EU finance policy 2025: Austria's plans for reducing bureaucracy and digital euros!

EU finance policy 2025: Austria's plans for reducing bureaucracy and digital euros!

On May 20, 2025, the Finance Committee of the Austrian government had a detailed discussion about the EU's financial policy project for 2025. A central aspect of this meeting was the EU project report, which offers extensive insights into the financial priorities and legislative initiatives at European level. While the report was taken into account by all factions with the exception of the FPÖ, there was agreement on an evaluation report on accompanying control in the tax office for large businesses and about the progress report 2024 of the national financial education strategy.

The EU report focuses, among other things, on the simplification and efficient implementation of European guidelines, increasing competitiveness and improving defense ability and internal security. Austria confirmed its support for these efforts and emphasized the need for a transparent implementation of the EU fiscal rules. Another central goal of this report is the creation of a stable banking and capital market union to secure confidence in the financial sector in the long term.

the digital euro and its meaning

A topic in the Finance Committee to be particularly emphasized was the introduction of a digital euro that is considered as a supplement to cash. The importance of this digital means of payment was also underlined by Piero Cipollone, member of the ECB directorate, at a hearing from the Committee on Economic Affairs and Currency of the European Parliament on April 8, 2025. He argued that the introduction of a digital euro could strengthen the strategic autonomy of Europe and reduce the dependence on non -European payment methods.

With the digital euro, a safe and reliable means of payment is to be created that ensures control over financial transactions within the EU. The digital euro is not only intended for online transactions, but could also be used in offline situations, such as in the case of power failures. According to the European Commission, the digital euro should promote financial inclusion and be easily accessible, even for people without a bank account.

Support for international development organizations

In addition, the report on the financing of international development organizations was dealt with in the Finance Committee. The high need for global environmental financing was emphasized, for example, the global environmental facility in 2022 has paid over $ 5.33 billion in projects in more than 140 countries. The African development fund also offers loans on favorable conditions and made loans of 7.57 billion euros in 2023.

The talks to re -fill the funds run and funds were reserved in the budgetary plan. These initiatives are part of the more comprehensive goal of strengthening international cooperation in the financing of sustainable development and countering the global challenges in environmental policy.

Overall, the current financial projects of the EU and the discussion in the Austrian Finance Committee reflect the will to create a competitive, safe and sustainable financial landscape that takes the digital future into account.

For more information on the topics mentioned, see also the reports of OTS , Ezb and European Commission .