Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA1866
2008-12-18 13:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

DOMESTIC SECURITY POLICY OUTLINE OF THE NEW

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER ASEC AU 
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VZCZCXRO9666
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVI #1866 3531339
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181339Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1737
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS VIENNA 001866 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC AU
SUBJECT: DOMESTIC SECURITY POLICY OUTLINE OF THE NEW
AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS VIENNA 001866

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC AU
SUBJECT: DOMESTIC SECURITY POLICY OUTLINE OF THE NEW
AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT


1. Following is a summary of the key elements from the
November 23 coalition agreement between Austria's governing
parties -- the Social Democrats and the conservative People's
Party -- on domestic security and counterterrorism:

Organized Crime
--------------


2. The agreement calls for an increased focus on
international cooperation against organized crime. This is
to be pursued in part by expanding cooperative training
programs, officer exchanges, and joint investigations with
law enforcement authorities of other EU states. It also
advocates increased exchanges of DNA, fingerprint, and
vehicle data in the context of the Pruem Treaty. The
governing parties pledge to update legislation on video
surveillance to harmonize the practice across Austria.

Terrorism/Incitement
--------------


3. The text states that law enforcement authorities have the
power to conduct online investigations in terrorism cases.
Existing, "insufficient" legislation against "hate speech"
should be strengthened so that speech addressing smaller
groups can be prosecuted as a crime. Legislation prohibiting
"incitement" should be strengthened by expanding the list of
protected groups and individuals, in accordance with the
recommendations of the UN Committee to Eliminate Racial
Discrimination. Legal amendments will be adopted so that
attendance at a terrorism training camp inside Austria or
abroad will itself be a criminal offense.

Police Force
--------------


4. The new government plans to create 1,000 new police cadet
positions per year over the next five years. A new program
will aim to diversify the police force by recruiting more
women officers and officers with migration backgrounds. A
new master's degree program for police will be created, and
officers will be given the option of enrolling. The
government also plans to monitor more closely the operations
of private security companies.

Personal Identification
--------------


5. The agreement calls for the modernization of
identification documents and records. Data for residency
permits will be fully digitized and made accessible by
authorities across the country. The new government plans to
adopt draft legislation introducing passports with
fingerprints.
GIRARD-DICARLO