Austria has launched a digital e-card for smartphones, while a new youth study shows sharply lower satisfaction with democracy, plus more stories from Austria on Thursday.
Austria launches digital e-card for smartphones
Austria has started letting people store and use their e-card on a smartphone, according to Kurier. The option is now available through social insurance apps, including Meine SV and Meine ÖGK on Android and iOS.
Users need to identify themselves with ID Austria before adding the card. They can then use the digital E-Card at the GINO reader in a doctor’s office or pharmacy by opening the app, selecting the digital card and holding the phone near the terminal until the lights turn green.
An active internet connection is required, and the report says no health data are stored on the digital card or transmitted during use.
READ ALSO: What is Austria’s e-card and what do you need to know about it?
Study finds sharp drop in teenagers’ satisfaction with democracy
A new study of teenagers in Austria has found a sharp fall in satisfaction with democracy, according to Der Standard. The survey covered more than 15,000 pupils aged 14 to 18 and was presented on Tuesday by Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr and researchers behind the report Lebenswelten 2025.
The study found that 42 percent of respondents were satisfied with democracy in 2025, down from 70 percent in 2020. At the same time, 88 percent said they still felt totally or fairly optimistic about their own future, even as health complaints, school worries and wider social tensions increased.
The report also found that young women, gender-diverse teenagers and pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds were especially affected by rising pressure.
READ ALSO: Why more than 600,000 Vienna residents can’t vote in the upcoming election
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Tyrol turned back more than 411,000 vehicles last winter
Tyrol says 411,400 vehicles were turned back from major roads onto the lower-level network on congested days last winter, according to ORF Tirol. The heaviest impact was again in the district of Reutte, on the transit route over the Fernpass.
Reutte accounted for 173,450 of the turned-back vehicles, followed by Kufstein with 157,100 and Schwaz with 45,300. The province also said it spent €550,000 on enforcing the Abfahrverbote last winter and is hoping that a new federal law will make navigation systems show the bans and stop offering diversion routes.
The provincial government said the real effect of the new system may become clearer this summer, when the seasonal bans come back into force in the coming weeks.
READ ALSO: Why are Austrian police stopping cars on Tyrol’s roads and turning them back?
Police dog finds 43.5 kilos of cannabis at Vienna Airport
A police dog found 43.5 kilos of cannabis in two suitcases at Vienna Airport, according to Vienna.at. A 22-year-old man linked to the luggage was arrested after the bags were checked on a route from Bangkok via Austria to Albania.
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Police said 58 packets of drugs were seized and that the man was partly confessing. He was taken to Korneuburg prison after the arrest.
The dog, Jerry, first drew attention to the two suitcases during checks on Tuesday. The presumption of innocence applies.
What’s happening in Austria today
Parliament is the main political focus today. The Pilnacek investigation committee resumes hearings at 9 am, while the defence committee and tourism committee also meet in the morning. The petitions committee follows at 1.30 pm.
Rail disruption remains the biggest transport issue. Trains between Gänserndorf and Marchegg are being replaced by buses, REX1 services in the northeast remain disrupted, and Semmering works are still causing longer journeys on the South Line. Tonight, the A2 towards Vienna is due to close from 8 pm to 5 am between Klagenfurt Ost and Völkermarkt West for tunnel cleaning.
The weather is settled and spring-like across most of Austria. GeoSphere Austria says highs should range from 11C to 21C, with no active AT-Alert warnings at drafting time, though avalanche danger remains in Alpine terrain.
For culture, Vienna has two notable openings today. The Jewish Film Festival Vienna begins and the Klima Biennale Wien opens its first days of programming, while major evening performances are also listed at the Musikverein and the Volksoper.
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Vocabulary
die E-Card – Austrian health insurance card
die Ordination – doctor’s practice
die Lebenswelt – lived reality or everyday world
das Abfahrverbot – ban on leaving a major road for smaller roads
der Fernpass – a major Tyrol mountain pass and transit route
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles, or news tips for The Local, you can contact us at news@thelocal.at or leave a comment below.
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