The European Commission informed on 4th June 2025 about the start of the deficit procedure against Austria. The reason – new debt of 3,2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, which exceeded the limit of 3% set by the Stability and Growth Pact. Also for 2024 the Commission forecasts a persistent high structural deficit.
Austria is not alone. Altogether seven EU member states – also France, Italy and Belgium – are actually under surveillance.
This procedure however does not mean prompt sanctions. Mainly its goal is the return to sustainable public finances. The observed member states will be asked to implement the measures for the reduction of their budget deficits – for instance by structural reforms, expenditure discipline or by adjustments of budget spending.
Especially regions orientated towards the future such as Carinthia depend upon stable financial basis in order to develop sucessfully the long term projects. At the same time the Commission underlines that investments in central future fields- such as climate protection, digitalisation, resilience and security infrastructure – would be further treated with priority.
For Carinthis this means the following: strategical project management, proactive planning and a close exchange with European partners remain decisive for its projects.