2024-08-27 06:20:03
The warnings of the Monument Protection Initiative have not been heard; starting next Sunday (September 1), listed items can receive destruction permits (withdrawal of monument protection) faster than before. The owner can then withdraw protection from the monument solely on the basis that “further protection would not be economically justified.”
Even well-preserved monuments are worried about imminent loss!
Until now, monuments have often been left to rot for decades because, unlike active destruction, this was not prohibited. In the future, however, there is concern that monuments will be quickly destroyed simply because of a “lack of economic justification” (mainly private reports). Waiting for “better times” or “new owners”, as has often been the case so far (for example in the center of Bad Gastein), will no longer be possible and the monument will be destroyed immediately!
Balancing the burden on monument owners is even more urgent!
This makes it even more important to provide tax breaks and subsidies that are as non-bureaucratic as possible for property owners, who in turn pay the labor-intensive costs of preserving our Austrian cultural heritage, thus generating significant tax revenue. It is definitely not more profitable to demolish and build houses than to protect cultural heritage! Currently, many monument owners are even subject to tax penalties if they invest significant effort in restoring the building (keyword: hobby). Therefore, establishing a fair balance of burdens is important!
After the National Council elections: a quick assessment of the law is necessary!
Monument Preservation Initiative worries that well-preserved monuments will soon disappear! Or how can the preservation of castle ruins, (small) religious monuments or technological monuments be economically justified? Therefore, the next federal government is now required to evaluate the new law as soon as possible (rather than 2029, as stipulated in the law).
Sign the Granada Convention (genuine obligation to protect).
Furthermore, it is time for the Republic of Austria to finally ratify the important 1985 Granada Convention. Approval has been promised several times as part of an amendment to the Monuments Protection Act, but has yet to be implemented. Only five of the 46 Council of Europe member states have yet to ratify this important Convention for the Protection of European Architectural Heritage, including Austria, Albania, Iceland, Monaco and San Marino. In this regard, we would also like to point out our ongoing “Parliamentary Citizens’ Initiative: Effective protection of Austria’s endangered cultural assets“And all of us Statement on Amending the Ancient Monuments Protection Law refer to.
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