https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed An agreement set to be announced at the upcoming EU-UK summit could mark the return of pet passports allowing easier travel across the Channel for holidaymakers with dogs, cats and ferrets. https://www.thelocal.at/20261104/pet-passports-set-to-be-restored-between-the-eu-and-the-uk Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:02:06 +0100 pet-passports-set-to-be-restored-between-the-eu-and-the-uk If you don't have health insurance in Austria, there are places where you can access care. https://www.thelocal.at/20261104/where-to-get-medical-care-in-austria-if-you-dont-have-health-insurance Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:01:54 +0100 where-to-get-medical-care-in-austria-if-you-dont-have-health-insurance Austria is looking to increase the amount of compensation available to crime victims, and the police have begun to implement a nationwide fingerprint identification system. Read those and other stories from Austria this Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.at/20261104/today-in-austria-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-wednesday-259 Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:56:29 +0100 today-in-austria-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-wednesday-259 About 10 European flights were targeted by bomb threats on Tuesday, forcing the brief closure of a Warsaw airport and the scrambling of air force planes in Rome, authorities said. https://www.thelocal.at/20261103/hoax-bomb-threats-disrupt-flights-in-europe Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:20:52 +0100 hoax-bomb-threats-disrupt-flights-in-europe The new school will open in September 2027 with lessons in both languages. The first year group will be able to pre-register from November, and families who don't speak Croatian are also welcome to apply. https://www.thelocal.at/20261103/what-parents-need-to-know-about-viennas-new-croatian-german-school Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:15:26 +0100 what-parents-need-to-know-about-viennas-new-croatian-german-school A suspected cyberattack hit grocery stores across at least nine European countries on Monday, prompting the EU to warn of a deliberate attempt to disrupt the bloc's food supply chain. https://www.thelocal.at/20261103/fridge-cyberattack-on-supermarkets-across-europe-prompts-eu-warning Tue, 03 Nov 2026 08:18:39 +0100 fridge-cyberattack-on-supermarkets-across-europe-prompts-eu-warning Irish no-frills airline Ryanair said Monday it would launch a cost-cutting drive and hike fares next year to help offset the impact of soaring jet fuel prices driven by the Middle East war. https://www.thelocal.at/20261102/ryanair-to-hit-passengers-in-europe-with-double-digit-hikes-in-air-fares Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:35:49 +0100 ryanair-to-hit-passengers-in-europe-with-double-digit-hikes-in-air-fares Since 2019, fathers and second parents in Austria have been entitled to a month's leave after the birth of their child. There are, of course, rules attached to the scheme, and there is a separate financial contribution. https://www.thelocal.at/20250819/austrias-papamonat-explained-who-qualifies-how-much-is-paid-and-the-rules-to-follow Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:28:43 +0200 austrias-papamonat-explained-who-qualifies-how-much-is-paid-and-the-rules-to-follow Austria’s government is searching for new ways to measure integration. But what does that mean for those of us who call this country home? We’re interested in your perspective. https://www.thelocal.at/20261102/tell-us-what-does-being-well-integrated-mean-to-you-in-austria Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:27:59 +0100 tell-us-what-does-being-well-integrated-mean-to-you-in-austria Austria has proposed new refugee family reunification quotas, while draft legislation could restrict contributions to children's investment accounts, plus more stories from Austria on Monday. https://www.thelocal.at/20261102/today-in-austria-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-monday-252 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:58:05 +0100 today-in-austria-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-monday-252 Just in case you have an emergency in Austria, here are the numbers to call and some of the phrases you might need to use. https://www.thelocal.at/20220413/who-to-call-and-what-to-say-in-an-emergency-in-austria Wed, 13 Apr 2022 17:30:22 +0200 who-to-call-and-what-to-say-in-an-emergency-in-austria Leaders of the EU and the UK will meet for a crucial summit in November with a move towards closer cooperation on the table. But how much will be achieved given the differences and disagreements that exist? https://www.thelocal.at/20261031/a-lot-of-arguing-to-be-done-whats-at-stake-in-the-upcoming-eu-uk-summit Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:36:08 +0100 a-lot-of-arguing-to-be-done-whats-at-stake-in-the-upcoming-eu-uk-summit Austria has 13 public holidays, but some fall on weekends. Do workers get an extra day off when that happens? https://www.thelocal.at/20220429/reader-question-what-happens-in-austria-when-a-holiday-falls-on-a-weekend Fri, 29 Apr 2022 14:13:10 +0200 reader-question-what-happens-in-austria-when-a-holiday-falls-on-a-weekend Whether it be ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin, painkillers are only available in pharmacies in Austria. Here’s why. https://www.thelocal.at/20210505/why-are-painkillers-only-sold-in-pharmacies-in-austria Wed, 05 May 2021 09:18:52 +0200 why-are-painkillers-only-sold-in-pharmacies-in-austria Austrian President and a leading economist have both backed the idea of looking again at the rules on citizenship for children born in Austria. Could the rules change? https://www.thelocal.at/20261030/could-austria-finally-change-its-rules-on-citizenship-for-children-born-in-the-country Fri, 30 Oct 2026 15:57:43 +0100 could-austria-finally-change-its-rules-on-citizenship-for-children-born-in-the-country Municipal flats and housing provided by limited-profit associations can save a considerable amount compared with private rentals, according to a new Austrian study. But access depends on where you live and your residence status. https://www.thelocal.at/20261030/how-much-cheaper-is-social-housing-than-private-renting-in-austria Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:27:39 +0100 how-much-cheaper-is-social-housing-than-private-renting-in-austria The EU will charge an extra €2 "processing fee" on parcels imported into the European Union from Sunday November 1st in a bid to reduce the influx of cheap Chinese products bought on the internet. The fee is on top of the recent €3 EU tax added on "small parcels". https://www.thelocal.at/20261030/eu-to-slap-new-e2-fee-on-online-shopping-orders-from-outside-europe Fri, 30 Oct 2026 10:00:21 +0100 eu-to-slap-new-e2-fee-on-online-shopping-orders-from-outside-europe The European Union and Canada are set to announce on Friday a new strategic alliance that will include more opportunities for Canadians and Europeans to live and study and work on the opposite side of the Atlantic. https://www.thelocal.at/20261029/europeans-and-canadians-set-to-get-more-opportunities-to-move-across-atlantic Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:09:48 +0100 europeans-and-canadians-set-to-get-more-opportunities-to-move-across-atlantic As a self-employed worker in Austria, one of the biggest costs you need to plan for is your social insurance. https://www.thelocal.at/20220209/should-self-employed-people-in-austria-pay-the-minimum-or-full-svs-contribution Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:09:47 +0100 should-self-employed-people-in-austria-pay-the-minimum-or-full-svs-contribution When temperatures fall in Austria, a phone call can help outreach teams reach people sleeping outdoors. Here's how the country's winter cold lines work and where to call. https://www.thelocal.at/20260115/what-is-the-cold-line-in-austria-and-how-can-it-save-lives Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:12:53 +0100 what-is-the-cold-line-in-austria-and-how-can-it-save-lives