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The Austrian government has agreed on a new digitalization package aimed at reducing bureaucracy, accelerating administrative procedures, and making public services more user‑friendly. The measures, presented after Wednesday’s Council of Ministers meeting, were jointly announced by ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS representatives.
At the heart of the reform is the Once‑Only principle, which ensures that citizens will no longer have to repeatedly submit the same personal information to different authorities. Instead, public institutions will be allowed to exchange existing data securely among themselves.
One of the most visible changes for the public concerns parking fines and other minor administrative penalties. Traditional payment slips will be replaced by QR codes and digital payment options, enabling faster and more convenient settlement of fines. With around 80 percent of Austrians already using online banking, the government expects a significant reduction in administrative effort and processing time.
The package also opens the door for chatbots in public administration, allowing authorities to offer automated assistance when filling out forms or submitting applications. This is intended to make services available around the clock and reduce waiting times.
Another major innovation is the introduction of “no‑stop procedures”, in which certain benefits are granted automatically once eligibility is verified—without requiring an application. Austria already uses similar systems for automatic family allowance and employee tax assessments.
In addition, the government plans to enable fully automated administrative decisions for standardized procedures, which could significantly speed up processing times.
To support these developments, Austria will expand its existing data exchange platform, dadeX, which allows authorities to share information such as population register data, company records, and social insurance details. The government has allocated €15 million until 2030 for this expansion.
The reform package also includes measures to modernize the administrative court system, including digital case handling, standardized file formats, and tools to prevent deliberate delays in proceedings.
Digitalization State Secretary Alexander Pröll (ÖVP) said the reforms mark a shift “from digital forms to truly connected services,” promising less bureaucracy and faster procedures. State Secretary for State Security Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ) emphasized that digital services will complement, not replace, in‑person support: “Our offices remain reliable points of contact. We are creating a modern public service that is digitally supported and personally accessible.”
- source: heute.at/picture:
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