Austria to increase defence spending, Carinthia’s debt hits €4 billion, Greens criticise far-right influence in EU climate talks—and more stories from Austria on Wednesday.
Austria to spend more on defence following EU recommendation
Austria is set to increase its defence spending after EU finance ministers adopted economic policy recommendations for member states, ORF reported.
The EU Council of Economics and Finance Ministers formally approved recommendations from the EU Commission yesterday, including urging Austria to boost its defence budget.
An escape clause was also activated for 15 EU countries, allowing them to incur additional military spending without breaching budget deficit limits. Sixteen countries, including Austria, requested the clause to exclude certain defence expenditures from deficit calculations.
Carinthia’s debt exceeds €4 billion as audit criticises financial management
Carinthia’s total debt has risen to more than €4 billion, the highest per capita of all Austrian states, according to ORF Kärnten.
The State Court of Auditors criticised the province’s 2024 financial statements, revealing that debts now exceed blockets by around €529 million. Director Günter Bauer stated that the province recorded its worst deficit increase in twelve years, with debt rising by €218 million in 2024 alone.
Bauer warned that debt could reach €5 billion in the coming years due to demographic changes and called for structural reforms in health and care. Opposition politicians described the financial situation as a “scandal” and demanded urgent fiscal policy changes.
Greens criticise far-right’s role in EU 2040 climate target negotiations
ORF reported that Austrian Green Party politicians have raised concerns over the growing influence of far-right parties in shaping EU climate policies for 2040.
They argue that concessions to far-right parties threaten the bloc’s ability to set ambitious emissions reduction goals.
The EU is negotiating its 2040 targets to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Greens across Europe are warning that the strengthened parliamentary position of far-right groups after the EU elections could undermine key environmental legislation.
Young migrants more likely to drop out of school in Austria
Migrant youth in Austria are 3.5 times more likely to drop out of school compared to their peers without migration backgrounds, according to a new Der Standard report citing an IHS study.
Among 18 to 25-year-olds, the dropout rate is 27.3 percent for those with migration biographies, with rural areas seeing significantly higher rates than urban areas.
Sociologist Mario Steiner attributed this to socio-economic disadvantages and an education system that focuses on weaknesses rather than strengths. In contrast, dropout rates among non-migrant youth are higher in cities than in rural areas. The Education Ministry said it aims to reduce these disparities through targeted funding and increased language support.
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Mother sentenced to 20 years for killing newborn at Vienna clinic
A 30-year-old woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering her newborn baby at the Favoriten clinic in Vienna in November 2024, ORF Vienna reported.
The jury found her guilty of murder for hitting the baby against the tarmac outside the hospital. The verdict is not yet legally binding.
The woman confessed, telling the court she was in “tunnel vision” and heard a “devil inside” telling her what to do. Mitigating factors included her confession and psychological burden, while the brutal nature of the act was considered aggravating.
Teen acquitted of raping 12-year-old in Vienna but convicted of blackmail
A 16-year-old boy has been acquitted of raping a 12-year-old girl but convicted of blackmailing her, Die Presse reported.
The court found too many contradictions in testimony to convict him of ***ual abuse, but he was found guilty of extorting money through threats, receiving a six-month conditional sentence.
Prosecutors alleged he forced the girl to perform ***ual acts under threat of violence. At the same time, the defence argued there were inconsistencies and that the girl had sent him messages professing love. The judgment is not final.
Vienna police seize over 300kg of cannabis in major drug bust
Vienna police have confiscated over 300 kilograms of herbal cannabis in a major drug bust, Kurier reported.
Officers from the Maghreb task force and EKO Cobra raided a site in Liesing in late June, seizing 317kg of cannabis, 10kg of resin, and nearly €22,000 in cash.
Three Bosnian suspects aged between 28 and 52 were arrested while transferring the drugs from an articulated lorry with foreign number plates into a van. Investigations into the origin and destination of the drugs are ongoing.
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