Susanna Riva The Austrian government has just set the course for a thorough overhaul of its anti-espionage laws. After months of debate, the Federal Council in Vienna has approved a draft law that provides for harsher sanctions for those conducting intelligence operations on Austrian soil or against the numerous international organizations based there.
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said Austria would no longer be a blind spot in European security . Prime Minister Christian Stocker added that the new rules aim to stop the increasingly aggressive activities of foreign intelligence services while protecting European partners.
Concrete details of the draft law
The bill broadens the definition of espionage to include not only activities directed against Austrian interests, but also those aimed at European Union institutions and international bodies such as the United Nations , the OSCE , and the International Atomic Energy Agency . For the latter, the maximum penalty is five years ' imprisonment, while for espionage against the Austrian state, the term increases from five to ten years.
Another key point is the criminalization of the recruitment of disposable agents , people employed for isolated tasks without knowing the ultimate purpose of the operation. Joerg Leichtfried , State Secretary for Security, emphasized that recruiting individuals for unknown tasks will become a crime . The proposal also includes harsher penalties for cybercrime , including acts of digital sabotage and damage to computer systems.
International context and political reactions
The move comes at a time of growing tension: since the beginning of 2025, Austria has expelled eight Russian diplomats, including two in October of that year, accused of espionage. There are also approximately 220 Russian embassy employees accredited to Austria, one of Russia's largest diplomatic bases in Europe.
Over the course of the year, Austrian authorities have already requested the removal of satellite installations at diplomatic facilities in Vienna, fearing their use for intelligence activities; three of these facilities have already been dismantled. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner emphasized that the new rules are part of a broader European effort to counter hybrid threats —sabotage, disinformation, and attempts to influence elections.
The bill is expected to be submitted to Parliament within the next year and, if approved, will come into force in . Experts believe this development could transform Vienna from a "spying hub" to a "safe center for dialogue," in line with the minister's statement that "Vienna remains a place of dialogue, but no longer a haven for spies . "