- public safety
- transport
- labour law
The federation holds sole legislative power and administrative authority on these areas.
The overwhelming majority of legislative acts are carried out at federal level.
Interesting ministries:
- Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. Minister: M. Josef Pröll. This super-ministry is in charge of rural development, natural parks, sustainable environment, and civil society consultation. It includes for each main theme a department solely devoted to the European Union.
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Administrative units
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Name
|
Number
|
Competences
|
|
NUTS 1
|
Gruppen von Bundesländern
|
3
|
|
|
NUTS 2
|
Bundesländern (federal States)
|
9
|
According to article 11 of the Constitution, the Länder are responsible for the implementation of certain federal laws.
According to article 15 of the Constitution, the Land is responsible for any area of legislation or implementation which is not specifically within the purview of the Bund (Federation), e.g. spatial planning, environmental protection, planning law, transport.
|
|
NUTS 3
|
Gruppen von Politischen Bezirken
|
35
|
|
|
LAU 1
|
|
|
|
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LAU 2
|
Gemeinden (communes)
|
2381
|
Social services
Public order
Urban planning and land development
Water
Sewage
Roads and household refuse
Urban transport
Safety
Culture
Health
|
Total public expenditure : € 122.3 billions = 49.9% GDP.
Sub-national public expenditure without the federal states: € 19.5 billions = 7.9% GDP = 15.9% total public expenditure.
Sub-national public expenditure including the federal states: € 42.5 billions = 17.3% GDP = 34.8% total public expenditure.
Rural life
Utilized agricultural area: 38.9% total area, i.e. about 32,620 km2.
Rural population: 34% total population.
Labour force in agriculture: 169,000 Annual Work Units (AWU).
Unemployment rate by degree of urbanisation:
- Densely populated areas: 7.3%
- Intermediate areas: 4.6%
- Thinly populated areas: 3.7%
Employment rate by degree of urbanisation:
- Densely populated areas: 66.3%
- Intermediate areas: 69%
- Thinly populated areas: 70.5%
Youth unemployment ratio by degree of urbanisation:
- Densely populated areas: 8.6%
- Intermediate areas: 5.1%
- Thinly populated areas: 4.6%
- Total: 6.1%
Share of organic area in total utilised agricultural area: 11%.
Sustainability
Austria’s national strategy “A Sustainable Future for Austria – The Austrian Strategy for Sustainable Development” was adopted by the Federal Government on the 30th April 2002. It covers four priority issues, each of them being divided into several objectives:
- quality of life: education to sustainable development, health system, pensions, social benefits, equal access to employment opportunities between men and women, education and life-long learning, reduction of extreme poverty.
- Austria as a dynamic business location: increase R&D funding, balanced taxes, increase the share of renewable energies, increase production with less resource and energy consumption
- living spaces in Austria: fulfilment of the Kyoto protocol, reinforce local and regional Agenda 21 process, transports, respect of the environment in land planning.
- Austria’s international responsibilities: promote a social, economic, and political balanced development in the developing countries of the south and east, support the EU Sustainability Strategy.
The implementation of the Austrian SDS has been charged to the Federation, and more particularly to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management.
Environmental protection expenditure in the public sector: 0.2 % of GDP, i.e. 56 € per capita.
Government expenditure on environment protection, in % of GDP: 0.4%.
Government expenditure on environment protection, in % of total government expenditure: 0.8%.
Area protected under the Habitats Directive as a percentage of total area: 10.6%.