Austria’s fuel-price brake expires, and Vienna is treating a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, plus more stories from Austria on Monday.
Union chief calls for action as Austria’s fuel-price brake expires
Austria’s current fuel-price brake, or Spritpreisbremse, expires on Monday, with ÖGB trade union chief Wolfgang Katzian calling for its extension. Katzian told ORF that he wants excess profits made by mineral oil companies to be skimmed off.
The measure was extended in a reduced form until the end of August. It includes a 1.9-cent-per-litre reduction in mineral oil tax and requires petrol stations to pass on falling international price quotations, although an earlier restriction on profit margins was dropped.
Katzian also rejected calls from parts of industry for this autumn’s wage agreements to come in below inflation. He said rolling inflation remains the basis for negotiations and argued that previous crisis-era wage settlements shouldn’t become a permanent approach.
Austria cuts average processing time for employee tax assessments
Austria’s Finance Ministry said the average processing time for an employee tax assessment, or Arbeitnehmerveranlagung, has fallen from almost 22 days in 2024 to around 15 days this year.
The ministry said organisational changes and a better distribution of cases across the tax administration have helped reduce backlogs. Around 3.35 million employee tax assessments were completed during the first half of 2026.
Since January, people who need help using FinanzOnline have also been able to authorise a trusted private individual to represent them free of charge. Around 30,000 people are already using this form of representation.
READ ALSO: What is the new online feature meant to make tax tasks easier in Austria?
Confirmed Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever case being treated in Vienna
A patient with a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is being treated at Klinik Favoriten in Vienna. The City of Vienna says the patient is in a stable condition and is being cared for by specialists in infectious and tropical medicine.
The infection is believed to have occurred during a stay in the Middle East. The patient developed symptoms after returning and was isolated after doctors suspected the disease, with later tests confirming the diagnosis.
Crimean-Congo fever is a rare viral disease most commonly transmitted by infected ticks, although it can also be spread through direct contact with blood or tissue from infected animals. Person-to-person transmission is possible through close, unprotected contact with blood or other bodily fluids, but transmission through ordinary social contact is considered extremely unlikely.
READ ALSO: Everything foreigners need to know about the Austrian healthcare system
Vienna Greens push for free public toilets
The Vienna Greens say the city is examining whether public toilet facilities could, in the future, be made free for everyone. In a press release, deputy Green group leader Julia Malle welcomed the move and called for the abolition of charges.
The party argues that the current arrangement disadvantages women because toilet cubicles can carry a fee while urinals are free. Malle said the answer shouldn’t be to introduce charges for urinals as well.
The Greens have previously brought forward initiatives calling for free public toilets but say these failed to win a majority. The party is now urging the city to make all public WC facilities free.
READ ALSO: The free services and benefits new Vienna residents should know about
Worth reading
September brings a large list of changes affecting daily life in Austria. Our guide to what changes in Austria in September 2026 covers new driving licence rules, school changes, higher transport costs, Vienna’s new social housing allocation system, new rights during certain medical assessments, and stronger consumer protections.
Members can read the full guide, along with The Local Austria’s other in-depth explainers and practical stories on navigating life in Austria.
What’s happening in Austria today
Vienna’s U3 returns to continuous service between Ottakring and Simmering on Monday after the summer construction interruption.
Monday is expected to be unsettled in many parts of Austria, with showers and thunderstorms possible. Highs are forecast to range from 21C to 29C in most regions, reaching up to 33C in southern Styria and Burgenland.
In Innsbruck, tram line 3 operates as a Schienenersatzverkehr, or rail replacement bus service, on Monday due to track works. A closure on the L38 in Aldrans also begins today, diverting bus line M through September 4th.
Statistics Austria is scheduled to publish preliminary July unemployment figures on Monday, alongside several other economic and social datasets. Chancellor Christian Stocker is also due to appear in ORF’s Sommergespräch at 9pm.
READ ALSO: When are Austria’s school summer holidays in 2026?
Coming up later on The Local
Later today, we’ll look at the new laws taking effect in Austria in September, including changes affecting schools, undeclared work while receiving AMS benefits, medical assessments, driving tests and consumer rights.
READ ALSO: What Austria’s two new school subjects mean for international families
Vocabulary
die Spritpreisbremse – fuel-price brake
die Arbeitnehmerveranlagung – employee tax assessment
die Sommerferien – summer holidays
der Schienenersatzverkehr – rail replacement service
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.