On Wednesday, Austria’s government unveiled plans to strengthen the country’s espionage laws. Currently, the legal framework explicitly prohibits espionage targeting Austria itself; however, it lacks provisions addressing espionage directed at other countries or international organisations.
As a longstanding member of the European Union with a policy of military neutrality established in the 1950s, Austria’s capital, Vienna, serves as the headquarters for several United Nations agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as other international entities such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger articulated the government’s position, stating, “Espionage poses a genuine threat to our security and our national reputation as a diplomatic hub and the host of more than 40 international organisations.” While acknowledging Vienna’s historical label as a “capital of espionage,” a title originating from the Cold War era, she emphasised the importance of moving beyond romanticised notions associated with espionage. Furthermore, she asserted that the government is committed to addressing the evolving hybrid threat landscape, which includes non-conventional hostile actions such as sabotage, cyberattacks, and disinformation.
Under the existing criminal code, individuals who establish or operate a secret intelligence service detrimental to the Republic of Austria, or support such activities in any capacity, may face up to five years’ imprisonment. Additionally, current legislation prohibits establishing and operating military intelligence services for foreign powers. The proposed new legislation, pending parliamentary approval, aims to increase the maximum penalty for espionage detrimental to Austria to ten years.
It will also explicitly criminalise espionage targeting international organisations or the European Union, with a maximum penalty of five years. Furthermore, the legislation seeks to outlaw the recruitment of agents and the acceptance of such recruitment, specifically aiming to address the issue of “throwaway agents,” who are often engaged in low-level espionage activities without a clear understanding of their involvement.
The justice minister in the prior administration made previous efforts to advance similar legislation in 2024, but consensus was not reached before that year’s elections. In response to current security concerns, Meinl-Reisinger affirmed, “We are no longer looking away.” Since her appointment in March 2025, she reported that entry visas for diplomats have been denied in 63 instances, and that eight Russian diplomats have been expelled from Austria.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
