Austria issues 3.4 billion euros in debt - FPÖ raises the alarm!

Austria issues 3.4 billion euros in debt - FPÖ raises the alarm!

Austria has issued around 3.4 billion euros to other countries since 2000. This emerges from a parliamentary response to the Ministry of Finance, which was published on July 16, 2025. The Freedom Party (FPÖ) expresses sharp criticism of this approach and describes it as "gross negligent". The enacted debts primarily concern countries such as Cameroon, Congo, Iraq and Cuba.

The amounts enacted amount to significant sums, including 1.674 billion euros to Iraq, 599 million euros to Cameroon and 234 million euros to Nigeria. According to the FPÖ, there are also open claims to countries such as North Korea and Greece, which add up to a total of 1.67 billion euros. The FPÖ critics question why Austria does not try to reclaim these funds.

criticism of debt policy

Finance Minister Marterbauer, on the other hand, refers to international obligations and development aid agreements that provide for debt restructuring. In return, the FPÖ calls for more restrictive use of public funds and a fundamentally revised debt policy. She wonders why Austrian money flows into these countries without a repayment.

In addition, there are justified concerns about the debt architecture at a global level. The EU blocks important reforms, which would enable fair and balanced saying of say for countries in the global south. This is addressed by the coordination office of the Austrian Bishops' Conference by Hannah Angerbauer, which demands a comprehensive debt decree and a new international debt architecture under UN leadership at the fourth International Conference in Sevilla.

international dimensions of the debt crisis

Current data show that around 3.3 billion people live in countries who spend more for fault service than for health or education. The challenges with which developing countries are confronted are increased by insufficient taxation, corruption and weak financial management. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, it is not uncommon for states with non -sustainable state finances need a debt structure in order to secure their economic stability. For example, agreements on debt treatment with countries such as Chad and Sambia have already taken place.

In order to cope with the debt crisis sustainably, the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments is a central instrument. This framework enables coordinated, country -specific debt structure and integrates new creditors such as China and India. The foreign debt of low and medium-sized income countries has now reached a total of around $ 1,071 billion, which underlines the urgency of coordinated international solutions.

The global debt crisis, according to Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, represents a central obstacle to the holistic development of humans. The need for a responsible and just international debt architecture is becoming increasingly clear. Austria and other countries are required not only to rethink their own debt policy, but also to actively participate in the reform of the global financial structures.

In the current political discussion, it is essential that public funds flow not only in armor, but also into the fight against poverty and sustainable development. Support for innovative concepts such as the UN Convention on the Tax Consistence could help Austria to close tax loopholes and at the same time make a contribution to global justice.