Austria identifies 158.8 million euros in improper COVID-19 aid

The Austrian Ministry of Finance has identified 158.8 million euros in claims for the repayment of improperly received COVID-19 aid through June 2026. According to a report on the liquidation of the COVID-19 Financing Agency (COFAG) submitted to Parliament, more than 11,700 audits have been conducted to date.

A significant focus of these investigations has been on corporate groups. Out of 193 affected groups comprising approximately 1,200 independent companies, 105 have been audited, revealing a repayment volume of roughly 45 million euros. These audits follow an April 2026 decision by the Supreme Court (OGH) which confirmed the application of state aid limits per corporate group.

COFAG, established in March 2020, distributed a total of 47 billion euros in aid. Following the decision to dissolve the agency in the summer of 2024, the financial administration has taken over the liquidation process. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer defended the recovery efforts, stating that while those who received aid according to guidelines were entitled to it, those who received it improperly must face repayment claims to ensure fairness.