About: Austria
Austria’s Kurz on quest to form government coalition
Sebastian Kurz, Austria's conservative Chancellor who was re-elected on 30 September after being ousted in May, has been meeting with potential coalition partners. With the Austrian Freedom Party preferring to join the opposition and the social democrats still hesitant, the Greens may become a new partner. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austria committed to preserving environment, says sustainability minister
In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Austria's Minister for Sustainability and Tourism, Maria Patek, spoke about her country's involvement in the European Green Belt Initiative, as well as her country's role as mediator for the various European environmental projects.
Kurz, Greens emerge as big winners of Austria’s snap election
After months of political turmoil, Austrian voters on Sunday (29 September) gave former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz a clear mandate to reclaim power with 37.1% of the votes while Kurz’s former coalition partner, the far-right FPÖ, lost by a wide margin. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Debate rages in Austria over enshrining use of cash in the constitution
It may sound like a strange thing to enshrine in a country's constitution: the right to pay cash. But a debate on whether to do just that has entered Austria's election campaign, shining a light on the country's love of cold, hard currency.
Austria’s Kurz does not oppose coalition with far-right
Austria's former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and leader of the conservative party is not excluding the idea of re-establishing a coalition with the country's far right, he said in an interview with the Austrian public broadcaster ORF. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austrian Parliament doing everything to appease voters
The free play of forces in Austria’s parliament is now leading to a string of different alliances between Austrian parties, who are attempting to come up with the perfect programme to appease voters. An analysis by Herbert Vytiska for EURACTIV Germany.
Austria’s interim chancellor will have little say on EU top jobs
Austria will be represented by interim Chancellor Bierlein at the forthcoming EU special summit on Sunday (30 June). However, because she does not belong to any political party, the interim head of government will not be able to stand out with her own, pronounced opinion. An analysis by Herbert Vytiska for EURACTIV Germany.
Austria’s interim chancellor won’t block the majority on EU top jobs
Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein won't ask for special favours at an EU summit next Sunday (30 June) aimed at appointing the new President of the European Commission, except when it comes to one thing: Austria's next EU Commissioner. An analysis by Herbert Vytiska for EURACTIV Germany.
Austro-German road-charging debacle reignites pan-EU toll debate
After the EU Court of Justice ruled against Germany's plans to introduce a highway toll, the debate about an EU-wide motorway toll has once again been ignited. An analysis by Herbert Vytiska.
Strache prepares his political comeback following Austrian corruption scandal
The guessing games have come to an end as Austria's former Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache announced on Monday (17 June) he will remain politically active in Vienna and won't take up his MEP seat in Brussels. An analysis by Herbert Vytiska for EURACTIV Germany.
Austrian socialists and right-wing populists doing poorly in polls
Austria's government of experts is now in place. Now the question arises: when should a new government be elected? An analysis by Herbert Vytiska.
Brigitte Bierlein becomes Austria’s first female chancellor
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen appointed the head of the country's consitutional court as Austria's first female chancellor Thursday (30 May) to lead an interim government until elections later in the year.
Austrian Greens are showing signs of comeback
Across Europe, green parties have benefited from the fact that the climate crisis has become the focus of attention, including in Austria. The Austrian Green Party, which has had no seats in the national parliament since 2017, is now gearing up for snap parliamentary elections in autumn. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austrian Parliament ousts the government of Sebastian Kurz
The term of Sebastian Kurz as Austria's Chancellor has come to an end. On Monday (27 May), the Austrian Parliament voted a no-confidence motion against the 32-year-old and his entire government. However, Kurz's political career is not over. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austrian centre-right leads in EU vote, far-right third
The centre-right People's Party (ÖVP) of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is on course for gains in the European elections, with the far-right Freedom Party coming third, according to a media forecast published on Sunday (26 May).
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.