Finance Minister shares insights about planned budget savings in interview on oe24.TV
SPÖ Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer to Deliver Budget Speech Tonight
Austria's Finance Minister, Markus Marterbauer, will deliver a comprehensive budget speech tonight, as he outlines the current financial situation of the country. The speech will be broadcast on oe24 at 9 PM.
Marterbauer, who serves as the Finance Minister for the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), will present all facts regarding Austria's budget, the EU deficit procedure, and his ministerial experience.
The 2025 budget reflects ongoing consolidation measures with a federal net financing balance (deficit) of around -13.7 billion euros by mid-2025, according to the sources. This figure is at a similar level to 2024, with increased spending noted especially in pensions and social support, influenced by pension adjustments and economic developments.
Austria faces an excessive deficit procedure launched by the EU because its budget deficit exceeded the Maastricht 3 percent GDP limit, standing at 4.7% in 2024 and projected at 4.5% in 2025. Despite this procedure, Marterbauer has expressed confidence and emphasises the importance of strengthening EU revenues and revising the fiscal rules.
Marterbauer advocates for a stronger European budget and new EU revenue sources, marking a shift in Austria’s position towards EU fiscal policy. This stance emphasises solidarity and stronger European integration.
In addition, Marterbauer will likely address the use of AI and advanced analytics to fight tax evasion. He plans to present a "Tax Fraud Combat Package" in the fall to continue this effort, underlining the justice and fairness aspects for honest taxpayers. In 2024, he recovered 354 million euros through these means.
The speech will also provide insights into Marterbauer's thoughts about what he finds most peculiar about being a minister, offering a personal perspective on his approach to EU fiscal challenges. He balances budgetary discipline with calls for reform and stronger European cooperation.
Tune in to oe24 at 9 PM to catch the budget speech by SPÖ Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer and gain a deeper understanding of Austria's financial situation and its future plans. The interview with Marterbauer will be available in full today at 9 PM on oe24.TV.
During the budget speech tonight, Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), will discuss ongoing consolidation measures in Austria's business sector, including the 2025 budget, EU deficit procedure, and his ministerial experience. Marterbauer will also address the importance of strengthening EU revenues, revising fiscal rules, and the use of AI and advanced analytics to combat tax evasion in the finance department.
