All posts tagged: Austria

EU to game out bloc’s mutual assistance clause in case of attack – POLITICO

EU to game out bloc’s mutual assistance clause in case of attack – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The clause states that if a member of the EU is faced by “armed aggression,” other members have an obligation to come to its “aid and assistance by all the means in their power.” The clause does not specify whether such aid includes a military response, and contains language relevant to neutral states such as Austria and Ireland. The gaming out will be conducted in the EU’s Political and Security Committee, which is composed of senior EU diplomats. Most EU members also belong to NATO and so are covered by its Article 5 mutual defense clause, which does refer explicitly to the use of military force to aid other signatories. But transatlantic tensions, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of seizing Greenland, have shaken faith in Article 5 and sparked renewed interest in EU security arrangements. Aspiring members of the bloc now increasingly mention security as an incentive to join the bloc, alongside wealth and stability.   Another factor driving interest in 42.7 is the increased risk of attack against EU states. After being targeted …

5 countries ask Brussels to tax energy companies benefitting from Iran crisis – POLITICO

5 countries ask Brussels to tax energy companies benefitting from Iran crisis – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

In the letter, the ministers argued Brussels should do as it did following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when it authorized the imposition of a temporary “solidarity contribution” on energy companies to “mitigate the direct economic effects of the soaring energy prices for public authorities’ budgets, final customers and companies.” The 2022 measure imposed a minimum tax of 33 percent on all oil and gas company profits that exceeded the average recorded during the previous four years by more than 20 percent. In addition to proposing a similar framework, the ministers requested the Commission determine if it can also tax profits that multinational oil companies earn abroad. Oil and gas companies are making huge profits off the supply crisis provoked by the conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20 percent of the oil and natural gas that powers the global economy runs. French oil giant TotalEnergies is reported to have made $1 billion in profits after acquiring dozens of Middle Eastern crude cargoes during the first …

Foreigners Commit Nearly Half Of All Rapes In Austria, Syrians Largest Foreign Group Of Suspects

Foreigners Commit Nearly Half Of All Rapes In Austria, Syrians Largest Foreign Group Of Suspects

Published by Jenni Sidey

Via Remix News, The number of rape suspects in Austria has more than doubled since 2015, with foreign nationals — and Syrians in particular — driving a disproportionate share of the increase. In addition, foreigners nare now responsible for nearly half of all rapes, a major increase from 2015 as well. The figures, provided by Austria’s Interior Ministry in response to a request by Austrian newspaper exxpress, paint a striking picture of a decade-long trend. The composition of those suspects has shifted markedly. In 2015, 250 of the 688 suspects were foreign nationals — 36.3 percent of the total. By 2025, that number had risen to 538, representing 46.9 percent of all suspects, despite foreign nationals making up only 20.5 percent of Austria’s population. Reported rapes under section 201 of the Austrian criminal code rose from 826 cases in 2015 to 1,359 in 2024 — an increase of roughly 64.5 percent. The number of suspects rose in parallel, from 688 to 1,196. Preliminary figures for 2025 show a slight decline to 1,147 suspects, but that still …

Austria blocks US warplanes from its airspace – POLITICO

Austria blocks US warplanes from its airspace – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Under Austrian law, all foreign military flights must apply for permission and declare their purpose before entering the country’s airspace. Requests tied to active conflicts are rejected, but routine transit or training missions are eligible for approval on a case-by-case basis. Bauer declined to say how many requests the U.S. had made, telling POLITICO he did not yet have the figures and that compiling them would take time. “The question is — why submit a request to a neutral state in the first place?” he added, hardening Vienna’s stance against Washington. Austria has been “permanently neutral” since 1955, when its parliament persuaded the Soviet Union to end its post-war occupation of the country by passing a constitutional act vowing to never “join any military alliances, nor permit the establishment of any foreign military bases on her territory.” More than 70 years later, a majority of Austrians remain committed to the principle of state neutrality and are in favor of keeping the country out of military alliances like NATO. Center-right Chancellor Christian Stocker’s coalition government was …

Tensions surge in final stretch of Hungarian election – POLITICO

Tensions surge in final stretch of Hungarian election – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“Independent and critical outlets operate alongside a much larger pro-government media sector,” the report read. Kovács dismissed the OSCE’s concerns, calling its warnings of government influence over the media a “political opinion” and casting doubt on the credibility of its findings. As the campaign intensifies and polls continue to suggest that the opposition Tisza Party could win, analysts warn that both Tisza and the ruling Fidesz may clash after election night and challenge the result. Veteran election observer Péter Kramer, who has over 16 years of experience observing elections on behalf of the EU, warned the growing presence of parallel missions could muddy the waters. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were disingenuous observers,” he said, noting that politically aligned groups increasingly deploy missions to shape the narrative after the vote. “It’s an international trend.” An organization closely linked to Fidesz, the Civic Cooperation Forum, has called on U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, which promotes global conflict resolution, to deploy an election observation mission ahead of the April 12 vote. Meanwhile, a conservative …

The next social media ban? Austria looks to block kids under 14 from social media

The next social media ban? Austria looks to block kids under 14 from social media

Published by skeptic

Less than 4 months ago, Australia banned social media for kids under 16, sparking a wave of similar proposals from governments around the world. The latest effort to ban social media for children now comes from Austria. In a press release, the Austrian government announced that a bill will be introduced by the end of June to ban social media use for children under 14. According to the press release, a mandatory minimum age of 14 for social media would only be one part of the bill seeking to address child safety online. The bill would also introduce media literacy in schools to help young people “recognize disinformation and radicalization.” SEE ALSO: Pinterest CEO says ban kids under 16 from social media The Austrian government said these measures would be taken in order to address the issues children have faced as a result of social media, such as cyberbullying, addiction, and mental health problems. Mashable Light Speed While the press release doesn’t provide many details, it does mention that any bill introduced would address data privacy concerns related to …

Austria to ban social media for under-14s – POLITICO

Austria to ban social media for under-14s – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The move comes as the EU and member countries are scrambling to find solutions to protect children from the harms of social media. Countries including Spain, France, Denmark and Portugal are already moving ahead with plans for age restrictions. Proponents argue that age-related restrictions setting a minimum age for the most addictive social media platforms are vital to protect children’s physical and mental health. Critics say that bans are ineffective and are detrimental to privacy because they require users to verify themselves online. Human rights adviser Michael O’Flaherty, the commissioner for human rights at the Council of Europe, told POLITICO that bans are neither “proportionate nor necessary.” Source link

Can an Austrian hostel give a luxury ski chalet a run for its money? | Austria holidays

Can an Austrian hostel give a luxury ski chalet a run for its money? | Austria holidays

Published by Sam Flores

‘Want to come skiing in Austria at half-term?” I asked my 13-year-old son. “It’ll be just like one of those luxury chalet holidays, only we’ll make our own beds, cook our own dinners and carry our gear back to our accommodation ourselves.” Osian didn’t hear the caveats. “Sounds amazing,” he said, his eyes glazing to a cinematic sweep of white powder and the chance to perfect his 360. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. For many families, the dream of a catered chalet – and its ready-lit fires, homemade strudels and chauffeured lift shuttles – remains just that. Apartments offer access to the slopes at less vertigo-inducing prices, but they tend to come with a minimum seven-night stay. If you only have a few days to spare, or a budget that won’t stretch to a full week’s lift pass, hotels fill the gap, but then you’re back navigating the moguls of cost. Schruns in Austria’s Montafon valley has easy access to five …

Hungary’s Orbán, Magyar flex strength at huge rallies as election looms – POLITICO

Hungary’s Orbán, Magyar flex strength at huge rallies as election looms – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó took the stage to claim that Brussels, Kyiv and Berlin “want to bring Europe to war” and “want the money of Europeans to be given to the Ukrainians.” Near Kossuth Square, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Boulevard was at a standstill with dozens of buses still disgorging supporters from the countryside, who had been brought in to offset Budapest’s predominantly opposition voters. High school student Mikolt, 16, and her stay-at-home mother Daniela, 42, were arriving from the village of Eger in the northeast of the country. They said they supported Orbán because he is keeping Hungary out of the war in Ukraine and because he supports Christianity, the family and Hungarians. Tisza volunteers Balázs and Zsigmund on Andrássy Avenue before the march starts. | Max Griera/POLITICO Magyar is a “narcissist,” Daniela said, who “behaves like a wounded little child who no longer has any power” since leaving Fidesz in February 2024. “Russians go home” A 20-minute walk away, the Tisza marchers were beginning to assemble. Volunteers Zsigmund and Balázs, both 18, agreed to talk with …