Klaudia Tanner seeks cross-party support for Austrian military reform

Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner is seeking a cross-party agreement to accelerate the extension of civilian service as part of a broader military reform. Under current government plans, civilian service would increase from nine to eleven months only if recruitment numbers fall below a specific threshold, a change not expected until 2029. Tanner expressed hope for a two-thirds majority involving the Greens and the FPÖ to move this timeline forward.

The reform also includes extending compulsory military service from six to nine months, including militia exercises. Regarding long-term procurement, the Ministry is seeking 36 new jets to replace the Eurofighter fleet before its technical end in 2035, with a working group currently addressing financing.

Opposition from the FPÖ has criticized the Ministry's approach. Representative Volker Reifenberger described the Minister's recent statements as contradictory, alleging that while budgets are publicly discussed as increasing, the implementation of the ÖBH2032+ development plan is being reduced. The FPÖ further argued that the current reform structure risks weakening the military's readiness by making civilian service more attractive and failing to implement a more balanced service model.