Chancellor Stocker proposes pension sovereign wealth fund and youth savings model

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker has proposed the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund to support the national pension system. The plan suggests reallocating approximately half of the profits from state holdings—roughly 700 million euros annually—into the fund. According to ÖVP General Secretary Markus Gstöttner, this could potentially accumulate nearly 100 billion euros over 30 to 40 years, allowing for annual contributions of about five billion euros to the pension system.

The Industriellenvereinigung (IV) described the approach as “fundamentally interesting,” noting that increased capital coverage could help stabilize the system. However, the IV emphasized that a sovereign wealth fund should only be one component of a broader reform and cannot replace necessary structural changes. While groups like Neos and the pensionists' association have expressed interest, the FPÖ has voiced strict opposition to the proposal.

In a related initiative to encourage long-term wealth accumulation, Chancellor Stocker also announced the ‘Zukunftsdepot’ (Future Depot). This tax-advantaged, fee-free savings model is designed for children and adolescents under 18. It aims to allow parents to invest up to 5,000 euros per year per child in capital markets, facilitating early asset building for the next generation.