About: Austria
WHO urges countries to ‘look very, very carefully’ at ski season plans
The World Health Organisation (WHO) urged nations on Monday (30 November) to carefully consider the coming ski season's risks, as Switzerland runs lifts and Austria mulls following suit while Germany, Italy and France shutter mountain operations to slow the pandemic.
Make Big Tech accountable, Austria says in Digital Services Act recommendations
Austria has called on the European Commission to make online platforms more accountable for the hosting of illegal content in a series of recommendations for the EU's Digital Services Act, citing the country's Communication Platforms Act as an example for the EU to follow.
Austrian court orders Facebook to delete same and similar hate postings worldwide
Austria's Supreme Court of Justice of Justice has decided that Facebook will have to delete 'hate postings' against former Green party leader Eva Glawischnig, not only in Austria but also worldwide. EURACTIV Germany reports.
France pushes for joint European response to terrorism threat
Several key EU leaders, including France and Germany, promised at a mini-summit on Tuesday (10 November) to renew efforts to fight Islamist terrorism, calling for a reform of the Schengen area and measures against foreign fighters.
EU states ponder means to access encrypted data
EU member states want more competences to be able to look into messages with end-to-end encryption, according to the draft Council decisions which has been made available to EURACTIV Germany.
Eight detained after Vienna attack had previous convictions
Eight of those detained following Monday night's terrorist attack in Vienna had previous convictions, including for terror offences, the Austrian interior minister said Thursday (5 November), as the investigation extended to Switzerland and a second, unnamed country.
Austria’s Kurz urges EU to do more to fight ‘political Islam’
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called on the European Union Tuesday (3 November) to do more to fight "political Islam", which he said represented a grave threat to European values.
Gunmen kill four in ‘Islamist terror attack’ in Vienna, manhunt launched
Gunmen attacked six locations in central Vienna starting outside the main synagogue, killing two people and injuring at least 17 in what Austria called a “repulsive terror attack” while hunting one or more assailants on the loose.
Austria to enter ‘partial’ November lockdown
Austria's government will impose a second "partial lockdown" for November, forcing restaurants to close but allowing the retail and services sector to remain open. A night curfew from 8pm will also be implemented. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany warns against travel to ski regions in Austria, Switzerland, Italy
Germany has issued travel warnings for popular ski regions in Austria, Italy and Switzerland, scrambling to contain the spread of the coronavirus as new infection numbers rose above 10,000 a day for the first time.
Social Democrats win, far-right collapses in Vienna elections
The recent Vienna election was a great victory for Social Democrats while the far-right FPÖ suffered a massive crash, losing two-thirds of support. The final result will be available Tuesday evening (13 October), but coalition options are already clear. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU must openly discuss Turkey sanctions, says Austria’s EU minister
At the next European summit, Austria wants to speak openly about sanctions against Ankara, including the possibility to break off accession talks with Turkey, the country's EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler told EURACTIV Germany.
Swiss-Austrian alliance plans night-train boost by 2024
New night-train services linking Switzerland with Amsterdam, Barcelona and Rome are going to roll out by 2024, a Swiss-Austrian rail operator alliance announced on Tuesday (15 September).
EU ban on neonicotinoids must be ‘strictly respected’, says Green MEP
After announcing €30 billion in support of an ecological transition last Thursday, the French government presented a controversial bill authorising an exemption from the ban on neonicotinoid insecticides, a class of pesticides suspected to be harmful to bees. German Green MEP Martin Häusling explains to EURACTIV FRANCE why he is challenging the decision.
Austria to file charges against Turkish spy
Austria will file charges against a person who has confessed to spying for Turkey's secret service, and authorities are investigating more suspected espionage activities, its interior minister said, warning Turkey this would not be tolerated.
Pompeo in Prague at start of central Europe visit
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Prague on Tuesday (11 August), public TV footage showed, to open a five-day visit to central Europe with a hefty agenda including China's role in 5G network construction.
Austrian health minister wants to ‘repair’ coronavirus measures following court ruling
Austria's anti-coronavirus measures were partly illegal, as the country's Constitutional Court confirmed last week. On Tuesday (28 July), Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) acknowledged the mistakes and announced plans to reorganise his ministry and amend the Epidemic Law. EURACTIV Germany reports.
New coronavirus cluster in an Austrian village brings fears of a ‘second Ischgl’
In the picturesque village of St. Wolfgang in Upper Austria, a new coronavirus cluster was identified last week, with 53 new infections confirmed over the weekend, mostly in workers in the tourism sector. This fuels fears of a "second Ischgl." EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austria’s online hate speech law prompts question marks about ‘overblocking’
In the fight against illegal online content, the Austrian government wants to make platforms more accountable. Many details are still missing, but the German NetzDG seems to be a model. Critics fear over-blocking and collateral damage but also see opportunities. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austria minister ‘cannot imagine’ an agreement at EU summit
Austria's EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler does not expect an agreement to be reached at the EU's budget summit on Friday and Saturday. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, she explains where Austria wants to renegotiate and pleads for a stricter link to the rule of law.
Turkey, Austria trade barbs over Kurdish-Turkish clashes in Vienna
Austria and Turkey accused each other on Monday (29 June) of responding inappropriately to clashes between Kurdish and Turkish protesters in Vienna last week, further straining relations.
Wirecard Scandal: Former CEO Markus Braun let out on bail
Almost €2 billion are missing from the balance sheets of Wirecard, a German financial services provider. Markus Braun, CEO of the company until last week, was released on bail on Tuesday afternoon (23 June) after a night in custody. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Merkel on EU Recovery Fund: ‘The bridges we have to build are large’
The European Council summit ended on Friday (19 June) without agreement on the EU recovery fund. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear that she wants to act quickly, and the next round of negotiations is scheduled for mid-July. EURACTIV Germany reports.