Austria Plans 10-Year Espionage Penalties

Austria’s government plans to broaden its espionage laws as it seeks to curb Vienna’s reputation as a hub for foreign intelligence activity. The proposed bill would raise the maximum sentence for spying against Austria from five to 10 years and make espionage targeting the EU or international organizations punishable by up to five years; recruiting agents for intelligence tasks would also become a crime. Officials say the changes address risks linked to diplomatic cover and broader hybrid threats. The move follows multiple expulsions of Russian diplomats in recent years, including personnel at Russia’s embassy and missions to international organizations in Vienna.