Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner pushes for extended military service reform

Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner said she is confident a consensus on reforming Austria's conscription system will be reached before summer. She supports the expert commission’s proposal to extend mandatory service to eight months followed by two months of militia training, rejecting alternative plans offered by the SPÖ and NEOS.

Tanner noted that the additional costs of the reform have not yet been budgeted, but the defence budget is set to rise to about 5.3 billion euros in 2027 and 5.43 billion euros in 2028, enabling ongoing procurement programmes, including the Eurofighter replacement slated for 2035. She urged a swift parliamentary process and warned her patience is wearing thin, adding that a referendum could be considered if legislators fail to act.