Report records highest number of anti-Muslim racism cases
Austria’s Dokustelle Österreich has recorded 1,684 documented incidents of anti-Muslim racism, the highest number since the organisation was founded, according toa new Dokustelle report. The 11th Antimuslimischer Rassismus Report says the actual number of incidents is likely to be significantly higher.
This year’s focus report is called “Kein Einzelfall, sondern System”. It examines structural conditions in political discourse, media portrayals, institutional procedures and everyday routines, with health and the legal system also given more attention.
Media content accounted for 33 percent of documented cases and political communication for 27.1 percent. The Equal Treatment Ombud reported that 87 percent of religion-related discrimination cases involved Muslim or Muslim-read people, 90 percent of them women.
READ ALSO: Muslims and black people discriminated against in Austria, new report reveals
Austria passes law to speed up renewable energy projects
Austria’s National Council has passed the Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Beschleunigungsgesetz, or EABG, after the governing parties secured the Greens’ support for the two-thirds majority needed, according to ORF. Only the FPÖ voted against the bill.
The Greens made their support conditional on higher renewable expansion targets. The target for 2030 was raised by 3 terawatt hours to 30 TWh, while the 2035 target is at least 40 TWh.
A regulation is due within 3 years to set binding targets for the provinces, which must start reporting progress from 2027. If targets are missed, money from the technology fund can be cut and, from 2029, the energy minister can intervene.
READ ALSO: How Austria could cut its energy dependence by 2040
Austrians use traditional phone calls less as data use keeps rising
People in Austria spent around 23,510 million minutes on traditional landline and mobile calls in 2025, 2.5 percent less than in 2024, according to RTR. The decline in traditional telephony is offset by greater use of messaging services.
Data consumption totalled 12,693 petabytes by the end of 2025, with 7,173 petabytes via fixed broadband and 5,520 petabytes via mobile broadband. The total was around 9 percent higher year on year.
Smaller mobile providers increased their market share from 18 percent in 2024 to 18.8 percent in 2025. A1, Magenta and Drei remained the top three providers by SIM-card market share.
READ ALSO: COMPARE: Which is the best mobile phone provider in Austria?
Austria reports another strong year for tourism
Austria recorded 157.3 million Nächtigungen, or overnight stays, and 48.2 million guest arrivals in 2025, according to the Tourism State Secretariat. That was an increase of 1.9 percent in overnight stays and 3.1 percent in arrivals compared with 2024.
Tourism generated €33.1 billion in value added in 2025 and contributed more than 6.5 percent to Austria’s GDP. The report says 228,634 people were employed in hotels and gastronomy.
A new federal tourism strategy, Vision T, is due to be presented on June 15th. It is intended to serve as a joint strategic framework for the federal government, provinces and regions until 2035.
READ ALSO: Where in Austria do locals 'hate' tourists?
Worth reading
Moving to Vienna can get expensive quickly, but the city has several free services and support offers that many newcomers may not know about. Our guide to the free services and benefits new Vienna residents should know about explains support including StartWien orientation meetings, MieterHilfe, free kindergarten, public Wi-Fi, AMS help and Waff career advice.
Members get access to this and other in-depth guides, explainers and practical stories on The Local Austria, helping readers understand daily life, paperwork, work, housing and family life in Austria.
What’s happening in Austria today
The weather is expected to be mixed. Rain will spread from the west during the day, while Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, southern Styria and Carinthia should start brighter. Temperatures are mostly forecast between 12C and 18C, or up to 22C where there is more sunshine.
Rail passengers should check routes before travelling. ÖBB works affect international trains between Vienna and Germany or the Netherlands, the Ostbahn between Vienna and Bruck an der Leitha, and S8 services between Kapfenberg and Leoben. Vienna also has tram diversions and replacement services because of track works.
READ ALSO: The immigration changes that await foreigners in Austria in 2026 and beyond
Austria’s Asyl- und Migrationspakt-Anpassungsgesetz enters into force today. People who have applied for international protection and whose case is pending before the BFA now have a right to legal information, known as Rechtsauskunft, with interpreter support where needed.
The Austrian Pupils’ Parliament takes place in the National Council chamber from 9am to 4pm, with the plenum beginning at 1pm. The Oesterreichische Nationalbank is also holding a 9am press conference on its 2026-2028 economic forecast.
Vienna Pride continues ahead of Saturday’s Rainbow Parade, with MQ Pride Night opening from 7pm to 10pm at the MuseumsQuartier. Nova Rock continues in Nickelsdorf, and the UCI Mountain Bike World Series is running in Saalfelden-Leogang.
READ ALSO: The best events in Vienna in June 2026
Vocabulary
die Dokustelle – documentation office or monitoring body
das Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Beschleunigungsgesetz – Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act
die Nächtigung – overnight stay
die MieterHilfe – Vienna’s free Tenants Assistance service
die Rechtsauskunft – legal information or advice
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles, or news tips for The Local, you can contact us at news@thelocal.at or leave a comment below.
Comments