Europe’s Spying Capital Drafts Law to Crack Down on Espionage

Austria’s government is considering steps to tackle its espionage problem by expanding the universe of illegal activities and protecting international agencies operating out of its capital.Author of the article:You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — Austria’s government is considering steps to tackle its espionage problem by expanding the universe of illegal activities and protecting international agencies operating out of its capital. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.The Alpine nation plans to make it illegal to spy against the European Union and international organizations based in Vienna, Falter magazine reported, citing a draft bill. The amendments were prepared by Austria’s social-democrat led Justice Ministry, and have been shared with conservative and liberal coalition partners for discussion.The draft aims to tackle a loophole that’s made Vienna a locus for espionage in Europe, since current laws only penalize spying against Austria. Embassies that also serve international agencies based in the capital have long been a haven for foreign intelligence services, and often served as a hub for undercover activities in the rest of Europe.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.The bill also expands what kind of activities are characterized as spying to the detriment of Austria, according to Falter.A former senior Austrian counter-intelligence official is currently on trial for allegedly sharing sensitive information and secure laptops with Russian operatives at the behest of ex-Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek. The former official has denied wrongdoing.Earlier attempts to close the espionage loophole in Austria’s criminal law failed due to coalition wrangling.Austria is one of just a handful of EU member states that are not also members of the NATO military alliance. Major institutions hosted by Vienna include Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4© 2026 Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can manage saved articles in your account.and save up to 100 articles!You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.