Austrian parliamentary leaders recently underscored the importance of democratic values and international cooperation. They convened at the Council of Europe’s Speakers of Parliaments conference in Rome. The Austrian delegation, led by National Council President Walter Rosenkranz and Federal Council President Christine Schwarz-Fuchs, presented the nation’s commitment to diplomacy and its robust cybersecurity initiatives.
National Council President Walter Rosenkranz highlighted diplomacy’s vital role. He asserted that a legal framework already exists for global order. However, he noted, enforcement remains challenging, especially when powerful actors resist. Therefore, continuous dialogue becomes ever more crucial as established orders face mounting pressure.
Democratic principles foster stronger international relationships. They build on mutual engagement and trust, Rosenkranz explained. Regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he urged the Council of Europe to actively uphold its mandate. This involves protecting human rights, peace, and democracy in any future peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Federal Council President Christine Schwarz-Fuchs addressed the escalating danger of hybrid threats. She specifically cited disinformation, cyberattacks, and covert influence operations. Parliaments, she warned, are primary targets for these attacks. Their main goal is to erode public trust in democratic systems.
Austria is proactively responding to these risks. The nation has launched targeted initiatives, including strengthening cybersecurity. It also promotes democracy education programs and is establishing a dedicated center to combat foreign information manipulation. This comprehensive strategy forms the core of Austria’s defense.
The country employs a whole-of-government approach to safeguard its digital and critical infrastructure. The Austrian Cybersecurity Strategy underpins efforts to secure public institutions, financial networks, energy systems, and healthcare. Furthermore, tightened EU cyber resilience guidelines significantly expand obligations for companies and public agencies. These cover risk management, emergency planning, and incident reporting.
Specialized cyber units within the Austrian Armed Forces, alongside the Federal Office for Cybersecurity, monitor networks continuously. They work to thwart hacking and espionage attempts against democratic institutions early. Moreover, Austria actively counters social division and conspiracy theories through preventative education.
A key program from the Parliamentary Administration educates children and young people about democracy, separation of powers, and media literacy. Initiatives like the polis Center provide teachers with resources to address disinformation and image manipulation. Programs such as Saferinternet.at teach students source verification and fact-checking skills, helping them identify digital manipulations like deepfakes.
The federal government’s most recent measure is a center to combat foreign information manipulation. This planned center of excellence was presented to the Federal Council in October 2026. It addresses warnings about targeted influence operations and disinformation campaigns, particularly from foreign powers like Russia. Austria models its approach on international examples, such as Finland’s Hybrid CoE.
The new center will continuously analyze digital information spaces for manipulation campaigns. It will also compile situation reports and provide policy recommendations. Its operational launch is scheduled for the spring, marked by an international conference in Vienna.
In addition to these critical discussions, the conference included a working breakfast for female parliamentary presidents. They focused on protecting women’s rights and increasing their political participation. On the summit’s sidelines, Schwarz-Fuchs also held bilateral talks with Dutch Senate President Mei Li Vos, addressing shared economic and social challenges.
