Austria Cross-country analysis of the use of EU Recovery and Resilience Funds
Based on interviews with experts from Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection and the Austrian National Public Health Institute (GÖG).
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Key findings from interviews with experts
The Recovery and Resilience Plans resulted in a unique integrated approach in Austria, with projects working in close collaborations between the health and social sector.
New projects initiated as part of the Plans added to the work burden. This was particularly due to the new instruments and recording procedures involved, which was met with limited or no increase in human resources.
EU rules leave little room to adjust to unforeseen challenges by making changes to the original projects.
The Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan A short overview
| POLICY AREA 1: Green recovery | |
|---|---|
| INVESTMENTS | RRF (m/€) |
| Promoting more sustainable heating (incl. combatting energy poverty), while supporting low-income households | 208.9 |
| Eco-friendly and more affordable mobility | 848.9 |
| Transformation to climate neutrality | 100,0 |
| POLICY AREA 3: Knowledge-based recovery | |
|---|---|
| INVESTMENTS | RRF (m/€) |
| Research (digitalising universities) | 212.0 |
| Re-and up-skilling of the workforce (incl. an 'education bonus' to incentivise training for the unemployed) | 277.0 |
| Improving access to education (incl. remedial educational packages to improve an individual's general competence and expansion of elementary education) | 129.4 |
| POLICY AREA 2: Digital recovery | |
|---|---|
| INVESTMENTS | RRF (m/€) |
| Improved internet infrastructure, network access and connectivity (also addressing socioeconomic priorities) | 891.3 |
| Digitalisation of schools (fair and equal access to basic digital skills for secondary school pupils, incl. provision of digital devices) | 171.7 |
| Digitalisation of public administration (incl. provision of digital devices to students) | 160 |
| POLICY AREA 4: Fair recovery | |
|---|---|
| INVESTMENTS | RRF (m/€) |
| Primary healthcare (incl. funding of primary care units, developing an Electronic Mother Child Passport Platform) | 125.0 |
| Building resilient communities (developing care provision, creating climate-fit towns and implementing community nursing) | 104.2 |
| Resilience through reforms (creating legal bases and governance in the field of climate action, implementing eco-social text reform and green finance) | 0 |
2022 Country specific recommendations for health equity
Each spring, the European Commission and European Council make Country Specific Recommendations to provide tailored advice to individual Member States on how to boost jobs, growth and investment, while maintaining sound public finances.
Austrian Country Specific Recommendations 2022 that are most relevant for health equity
2. Boost labour market participation of women and improve labour market outcomes for disadvantaged groups
Country Report 2022
The accompanying Country Report analyse each EU Member State’s key socioeconomic challenges with the aim of providing a framework for the coordination of social and economic policies across the European Union.
Austria's 2022 report contained a number of elements that are directly relevant to health equity.
Project under the RRP
Enhancing and funding primary healthcare
Increasing the number of primary healthcare units and improving quality of care contribute to better health outcomes and accessibility of services.
The project 'Enhancing and funding primary health care in Austria' aims to make careers in the primary care sector more attractive by developing a Primary Health Care Platform, an information and communication hub.
It will also establish primary healthcare units and provide funding to existing units. The aim is to fund 170 primary healthcare projects by 2026, including 60 new healthcare units.
Other projects under the Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan
Suggestions for the future
Continue collaboration between health and social sector
Enhance early disease screening and prevention models, particularly among pregnant women and children
Foster equitable access to social and health services
Improve the attractiveness of careers within the primary healthcare sector
“The Recovery and Resilience Facility has been a great opportunity for the Austrian federal states, bringing much needed funding for wide rollout of our projects”
– Expert at Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection, Austria
"The main focus of the RRF lies on the green and digital transition. There is a need for additional supporting instruments which allow for larger, structural reforms of our health care systems.”
– Expert at Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection, Austria
This report was produced by EuroHealthNet, the European partnership of organisations, institutes, and authorities working on public health, disease prevention, promoting health and wellbeing, and reducing inequalities. We aim to tackle health inequalities within and between European States through action on the social determinants of health. Read more about us on our website.
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