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“Austria is free” - 70 Years of the State Treaty: A Reminder and Mission in Turbulent Times
On May 15, 2025, Austria celebrated the 70th anniversary of the signing of the State Treaty of 1955 with a ceremonial act of state. The events took place both in parliament and in the palace gardens of the Upper Belvedere and commemorated the historic moment when Foreign Minister Leopold Figl proclaimed the words “Austria is free!”.
May 15, 2025
Vienna Election 2025: SPÖ Leads, FPÖ Surges, Coalitions Still Unclear
The results of Vienna’s 2025 municipal elections confirm major political shifts in Austria’s capital. While the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) maintained its leading position, the Freedom Party (FPÖ) posted historic gains. For expats and new residents of Vienna, the election reflects significant changes in the city’s political landscape that could influence future policies on housing, transport, and climate action.
April 28, 2025
Pope Francis Deceased: Expressions of Grief From Austria
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. As the Vatican confirmed, the Holy Father succumbed to the consequences of a stroke. The world is mourning the loss of a head of the Church who championed social justice, interreligious dialogue, and a church of closeness like no other. Many voices of grief and condolences have also been heard from Austria.
April 21, 2025
Vienna Plans Traffic-Restricted Inner City with Camera-Based Access Control
After years of discussion, the traffic restriction measures in Vienna's inner city are about to be implemented. A planned amendment to the Road Traffic Act (StVO) is to create the legal framework for automated camera access management. This amendment is being submitted to the government by Transport Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) and is due to come into force on January 1, 2026.
April 6, 2025
Vienna Elections 2025: Citizenship and Voting Rights at the Center of the Debate
Vienna's municipal and district council elections are scheduled for April 27. Originally planned for the fall, the election was brought forward in order to send a signal against a possible FPÖ-ÖVP federal government. In addition to party political strategies, one debate dominates the political landscape: the question of voting rights and citizenship.
March 19, 2025
Oligarchs and Their Real Estate: How Effectively Is Austria Implementing the Russia Sanctions?
Almost three years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, experts and politicians are puzzled as to how seriously Austria is implementing the EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs. Research shows that only nine properties have been frozen in this country, while other EU states are more transparent with their measures and enforce them more strictly.
February 17, 2025
Coalition Negotiations in Austria Failed: Political Future Uncertain
Austria is facing a political turning point: after weeks of negotiations, talks between the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) have broken down. The talks thus met the same fate as those between the ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS. With the collapse of the negotiations, the question now arises as to how things will continue politically and whether a new election is inevitable.
February 12, 2025
Political Scandal at FPÖ Regulars' Table: Outrage with EU-critical and Derogatory Statements
A secretly recorded video from a FPÖ Regulars' Table or "Stammtisch" in Vienna-Simmering has sparked outrage. FPÖ National Council members Harald Stefan and Markus Tschank sharply criticized the ÖVP and the European Union, made derogatory remarks about refugees, and caused consternation with their praise for the Taliban regime.
January 16, 2025
Greens Launch Petition for the Preservation of the Climate Ticket
The Greens have today launched a petition to preserve the climate ticket in its current form. The background to this is speculation that a possible FPÖ-ÖVP coalition is planning to cancel or restrict the annual ticket for Austria's public transport system.
January 15, 2025
Standstill in Government Formation: Kickl and the FPÖ on the Way to Forming a Government
Following the failure of the coalition negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has given the task of forming a government to FPÖ party leader Herbert Kickl. For the first time in the history of the Second Republic, the Freedom Party has been given the task of forming a federal government. This heralds a new phase in the political landscape in Austria, which is causing a stir both nationally and internationally.
January 7, 2025
OMV Terminates Gas Supply Contract with Gazprom
OMV has terminated its long-term gas supply contract with the Russian energy group Gazprom with immediate effect. According to OMV, this was due to “fundamental breaches of contract” by Gazprom, in particular, because no gas deliveries have taken place since November 16, 2024. This decision represents a turning point in Austrian energy policy and marks the end of a business relationship that has lasted over 50 years.
December 11, 2024
KTM Facing Insolvency: Effects on Upper Austria and the Austrian Economy
The longstanding Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM is on the brink of collapse. The company filed applications for restructuring proceedings with self-administration with the Ried Regional Court. The company's financial difficulties are serious: with liabilities of over 1.8 billion euros, the KTM crisis is one of the biggest insolvencies in the history of Austrian industry.
December 2, 2024
Viennese Sausage Stand Becomes UNESCO Cultural Heritage: A Tribute to the Viennese Way of Life
The Viennese sausage stand culture has been officially added to UNESCO's national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. With this recognition, the sausage stand joins the prestigious list of Austrian traditions and is now on par with Vienna's coffee house and wine tavern culture. The decision underlines the cultural and social significance of this institution, which goes far beyond its culinary role.
November 27, 2024
Vienna's MA 35: Progress at the Dreaded Office, but Challenges Remain
Vienna's MA 35, responsible for immigration and citizenship, has long been regarded as a symbol of inefficient administration and endless waiting times. The City of Vienna wants to counteract this image with a comprehensive reform process. Initial successes have been achieved, but not all problems have been solved.
November 13, 2024
Orbán's Controversial Visit to Vienna: Talks, Alliances and Criticism
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's visit to Vienna caused a stir across Europe and highlighted the ideological tensions within the EU. His meetings with FPÖ representatives and the discussions about the war in Ukraine and the future of Europe divided opinion between supporters of national sovereignty and advocates of European integration.
November 3, 2024
Triumph of the FPÖ: Herbert Kickl in the Contest for the Chancellorship
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) celebrated a historic victory in the 2024 national elections with 29% of the vote, led by Herbert Kickl. The FPÖ leader, who speaks of an “Orbanization” of Austria, is demanding the chancellorship, but his chances of forming a government remain uncertain. Despite his success, Kickl has met with resistance from potential coalition partners, particularly the ÖVP.
October 2, 2024
Austria at the Decision: National Council Election 2024 and the Political Parties at a Glance
On Sunday, September 29, 2024, Austria will decide on the political direction of the coming years in the National Council elections. In addition to the five established parties ÖVP, SPÖ, FPÖ, Grüne and NEOS, smaller groups such as the KPÖ Plus, the Bierpartei, the Madeleine Petrovic list and the “KEINE” list are also running. The election campaign is characterized by discussions about social justice, migration, security and Austria's role in the European Union.
September 26, 2024
Outrage About Tweet by Iranian Ambassador in Vienna: Call for Summons
A social media posting by the Iranian ambassador in Vienna, Abbas Bagherpour Ardekani, has caused a considerable political stir. In addition to calls for the Iranian ambassador to be summoned, there have also been calls for further diplomatic consequences.
August 25, 2024
Austria's Challenges and Successes in the OECD Report
The OECD has presented its latest country report for Austria. Every two years or so, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development analyses each member country as a whole and summarizes the findings of this analysis in a comprehensive report. Austrian policymakers have now taken up this report and are hotly debating it.
July 9, 2024
Politicians Debate Austrian Foreign Policy in Times of Global Change
Austrian foreign policy was the focus of a topical debate with Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg during the Federal Council session. Under the title "Austria's Foreign Policy in a Time of Global Change", the Federal Councillors discussed the challenges and direction of Austrian neutrality as well as the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union.
July 8, 2024
Shift to the Right in the EU and its Impact on Austria and Europe
The recent EU parliamentary elections have shown a clear shift to the right across Europe, particularly in Austria, where the FPÖ celebrated historic successes. These results put the political stability and future direction of the EU to the test.
June 10, 2024
Unrestricted Access to the Labor Market for Ukrainian Refugees in Austria Decided
Ukrainians who have fled the war should be able to participate in the Austrian labor market permanently and without restrictions. The Social Affairs Committee of the National Council today pushed the extension of the “Red-White-Red Card Plus” towards a final decision in plenary. The governing parties ÖVP and Greens, as well as the NEOS, voted in favor, while initiatives by the NEOS and FPÖ on immigration were postponed.
June 6, 2024
Austrian Climate Ministry Supports Ukraine with Five Million Euros for the Reconstruction of Energy Infrastructure
The Austrian Federal Government has announced its support for Ukraine by releasing five million euros in aid to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. This financial aid aims to promote the reconstruction of Ukraine's severely damaged energy infrastructure, which has been suffering from the devastating effects of the war for over two years.
May 22, 2024
High Turnover of Russian Embassy Staff in Austria
The Austrian authorities are at the center of a sensitive security debate as diplomatic relations with Russia are strained by high staff turnover and serious allegations of espionage. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg addresses these issues in light of new parliamentary questions.
May 13, 2024
Transit Clash at the Alps: Italy's Salvini Against Austrian Bans
The increasingly explosive dispute over the Tyrolean anti-transit measures is escalating between Italy and Austria. Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini publicly accused the Austrian government of "arrogance" and criticized the European Commission for its "long-standing shameful inaction".
April 3, 2024
Exciting Race for EU Mandates: Austria's Parties in Starting Position
Austria's political landscape is gearing up for an exciting election year, starting with the election of EU representatives in June. The Neos were recently the last of the parliamentary parties to complete their list of candidates and their election program, marking the official start of preparations for the EU elections. Despite this great start to the campaign, the rise of right-wing populist parties in Europe and the troubled relations between the EU and Russia will make the EU elections even more complicated.
January 31, 2024
Political Thriller Around the Abramovich Villa in Austria
The sale of a villa on Lake Fuschl to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich's family in Salzburg has been revealed to have disappeared. The property was acquired through an offshore letterbox company and a British trustee. The Green Party is now calling for the sale to be reversed, requiring a trust deed. The party is seeking clarification on how the sale can be reversed without the deed.
January 9, 2024
Austria's Industry Welcomes "Schengen Air" Agreement
Austrian industry has recently expressed its support for the "Schengen Air" agreement with Romania and Bulgaria. This agreement is seen as an important step towards European integration, especially for Central and Eastern Europe.
January 1, 2024
Dispute in the Austrian Government and EU Reactions: Focus on Climate Protection
There is a dispute in Austrian politics over the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), which is causing tensions with the European Union. The EU Commission has called on Austria to submit the NECP without delay, as Austria, along with Bulgaria and Poland, has not yet submitted an updated draft by the European Climate Law. This could lead to infringement proceedings, which could escalate over several stages up to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
December 18, 2023
Discussion in Austria's Parliament on Security Policy Concerning Ukraine and Israel
In the run-up to the European Council, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met in Parliament to discuss current security policy challenges.
December 13, 2023
Discussion in the Austrian Parliament on Dual Citizenship for South Tyroleans
A motion for a resolution recently tabled in the Austrian Parliament by the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) on the introduction of dual citizenship for South Tyroleans was rejected by the other parliamentary groups. This proposal aimed to allow members of the German and Ladin-speaking ethnic groups in South Tyrol to acquire Austrian citizenship in addition to Italian citizenship.
November 26, 2023
Solidarity with Israel in the Austrian National Council
In a remarkable session of the Austrian National Council, strong solidarity with Israel and a clear condemnation of Hamas and its terrorist attacks were demonstrated. The unanimous decision of the MPs reflects Austria's stance on the Middle East conflict and the violence in the region.
November 26, 2023
Austria's Engagement in the Middle East: Solidarity with Israel and Support for Palestine
Amid the tense situation in the Middle East, Austria has reaffirmed its solidarity with Israel and at the same time pledged humanitarian aid for the Palestinian civilian population.
November 12, 2023
Austria's Rejection of UN Resolution Raises Questions Within the Government
Austria voted against a resolution in the UN General Assembly calling for an immediate ceasefire and improvement in the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. The decision, made by the ÖVP-led government, has caused tensions within the coalition, especially with the Green coalition partner, which has distanced itself from the decision.
November 1, 2023
Austria Reacts to Hamas Attack: Solidarity with Israel and Concern about Iran
Amid the tense situation in the Middle East, the Iranian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Vienna. Austria strongly condemned the official Iranian reaction to the attack on Israel by the Hamas terrorist organization. The Foreign Ministry stressed that Austria categorically rejects any questioning of Israel's right to exist and will consistently act against any form of anti-Semitism in the future.
October 9, 2023
Austria Takes Position Against Russian Wagner Group
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian National Council in Parliament has unanimously supported an initiative against the activities of the Russian Wagner Group. This follows allegations that the group is involved in human rights abuses and war crimes in Ukraine and other countries. The committee calls for Austria to take action with European partners to limit the group's influence and global presence.
October 5, 2023
FPÖ-Delegation Visits Taliban in Afghanistan
Several members of the FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) traveled to Afghanistan and met, among others, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The meeting became known through a press release from the Afghan Foreign Ministry, which also published a photo of the delegation.
September 25, 2023
EU-Mercosur Pact: Austria's Balancing Act between Trade Opportunities and Sustainability
The discussion about the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries - Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay - is entering a new round. While some see the treaty as an opportunity to intensify trade between the two economic areas, others raise serious concerns about its impact on the environment and social standards.
September 19, 2023
Austria EU Representative Selmayr at Dispute Because Of "Blood Money" Statement
EU representative Martin Selmayr has called Austrian gas payments to Russia "blood money". Now reprimanded by Vienna and Brussels, EU Commission representative Martin Selmayr does not want to give up his job in Austria.
September 14, 2023
Historic Center of Vienna Remains on the UNESCO Red List
The historic center of Vienna remains on UNESCO's red list of endangered World Heritage Sites despite recent changes to the Heumarkt project. This was decided by UNESCO. Now it is being examined whether the project is compatible with World Heritage in this way.
September 13, 2023
Austria's Ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Visited Orbán in Hungary
In recent days, former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's visit to Budapest caused a stir and drew criticism. Kurz, who officially works as an entrepreneur, was photographed in front of Austrian and Hungarian national flags during his meeting with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
August 27, 2023
Renaturation of the Wien River: Green Vision of the Wien River Oasis
The Vienna Greens presented their plans for the renaturation of the Vienna River at a press conference. Non-executive City Councilor Peter Kraus and City Councilor Kilian Stark presented the "Green Vision of the Vienna River Oasis".
August 7, 2023
OMV's Polyolefins Business Cooperation: Concerns Raised as Greens Question Borealis' Future
Austrian energy company OMV has decided to pursue negotiations with ADNOC, the state-owned oil company of the United Arab Emirates, on potential cooperation of their polyolefins business. This reinforces certain concerns of the critical voices on the OMV-ADNOC deal.
July 16, 2023
Austria Stresses Need in Fight Against Illegal Migration Despite Rejection of Higher EU Budget
Dealing with irregular migration, increasing the EU budget as well as foreign and economic policy considerations were the focus of the Parliament's EU Main Committee today. Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer reiterated his opposition to a higher EU budget, but at the same time stressed the great need for funding in the fight against illegal migration.
June 28, 2023
Austrian Parliament Taking a Stand For LGBTIQ Diversity
Under the motto "No democracy without diversity!", the LGBTIQ Intergroup of the Parliament hosted a reception. The focus was on measures to improve the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex, transgender, and queer people in Austria.
April 12, 2023
Vienna Gets Memorial Against Femicide
The Ni-Una-Menos Square at the Alsergrund in Vienna 1090 becomes a central memorial place against femicide in Vienna. On the initiative of the International Women's Movement in South America, the square will be a call for a common struggle against femicide and violence against women.
March 29, 2023
Türkiye Must Comply with International Law Obligations, Says Foreign Affairs Committee
The Foreign Affairs Committee has urged the Republic of Türkiye to comply with International Law. This was done after the opposition parties set a motion to condemn Türkiye’s attacks in Northeast Syria and North Iraq.
March 27, 2023
Working in Austria: Red-White-Red Card Facilitations Approved
The Social Affairs Committee of the National Council has approved facilitations for the Red-White-Red Card. Most importantly, german language skills criteria were eased for certain industries.
March 23, 2023
Austria Wants to Bring New EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority to Vienna
Austria is bidding for the seat of the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and wants to bring it to Vienna, Finance Minister Magnus Brunner said. However, it is still unclear whether this is feasible in the current climate of Austrian politics.
March 23, 2023
City of Vienna Pushes for Rent Cap
The City of Vienna has called for an Austrian-wide rent price cap since it does not want to implement these regulations on its own. The rent price cap is heavily debated in Austria at this moment because the guideline value for rents might increase too much in April.
March 2, 2023
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