Austria Revises Security Strategy - and Citizens Can Have Their Say

Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS), Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP), and State Secretary for the Interior Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ) initiated the start of three citizen forums, which will take place from the end of September. The goal is to present a revised strategy before Christmas.

Security Situation for Austria "Fundamentally Changed"

The geopolitical conditions have changed significantly since the last version of the strategy, said Defense Minister Tanner. She pointed to the decreasing protective function of the USA for Europe. Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger added that "neutrality alone cannot protect Austria."

A broad consensus, both politically and within the population, is therefore necessary. The new strategy should not only provide political answers but also strengthen the resilience and identification of the population with security policy issues.

Three Citizen Forums with Specific Questions

The first dialogue forum will take place on September 27 in Innsbruck. 100 selected citizens will discuss individual security needs and possible gaps in the previous strategy in small groups. On October 4, a forum in Klagenfurt will address the question of what specific measures Austria should take to protect its population. On October 18, the international perspective will be the focus in Salzburg – particularly Austria's role within Europe.

The participants will be selected by the University of Vienna. The aim is a representative cross-section of the population. The participation format was already tested in mid-August as part of the European Forum Alpbach with 20 scholarship holders.

Results to Be Incorporated into Strategy Draft

After the conclusion of the forums, the University of Vienna, together with the Ludwig Boltzmann Society, will create a list of priority topics. This will be incorporated into the official draft of the new security strategy. A workshop with external experts from academia is planned for November. The strategy will then be presented to Parliament for discussion.

(APA/Red)

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