Only 10 EU countries have submitted their long-term climate action plans to Brussels, with Austria being the latest to do so.

Meanwhile, major nations such as Germany and Spain have yet to meet the June 2024 deadline, continuing to delay their submissions.

The European Union has set ambitious goals to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To meet these targets, EU countries are required to periodically submit their long-term climate action plans to Brussels.

These submissions are compiled and reviewed to enable the bloc’s administration to track the progress of its 27 member states and ensure they remain on course, Euractiv reports.

“I am very content to be able to present our climate plan today,” said Leonore Gewessler, Austria’s minister for climate, at a press conference on Tuesday. “For the first time, we are on track.”

The plan, submitted two months past the deadline, outlines a strategy to halve the country's emissions by 2030. This, according to officials, presents “a positive outlook” for both the country and the EU, with Austria’s submission signalling its commitment to contributing to the broader EU climate goals.

The proposed measures in the plan include significant subsidies for replacing outdated heating systems, a large-scale expansion of hydrogen production, and the elimination of climate-damaging subsidies, such as tax breaks for company cars.

The plan also considers abolishing the diesel privilege, which currently results in a mineral oil tax on diesel being approximately €0.085 per litre lower than on petrol in Austria.

“We have a very firm, clear, and strict European framework in place,” the minister stated, adding that failing to meet the climate targets could lead to penalties, including fines.