VIENNA, May 16 — Austria’s government plans to cut €200 million from its Interior Ministry’s budget in 2025 and 2026, mainly by reducing spending on migration and administration, reported by Austrian Media News. Despite these cuts, officials say public safety will not be affected.
The Interior Ministry, led by Minister Gerhard Karner from the ÖVP party, said Austria is facing a tough financial future. The country needs to save €6.4 billion in 2025 and €8.7 billion in 2026. All government ministries must help reach this goal.
Minister Karner announced that his department will cut €90 million in 2025 and €100 million in 2026. A big part of this will come from lower spending on asylum and migration, which he says is possible due to successful efforts against illegal immigration.
“Years of hard work fighting illegal migration and human smuggling are paying off,” the ministry said. It also reported that the number of people receiving basic care has dropped from 92,000 at the end of 2022 to around 62,400 today. This has helped lower costs in the asylum system.
While spending on migration goes down, the security budget will go up. The ministry plans to increase its security spending from €4.011 billion to €4.155 billion. Around 75% of this is used to pay police and staff.
To save money in other areas, only one out of every three empty administration jobs will be filled. The ministry will also reduce spending on events, public relations, business trips, and government vehicles.
Despite these savings, the ministry says it will still invest in police and safety. Of the total €4.85 billion budget, over 85% will go to internal security. Spending on asylum will be reduced by €94.2 million compared to 2024.
Austria’s leaders say they are working to balance the budget while keeping the country safe.
