In her first public statement since her inauguration on 7 January, the country’s new conservative defence minister, Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP), laid out her plan for the Austrian army.

Tanner’s plan focuses on foreign missions, for which a total of 1,000 soldiers will be deployed. Greater focus will also be given to cyber defence and blackout-preparations.

Besides, Austria will support a so-called “Europeanisation of security policy” because “as a small country, we have no alternative”, says Tanner.

And migration was identified as the biggest security risk because, according to General-Major Dr Johann Frank, the head of the ministry’s security unit, “the risk remains high with a rising tendency in 2020”. (Philipp Grüll | EURACTIV.de)