Politics · Other · 11 hrs ago
Austria Plans Tougher Espionage Laws
Austria’s government has proposed tougher laws against spying in the country.
Current law punishes espionage when it harms Austria, but does not explicitly cover spying against other countries or international organizations.
The draft would make espionage against the EU or international organizations based in Austria a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison.
It would also raise the maximum sentence for espionage against Austria to 10 years and criminalize recruiting agents or being recruited as one.
The government says the changes address threats including cyberattacks and sabotage.
The measures are intended to protect Vienna, which hosts groups including the United Nations, the OSCE and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Parliament must approve the draft before the changes can take effect.
Austria’s government has proposed widening its espionage laws to cover spying against the European Union and international organizations based in the country.
The draft would raise the maximum prison sentence for espionage against Austria to 10 years and set a maximum of five years for espionage targeting those organizations.
The proposals also include criminalizing agent recruitment and strengthening penalties for cybercrime and digital sabotage.
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said the measures respond to security threats and aim to protect international institutions in Vienna.
The legislation requires parliamentary approval.
- Who
- Austria’s government proposed the legislation.
- What
- The draft would expand espionage offenses and increase some maximum prison sentences. It also addresses agent recruitment, cybercrime and sabotage.
- When
- The plans were announced on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- Where
- Austria, including international organizations based in Vienna.
- Why
- The government says the changes are needed to address evolving espionage, cyberthreats and sabotage and protect international institutions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Austria’s justice minister at the time announced a similar plan, but that administration did not agree on legislation before the election.
Meinl-Reisinger took office as foreign minister.
Austria denied entry visas to diplomats in 63 cases and expelled eight Russian diplomats, Meinl-Reisinger said.
Austria’s government presented plans to tighten its espionage laws.
- Maximum sentence for espionage against Austria
- 10 years
- Maximum sentence for spying against the EU or international organizations
- 5 years
- International organizations in Vienna
- U.N., OSCE, IAEA and OPEC
- Diplomat entry visas denied since March 2025
- 63 cases
- Russian diplomats expelled since March 2025
- 8
3 sources
What people are saying
Espionage is a real threat to our security, to security in our country, but above all to our reputation as Austria, as the capital of dialogue, as an official location of the U.N. and over 40 international organizations
When people say that Vienna is a playground for spies, they shouldn't imagine it as if these spies are engaged in chases in the Viennese underground in trench coats
We must strengthen our legal system to be able to counter such attacks