Bureaucracy costs Steyr Arms Chance on millions – Diepresse.com
The application for the large order failed due to an export permit for four assault rifles.
The Austrian weapon manufacturer Steyr Arms has fallen over a potential large order from Tunisia due to bureaucratic hurdles in Austria. Steyr Arms should deliver four assault rifles to Tunisia for the tender, but despite the extension of the deadline, the Austrian authorities did not receive the required export permit, reports the daily « Kurier » (Saturday edition).
The Tunisian Ministry of the Interior, which had already been ordered in 1978 by the then Steyr Mannliche assault rifle of the type « StG77 », invited the company, which have now been operating under Steyr Arms, to participate in the tender for over 8,000 assault rifles. The order volume was 9.5 million euros. In addition, there should be around 20 to 25 million euros for spare parts over the next 25 years. For the tender, three sample rifles and a training weapon should be sent to Tunisia.
Tunisia extends the deadline
On December 20, 2024, Steyr Arms submitted the corresponding export application. The weapons should be in the Mediterranean country by the beginning of March. Since the assault rifles are classified as weapons of war, a corresponding application must be decided by the Ministry of the Interior – in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with the hearing of the Ministry of Defense.
Since the corresponding permit did not exist in time, Tunisia extended the deadline until April 16 and finally until May 6, 2025. The company wrote to Chancellor Christian StockerInterior Minister Gerhard KarnerMinister of Defense Klaudia TannerMinister of Economics Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (all ÖVP) and to Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger as well as to State Secretary Josef Schellhorn (both neos). According to the daily newspaper, the letter, which she was assigned to her by civil servants, remained unanswered. The company’s call for help from the Chamber of Commerce and the Industry Association also remained unanswered.
According to the « Kurier », Steyr managing director Oliver Bauer was not available for comment. Interior and Foreign Ministry referred to data protection and official confidentiality. And according to « Kurier », the Foreign Ministry referred to the need for a « exact individual case test whether there are legal reasons for refusal ». (APA)
