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MewsAustria, Fritz Hahn Gasse 1, Vienna (2025)

25/09/2025

From 1 January 2026, stricter regulations on additional earnings will come into effect in Austria, affecting pensioners, unemployed people, and families receiving state benefits.

According to the government’s plan, pensioners will still be able to earn unlimited additional income without their pensions being reduced. Earnings below the so-called marginal employment threshold – set at €551.10 per month in 2026 – will remain exempt from deductions. For those on early or corridor pensions, however, exceeding that threshold will result in their pension payments being cut. A special exemption for old-age pensioners, valid until the end of 2025, will continue to provide up to €1,355 in annual relief.

For unemployed people, the rules will tighten considerably. From 2026, taking on a minor job while receiving unemployment benefits will only be allowed in limited cases. Exceptions include people continuing a marginal job they already held before losing their main employment, those re-entering the workforce after a long illness or rehabilitation, individuals unemployed for more than a year, and over-50s or people with disabilities who have been claiming benefits for at least a year. For all others, side jobs will no longer be permitted while receiving unemployment assistance.

Parents on income-linked parental leave payments will face a maximum earnings cap of €8,600 per year, with any excess required to be repaid. A small additional income of up to €551.10 per month will remain allowed.

Meanwhile, the rules for family allowance remain unchanged. In 2026, children over 19 may earn up to €17,212 per year before the benefit is reduced by the amount exceeding the threshold.

The government says the measures are part of broader budget savings, but critics warn the tighter rules could place additional strain on jobseekers and families.
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25/09/2025

Austria’s Transport Minister Peter Hanke has given the green light for the construction of the Lobau Tunnel, ending years of political dispute over one of the country’s most controversial infrastructure projects.

The tunnel, part of the S1 outer ring expressway around Vienna, will cross under the Danube and the Lobau wetlands, with the aim of easing traffic congestion in the capital and the eastern region.

Supporters of the project argue it is essential to reduce heavy lorry traffic and strengthen the economy, while critics have long warned of environmental damage. In 2021, then-climate and transport minister Leonore Gewessler halted the project, citing ecological concerns.

Announcing the decision at the ASFINAG headquarters on Thursday, Hanke said the government’s review of expert studies made the need for the expressway “undeniable.” He stressed the project would help secure up to 25,000 jobs, create housing for 55,000 people, and improve residents’ quality of life by diverting freight traffic away from Vienna.

“I take concerns about climate and nature very seriously. But the Lobau itself will remain untouched. No excavators will enter the national park, and no trees will be felled there,” Hanke told reporters.

The minister also underlined Austria’s commitment to reaching climate neutrality by 2040, adding that the tunnel would not affect groundwater or surface water in the Lobau wetlands.

ASFINAG, Austria’s state motorway company, described the S1 extension as one of the country’s most thoroughly reviewed infrastructure projects. Board director Hartwig Hufnagl said it would guarantee “sustainable construction, regional value creation, and long-term competitiveness.”

The project has drawn political praise from Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), which called the move “long overdue” and urged the government to move swiftly toward building the second section of the route, the main Lobau tunnel itself.
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24/09/2025

Austria’s most famous moose has officially left the country. Emil, who captured the public’s heart during his weeks-long journey across Austria, has crossed the border into the Czech Republic, GPS data confirmed on Wednesday.

The animal, nicknamed Austria’s “favorite moose,” was spotted roaming eastern regions earlier this month before making his way to Upper Austria. On Monday morning, wildlife authorities intervened, sedating Emil and transporting him north to the Böhmerwald forest, hoping he would naturally continue his journey across the border.

That plan appears to have worked. According to tracking data, Emil is now in the Šumava National Park in the Czech Republic. Conservation groups welcomed the news but urged the public not to disturb him.

“Emil is not a selfie celebrity, he’s a wild animal that needs peace,” the park said in a statement.

Emil’s journey was closely followed online, with thousands sharing sightings and photos of the antlered wanderer. His popularity grew so rapidly that a political task force was set up to monitor his safety.

Meanwhile, another moose, named Lukáš, has been observed moving south from the Krkonoše Mountains. If he continues on his current path, he could soon reach Austria.
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24/09/2025

Austria is losing around €1 billion annually to corporate social fraud, according to new findings by the Vienna Chamber of Labour (AK). The agency’s fraud prevention unit, set up in late 2023, says companies are exploiting loopholes in social security and labor law on a massive scale.

The problem extends far beyond individual cases of benefit fraud. The financial police estimate that companies in the construction sector alone are responsible for €350 million in annual losses, while schemes shifting personnel costs onto unemployment insurance drain another €700 million a year.

By the end of August 2025, the AK unit had investigated 105 cases, filing 50 legal complaints covering 476 workers who were underpaid. Claims worth more than €3 million have already been submitted this year—double the total for 2024.

Investigators say many firms use “carousel” tactics, moving employees between shell companies to avoid paying wages or social contributions. One high-profile case involves a so-called “wandering manager” who, despite facing multiple fraud allegations, still legally holds executive positions. Of the 58 companies he has managed in recent years, most have gone bankrupt or been classified as sham entities.

Another case revealed a construction firm that declared insolvency in July 2025, only for the same owners to reopen under a nearly identical name. Workers continued their jobs on the same building sites, but now under new contracts that stripped them of claims from the previous company.

AK officials say the current system allows repeat offenders to exploit workers with little consequence. “Underpayment is not an accident—it’s a business model,” said Andrea Ebner-Pfeifer, an AK labor law expert.

The Chamber is calling for tougher measures, including contractor liability for unpaid wages and social contributions, harsher penalties for wage dumping, and greater protection against bogus self-employment.
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22/09/2025

Austria’s public broadcaster ORF will end its long-running collaboration with children’s television author and producer Thomas Brezina at the close of 2025, citing “editorial and budgetary restructuring.”

The partnership, which has shaped generations of Austrian children’s programming, included popular shows such as Tom Turbo. ORF said the decision was not made lightly, noting that Brezina’s productions had left a lasting mark on the broadcaster’s children’s content.

Brezina, thanked ORF for the “trusting and fruitful cooperation” over the years. “I am grateful that I was able to create so many different formats for children and families. Creativity never stops – it only changes direction,” he said, adding that he is already working on new projects for young audiences as well as adults.

ORF Director General Roland Weißmann praised Brezina’s contribution, saying: “He has shaped children’s programming like no one before him, and his characters continue to inspire generations. I hope this is only a pause in our shared story.”

While no details of Brezina’s upcoming projects have yet been disclosed, both sides emphasized mutual respect and appreciation as the partnership comes to an end.

22/09/2025

Austria is set for a dramatic change in weather this week, with forecasters warning of a steep fall in temperatures and widespread rain.

After a weekend of late-summer sunshine, a low-pressure system moving in from northern Italy will bring unstable and wetter conditions starting Tuesday, according to meteorologist Peter Wölflingseder from weather service Ubimet.

“Unsettled and wet – that’s how the next few days will look,” Wölflingseder said, noting that the system, named “Calvin,” will end the spell of warm weather.

Rain will be heaviest in southern regions, at times accompanied by thunderstorms, while much of the country will see cloudy skies and showers. Along the northern side of the Alps, winds from the east are expected to strengthen midweek.

On Monday, temperatures in Burgenland still reached close to 30C, but by Tuesday highs will fall to between 11C and 20C nationwide. The cooler weather is expected to persist through the week, with Vienna forecast to see highs of just 14C to 16C by Wednesday.

Despite the heavy rain, meteorologists do not expect widespread flooding or serious damage. Snow will not be an issue below 3,000 metres.

Looking ahead, Thursday and Friday will remain mostly cloudy with scattered showers and only occasional sunshine. Temperatures will range from 10C to 20C depending on the region.

Forecasters caution that weekend predictions remain uncertain, as weather models have yet to align on a clear scenario.

21/09/2025

A 21-year-old woman led police on a dangerous high-speed chase in Upper Austria on Saturday night, reaching speeds of up to 180 km/h before officers finally stopped her and seized her car.

Police said the woman, who only held a probationary driving licence, was first spotted in Mauthausen shortly after 10 p.m. when officers attempted to pull her over. Instead of stopping, she accelerated away in her silver BMW 430d Gran Coupé, even switching off her headlights in an attempt to evade pursuit.

She raced along the B3 highway toward Perg, exited at Oberwagram, looped through a bypass road, and then re-entered the B3 heading back to Mauthausen. The chase came to an end in an industrial area where she eventually pulled over.

During the stop, police found a 21-year-old man from the Perg district in the passenger seat. He allegedly encouraged his girlfriend to commit the traffic offences, officers reported.

The woman’s licence was immediately revoked, and authorities ordered the seizure of her vehicle due to the “massive speeding violation,” according to the district administration.

21/09/2025

The head of Vienna’s restaurateurs has warned that continued cost increases could push traditional dishes such as schnitzel and goulash further out of reach for many customers.

Thomas Peschta, who represents more than 7,000 eateries in the Austrian capital, told newspaper that prices in the hospitality sector had risen sharply, with meat, baked goods and energy costs all climbing.

“Beef has become up to 35% more expensive this year. We simply can’t pass all of that on to customers – otherwise there would be no goulash or tafelspitz left on the menu,” Peschta said.

According to Statistics Austria, consumer prices rose 4.1% over the past year, with restaurants and bars among the strongest drivers of inflation. Lunch menus are now nearly 8% more expensive, desserts about 7%, and wine more than 7%. Overall, restaurant prices have risen by 6.1%.

Peschta, who also runs a family restaurant in Vienna’s Hütteldorf district, said he had already raised the price of goulash from €12 to €15 in the past year, a 25% jump. “We and our guests are in the same boat. We’re not trying to rip anyone off – but if we didn’t adjust prices, we’d have to close our doors.”

He noted that even beer, a staple in Austrian taverns, is affected. A half-litre now costs up to €5.90 in his restaurant, while in many places the price has already passed €6. “Of course that’s a lot of money, but people come here not just for a drink – it’s their second living room, with atmosphere, music, and community.”

Despite efforts to keep increases moderate, restaurateurs see a clear shift in consumer behaviour. “Guests are more cautious, they question prices and often order less. People go out less often or skip starters and desserts. But everyone is still welcome – even if they consume less,” he added.

Asked whether prices might ever fall again, Peschta was sceptical: “Only if meat becomes cheaper will we be able to adjust downwards. But in truth, nothing is likely to get cheaper.”

20/09/2025

Austria’s Parliament Opens Autumn Session with Debate on ORF Fee, Gun Laws, and Security Measures

Austria’s National Council reconvened on Friday for its first sitting after the summer recess, with a packed agenda that includes a debate on the controversial public broadcasting fee, tighter gun laws, and new security measures for critical infrastructure.

The session began with a minute’s silence for former Second National Council President Heinrich Neisser, who died in August, followed by an “Aktuelle Stunde” led by the NEOS and a European policy debate initiated by the Greens.

Focus on ORF broadcasting fee
One of the headline issues is a citizens’ petition titled “No to the ORF household levy”, which gathered over 100,000 signatures and is therefore subject to parliamentary debate. The initiative demands that only those who actually consume ORF programming should pay the fee.

However, political support for abolishing the levy appears slim. In earlier committee discussions, all parties except the far-right FPÖ reaffirmed their backing for the household charge. Advocates argue that a small country like Austria needs a strong, independent public broadcaster to safeguard freedom of expression and counter disinformation.

Two other petitions on the agenda call for a renewed ban on glyphosate and for legislation explicitly prohibiting Austria from joining NATO. Experts consulted by lawmakers rejected arguments that neutrality was under threat, pointing out that neither NATO membership was being sought, nor would it be constitutionally possible at present.

Tighter fi****ms law after Graz shooting
Lawmakers are expected to approve amendments to Austria’s fi****ms law in response to the deadly school shooting in Graz earlier this year. The minimum age for acquiring handguns will be raised from 21 to 25, and for rifles from 18 to 21. Cooling-off periods and reliability checks for gun owners will also be expanded.
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20/09/2025

Austrian supermarket chains Billa and Billa Plus will reintroduce their popular discount stickers on 25 September, this time making them available to all customers after previously restricting them to members of the “jö” loyalty programme.

According to the consumer platform preisrunter.at, shoppers will now receive four stickers per week offering different savings:

One sticker giving 30% off the most expensive item in the basket

Two stickers giving 25% off products of choice

One sticker giving 5% off the most expensive “Clever” or “Billa immer gut” product

Customers will also be able to choose between two versions of the discount booklet:

Four stickers per week valid at Billa, Billa Plus and Billa Corso stores

Four stickers per week valid exclusively at Billa Plus, allowing up to eight stickers in total

In practice, shoppers can use up to eight discounts per week.

However, fans of the jö app will lose out. Stickers will no longer be available digitally; the app will instead focus on vouchers and special offers.

Another change concerns how the discounts are redeemed: stickers will no longer be cancelled at checkout, and cashiers are not allowed to remove them. Customers must bring the physical stickers, with a maximum of four usable per purchase and only one sticker per product. The jö loyalty card is no longer required.
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18/09/2025

Lucia Sisic, crowned Miss Austria 2024, has shared hopeful news with her followers after undergoing her seventh heart operation.

The 24-year-old from Vienna, who was born with a congenital heart defect, revealed on Instagram that she recently underwent another major procedure. Just weeks earlier, she explained that a sudden infection had forced her into an unplanned sixth surgery.

“I’ve now had my seventh procedure and I’m overjoyed that I can hopefully enjoy a break for the next few years,” Sisic told fans from her hospital bed.

Sisic, who has faced health challenges since shortly after birth, said her heart valves remain the source of her medical problems. Despite this, she struck a positive tone and expressed gratitude for the many well-wishes she has received.

“I want to thank everyone for the countless messages of support. They really touched me,” she said, adding that she was particularly moved by people with similar conditions reaching out for advice and encouragement.

18/09/2025

Hundreds of thousands of customers of Austria’s Erste Bank and Sparkasse will be unable to access their online accounts for up to 20 hours this weekend due to scheduled maintenance.

The bank said its digital platforms George and George Business will be offline from Saturday, 20 September, 22:00, until Sunday, 21 September, 18:00 at the latest. Online payments and mobile banking will also be heavily restricted during this period.

Limited access to payments and cash
Customers are advised to prepare in advance, as transfers, card payments, and cash withdrawals will only be possible within strict limits. Debit card purchases in shops will work only up to the daily card limit, capped at €1,500. Cash withdrawals at ATMs will be restricted to €400 per day.

Young users with spark7 youth accounts will face the toughest restrictions, with neither card payments nor ATM withdrawals possible while the system is offline.

Key restrictions at a glance:

George / George Business: completely unavailable

Debit & credit cards: usable in shops up to the card limit, but some online transactions requiring George ID or cardTAN confirmation will fail

ATM withdrawals: capped at €400 per day

spark7 accounts: no card payments or cash withdrawals possible

Card blocking services: available 24/7 at 05 0100

Advice for customers
The bank recommends completing urgent transfers before 22:00 on Saturday and postponing online purchases until after 18:00 on Sunday. Holders of youth accounts are urged to withdraw sufficient cash in advance.

Erste Bank said more than 11 million people worldwide use its George platform, including 2.7 million in Austria as of late 2024.
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