Lobbying in Vienna and Austria
Lobbying in Austria is regulated, registered and legitimate.
Professional interest representation under the Austrian Lobbying and Interest Representation Transparency Act, since 2007.
What it is about
Lobbying in Austria has a poor reputation and a clear legal frame. The reputation comes from the cases where the frame was ignored.
Since 2013 the Lobbying and Interest Representation Transparency Act has defined who counts as a lobbying firm, what must be disclosed in the register and which conduct obligations apply. These include disclosing the client to the public official, a ban on improper methods and a mandatory code of conduct under section 7.
For companies that is good news. Anyone working from the register can hold meetings openly and submit positions in writing without it becoming an accusation later. The work then shifts to where it belongs: the quality of the argument.
The points that decide
Registration
Entry in the lobbying and interest representation register of the Ministry of Justice.
Code of conduct
Mandatory under section 7 of the Act and publicly available.
Disclosure
The client is named to the public official. Without exception.
Boundaries
No success fee tied to a particular legislative outcome.
How we work on it
Stakeholder & Network
Simply "knowing" people adds nothing. Robust relationships of trust with decision-makers do.
High-Level Strategy & Campaigning
A business strategy becomes a communications programme that reaches its goals faster.
Professional Analysis & Monitoring
Curated monitoring of initiatives, draft legislation and public debate - assessed against your business goals.
Frequently asked
What separates lobbying from bribery?
Everything. Lobbying is the open, registered and documented representation of a case to decision-makers. Bribery is a criminal offence. The transparency act explicitly bans improper methods, and a registered firm loses its entry if it breaches them.
Does my company have to register itself?
That depends on whether you employ your own staff with lobbying duties. The act distinguishes between lobbying firms, companies with in-house lobbyists, self-governing bodies and interest associations, each with its own part of the register and its own duties. Engaging an agency does not in itself create a registration duty for you.
Related focus areas
Public affairs Vienna
Advice from the political centre of Austria, a short walk from parliament and the ministries.
Open pageLobbying compliance
Registration, codes of conduct and internal rules for companies that maintain political contacts.
Open pageInterest representation
Representing commercial interests towards legislators, administration and the public, registered and disclosed.
Open page
Facing an issue in this sector?
A first conversation usually settles quickly whether and how we can help.