Austria’s parliament has approved a broad set of reforms that will affect classrooms, healthcare, consumer rights, and minority protections, signaling a shift toward modernization and social accountability.
One of the most notable changes comes in education. Starting in the 2027/2028 school year, upper secondary students will study two new subjects: “Media and Democracy” and “Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.” The aim is to prepare young people for a world shaped by digital information and rapid technological change. To make space, lesson time for a second foreign language or Latin will be reduced, along with one additional weekly hour, keeping the total workload unchanged.
Lawmakers also introduced a small adjustment to the implementation of the headscarf ban for students under 14, delaying its start to align with the actual beginning of the school year.
In healthcare, the initial training phase for doctors will be shortened from nine months to six starting in August, a move designed to speed up access to specialist training. At the same time, the option to count the clinical practical year toward medical training will be removed.
Parliament also adopted stricter rules on tobacco and nicotine products. Disposable e-cigarettes will be banned by the end of the year, while nicotine pouches and similar products—whether they contain nicotine or not—will face tighter controls similar to traditional tobacco. Fines of up to 2,000 euros will apply for repeat offenses such as littering cigarette butts in public spaces like playgrounds.
Minority rights were strengthened through constitutional recognition of several ethnic groups, including Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and Roma communities. The government will now issue annual reports on their status.
Additional measures include improved consumer protections against misleading “green” claims, stronger repair rights for electronic goods, and clearer rules for online contracts.
Together, these reforms reflect Austria’s effort to balance tradition with the demands of a changing society.
