Austria’s government agreed on a draft expanding espionage offences to protect European Union bodies and international organizations based in the country. The proposal also targets agent recruitment and raises prison terms. Ministers aim for implementation in mid-February, while opposition parties and prosecutors have raised questions about civil liberties and the staffing needed to handle additional cases.
Austria’s government agreed on a draft to widen espionage offences and increase penalties. Ministers announced the plan before Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, and the draft is entering public consultation. It would cover spying against European Union bodies and international organizations based in Austria, alongside espionage against Austria itself. Ministers aim to bring the changes into force in mid-February.[1], [2]
The proposed maximum sentence is ten years for spying against Austria and five years for spying against the international institutions. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and state security secretary Jörg Leichtfried said recruiting agents and accepting recruitment would become offences. Penalties would also rise for property damage, data damage and disruption of computer systems involving foreign intelligence services.[1]
The Greens backed protection for international organizations as overdue. The Freedom Party warned of possible effects on freedom of expression, journalism and opposition activity. Anna-Maria Wukovits, deputy head of Austria’s prosecutors’ association, said current staffing could not handle the additional workload. The government has yet to agree on a separate expansion of military intelligence powers, a reform debated alongside the espionage changes. The reform, also discussed under the previous government, is proceeding amid disputes over scope and implementation.[1]
