Franz Leidenmühler, head of the Institute for European Law at , has criticized the government's plan to quota family reunification. The aims to limit entries to 314 places for both 2026 and 2027.
The federal government suspended family reunification in March 2025, citing an overburdened social and education system. A new settlement ordinance draft from October 2026 seeks to regulate the number of family members allowed to enter via strict quotas.
Leidenmühler argues these quotas violate EU law, which guarantees an individual right to reunification. He notes the limits public order exceptions, warning that Austria may now face formal infringement proceedings from the EU.