About: Austria
Austria’s ‘video crisis’ exposes poor treatment of media – media expert
In an interview with EURACTIV, Reporters Without Borders Austria President and distinguished journalist Rubina Möhring spoke about the effects of the controversial 'Ibiza video' and why Austria is getting ever so close to the Hungarian media model.
Video scandal won’t affect FPÖ’s showing in EU elections – Austrian law expert
In an interview with EURACTIV, European law expert Stefan Brocza explains why the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) could still achieve good results in Sunday's European elections, despite the unfolding scandal linking the party with a supposed Russian oligarch.
Austrian far-right ministers to resign en masse amid ‘Ibiza-gate’ fallout
All remaining ministers from Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) are to resign, a party spokesman said Monday (20 May), after one of them, Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, was fired in the fallout from a corruption scandal that has brought down the government.
European mainstream politicians see hope in downfall of Austrian far right leader
Politicians from Europe's mainstream parties called on voters to stand against the far right, after a video sting brought down the leader of Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ), hurting the momentum of nationalists days before a European parliamentary election.
Austrian chief economist: ‘A lot can still be done to complete the euro zone’
The Austrian national bank (OeNB) hosted its annual conference on 20 years of the euro on 2 and 3 May. In an interview with EURACTIV, the bank's chief economist explains how the euro zone debt crisis changed the economic "tool box" of the EU currency and spells out the challenges ahead.
Juncker points the finger at Germany, Austria, Netherlands for impeding eurozone reform
The Netherlands, Austria "and all too often Germany" are preventing deeper euro zone integration, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told German newspaper Handelsblatt.
Austrian far-right leader urges fight against ‘population exchange’
Austrian far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache has asked voters to support his Freedom Party (FPÖ) in European Parliament elections and help counter migration flows that he called an unwanted "population exchange".
Border controls: state of emergency becoming state of normality
Germany, as well as other EU member states in the Schengen area, is extending the period of random border checks. The EU Commission is not pleased. EURACTIV’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
UK, Dutch spy agencies curb intel flow to Austria over Russia ties
British and Dutch spy agencies have heavily restricted the amount of intelligence they share with Austria, mainly because of ties between the ruling far-right Freedom Party and Russia, an Austrian opposition lawmaker said on Tuesday (9 April).
Austria extends duration of border checks for Hungary and Slovenia
Austria will extend its border controls for fellow EU members Hungary and Slovenia until at least November, Austrian news agency APA reported on Sunday (7 April), citing a letter from the country's interior minister to the European Commission.
Family benefits: Austria in dispute with the EU
Since the beginning of the year, Austria has been working towards adapting family allowances to the costs of living of the employee’s home countries. The EU criticised the government of Vienna – but it has countered. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austria plans €1.50 hourly wages for asylum seekers
The Austrian government wants to introduce a uniform hourly wage of €1.50 during the first three months following an asylum application. However, opposition parties and charities vehemently oppose this. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Hungary plays down the EPP demand for apology as ‘an opinion’
Hungary defied demands to apologise on Wednesday (6 March) for vitriolic criticism of EU leaders, but a senior government aide suggested it was seeking compromise to avoid its ruling party’s ejection from the main conservative group in the European Parliament....
Austria deports refused refugees in training and education
Refugees in Austria who are refused asylum are rigorously deported, even if they are halfway through their training or education. There are now appeals from the Austrian economy to Chancellor Kurz. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austria: Interior minister wants tighter right of asylum
Austria is debating a host of measures proposed by the interior minister intended to tighten the right of asylum, so that procedures could be quicker and asylum-seekers checked more strictly. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German car toll and deportation law stokes EU criticism in Austria
A European Court of Justice decision on Germany's controversial motorway toll and a proposed tightening of deportation laws for asylum seekers has stoked the ire of Austrians over the past week. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany pronounces INF missile treaty dead
Germany said Friday that Russia had "de facto invalidated" a landmark Cold War missile reduction treaty which the US is poised to abandon, with Europe anxious at the prospect of a new arms race.
Macedonia pledges more reforms to secure EU accession talks
Macedonia's prime minister said Wednesday (30 January) that in addition to changing his country's name, his government was ready to enact further reforms to speed up the start of EU accession talks.
Austria’s far-right puts into question international rights conventions
Austria’s far-right Interior Minister Herbert Kickl was accused by the opposition of threatening the rule of law Wednesday (23 January) after he appeared to call into question Austria’s commitment to international rights conventions. In comments on Austrian public television on Tuesday evening Kickl,...
Nine EU members stay away from UN migration pact
Three EU members voted against, five abstained and one didn’t vote during the formal ratification on Wednesday (19 December) in New York of the Global Compact on Migration.
Kurz eyes Egypt’s El-Sisi as migration ally
This week’s Africa-Europe Forum in Vienna may have been officially focused on ‘digital policy co-operation’, but Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi used the opportunity to talk about migration control.
Marrakesh UN forum adopts migration pact despite withdrawals
A United Nations conference adopted a migration pact in front of leaders and representatives from over 160 countries in Morocco on Monday (10 December), despite a string of withdrawals, including several EU countries, driven by anti-immigrant populism.
Géraldine Schwarz: ‘My grandmother was fascinated by Hitler’
Understanding the history of average people during the Second World War fills in the gaps in collective memory, which are often exploited by the far right in Europe. This is the argument made by Les Amnésiques (“The Amnesiacs”), which was awarded the 2018 European Book Prize and reads like a novel. EURACTIV France reports.