Austria’s Latest Friday News Highlights
Austria has announced significant initiatives impacting both immigration and retail sectors this week. These developments reflect the country’s evolving policies and consumer practices.
Austria’s New Border Terminal at Vienna Airport
The Austrian government plans to construct a border terminal at Vienna Airport. This initiative is part of the implementation of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, set to begin on June 12, 2026. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner unveiled the project on February 5, collaborating with Vienna Airport CEO Günther Ofner and Public Security Director General Franz Ruf.
The process for handling asylum seekers will involve three main steps:
- Initial police screening checks
- Asylum procedures managed by the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum
- A return procedure for individuals whose entry is refused
During these border procedures, individuals will not be permitted to enter federal territory. They can be detained in the transit area for up to 24 weeks, extendable to 26 weeks in exceptional cases.
Billa’s New Discount Policy for Near-Expiry Food
Billa, a major supermarket chain in Austria, is implementing a uniform discount policy for products nearing their expiration date. According to a report from Der Standard, the retailer will now apply a flat 30 percent discount through its new “Food is valuable” stickers.
Previously, Billa utilized varied discounts of 25 percent or 50 percent on near-expiry items. This transition aims to streamline the discounting process across its stores nationwide. Billa is part of Germany’s Rewe Group, and this change aligns with its broader discount strategies that have generated debate in the past.
Job Vacancies on the Decline in Austria
Statistics Austria has reported a notable decrease in job vacancies for 2025. The total number of open positions stood at 139,900, marking a 19.5 percent decline compared to 2024. This trend represents the third consecutive year of decreasing vacancies following a peak of 230,400 in 2022.
The vacancy rate for the year averaged 3.2 percent, down by 0.8 percentage points from the previous year. Most vacancies were found in:
- Trade and services
- Manufacturing
- Public and social sectors
Approximately 10 percent of the available positions were apprenticeships, with employers indicating that a compulsory school qualification was often sufficient.
Public Support for Under-16 Social Media Ban
Recent polling results indicate widespread support for banning social media use by individuals under 16 years old. The survey, conducted online, found that 84 percent of Austrians favor this restriction, inspired by the Australian model.
An additional 11 percent of respondents viewed the ban as excessive. Notably, support was particularly high among pensioners, with over 90 percent in favor. Approximately two-thirds of survey participants under 30 also supported the proposed ban.
Experts such as Thomas Prager from Digitaler Kompass acknowledge that while a ban could be beneficial, addressing media literacy and ensuring platform accountability are also critical components in tackling this issue.
Other News in Austria
Today, the National Council will not convene, as it is a sitting-free day, with no votes or committee sessions planned. In Carinthia, there is a scheduled “Dialogforum” at 9 AM with Governor Peter Kaiser and two ministers in Klagenfurt’s administrative centre, followed by an event at 12:30 PM marking 175 years of the Carinthian Bar Association.
Commuters north of Vienna may experience disruptions due to ÖBB construction work at Stockerau station. There will be cancellations on the S3 and S4 lines with replacement bus services in place, and a level crossing in Stockerau is closed during specific hours. Semester holidays in Vienna and Lower Austria continue until February 7.
