Vienna mayor calls for child welfare focus, Austria approves messenger surveillance, government strengthens critical infrastructure protections—and more stories from Austria on Thursday.
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig discusses child welfare, climate, and weapons ban zones
Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig has called for a focus on treating children “as well as possible” rather than cutting social support, Der Standard reported.
Speaking in an interview, Ludwig criticised proposals to reduce minimum income payments per child and defended equal treatment, saying child poverty is “unacceptable”.
He also discussed Vienna’s climate and economic policies, supporting both the Lobau tunnel project and green investments. On public safety, Ludwig said he favoured a general weapons ban in Vienna, citing the confiscation of 400 weapons at Praterstern alone, and stressed the need for over 1,000 additional police posts to keep up with demographic changes.
Austria approves messenger surveillance despite opposition
The National Council p***ed legislation on Wednesday allowing state security services to monitor encrypted and unencrypted messages on apps like WhatsApp and Signal, ORF reported.
The law can be used in terrorism, espionage, and constitutional threat cases, with authorisation granted for up to three months at a time.
While Interior Minister Gerhard Karner from the People’s Party (ÖVP) welcomed the law as a “special day for security”, the Greens and Freedom Party (FPÖ) criticised it as unconstitutional and open to abuse. Some NEOS MPs also voted against it despite their party’s overall support, and the Internet Service Providers Austria warned that technical compliance with data restrictions was impossible.
Austrian government approves law to protect critical infrastructure
The Council of Ministers has adopted the draft “Resilience of Critical Facilities Act” to strengthen security for essential services such as hospitals and energy suppliers, ORF reported.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the law aims to protect against risks ranging from natural disasters to targeted attacks.
Facilities will be required to carry out their own risk blockyses, implement protective measures, and report security incidents. The Interior Ministry will develop a national strategy and support 400 to 600 critical sites in meeting new safety standards.
OECD warns Austria’s workforce to shrink by 24 percent by 2060
Austria’s working-age population is set to decline by around 24 percent by 2060, compared to an OECD average fall of 8 percent, ORF reported.
Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said ageing populations would cause “significant labour shortages and pressure on public finances” in industrialised countries.
The OECD recommended increasing employment among older people, women, and through regular migration to stabilise the workforce, alongside productivity improvements. Austria is among the most affected member states in the forecast.
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Graz to gain direct London flights with British Airways subsidiary
British Airways subsidiary BA Euroflyer will launch direct flights between Graz and London Gatwick three times a week from November, ORF Styria reported.
Flights will depart Graz on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, giving p***engers access to onward long-haul connections.
Graz Airport welcomed the announcement, calling it an “important milestone” for business, industry, and tourism. London has been the largest unserved market from Graz until now.
Austria hosts three-way Middle East meeting with Germany and Israel
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger will host German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Vienna today to discuss Middle East policy and possible EU sanctions, Die Presse reported.
The meeting follows Meinl-Reisinger’s recent visit to Israel where she criticised Gaza’s humanitarian situation.
Austria and Germany previously rejected suspending the EU Association Agreement with Israel despite violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Security measures are in place around Heldenplatz and Ballhausplatz during Saar’s visit.
No evidence Covid vaccines lowered fertility despite FPÖ claims
Studies have found no evidence that Covid vaccines negatively affected fertility, despite claims from Freedom Party (FPÖ) MEP Gerald Hauser, Die Presse reported.
Hauser cited a Czech study suggesting unvaccinated women had more births post-2021, implying vaccine side effects.
However, research from the Max Planck Institute and Austrian Academy of Sciences shows birth rate declines were linked to behavioural changes, with many women deliberately avoiding pregnancy around vaccination. The Austrian Health Ministry maintains Covid vaccines are safe in pregnancy and prevent severe disease affecting mother and child.
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