National Council decides on a new budget provisional: What can we expect in 2025?

National Council decides on a new budget provisional: What can we expect in 2025?

Wien, Österreich - On March 26, 2025, the National Council decided on a statutory budget provision for 2025. The aim of this decision is to give the government more scope until the final budget is adopted. However, the new budget provisorium does not yet take into account the changes that result from the new distribution of department. These changes will only be effective from April 1, 2025 at the level of budget law, which requires numerous adjustments in the budget structure, designations and personnel plans. Finance Minister Marterbauer emphasizes the importance of the budget provisorium for the time up to the double budget 2025/2026 and warned of possible negative consequences of EU deficit procedure, such as ots.at reported.

The new distribution of department stipulates that the budget for the newly created department of women, science and research are provided. In addition, the environmental budget will be assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture in the future, while the budget for active labor market policy will be subordinate to the Ministry of Social Affairs. Even if the balances show a neutral reallocation of 1.01 billion euros in payments and 835 million euros in deposits between April and December 2025, the total number of positions remains unchanged at 145.142.

adjustments and political reactions

The adjustments of the payout limits in the Federal Finance Framework Act contained in the new budget mean that the total amount remains stable. However, structural breaks lead to difficulties comparing with the previous year's values. The amendments to the financial matters were decided with the votes of the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, while an application for a resolution by the FPÖ did not find a majority for the rental price brake. In the political discussion, the green criticism of the new distribution of department, especially in the areas of energy, environment and climate protection.

The FPÖ has criticized the Federal Government for the supposed trivialization of the EU deficit procedure, while the SPÖ calls for a comprehensive package of measures to renovate budgets. In contrast, the ÖVP emphasizes the need for consolidation and growth impulses and the Neos demand current budget numbers from the federal states, as well as the Parliament

context for budget development