Steyr Arms missed the multiplicable mandate for bureaucracy!

Steyr Arms missed the multiplicable mandate for bureaucracy!

In a regrettable turn for the domestic industry, Steyr ARMS missed an important order over 9.5 million euros for the delivery of 8,000 storm rifles of Type "StG77" to Tunisia. The reason for this predicament is serious delays in granting the necessary export permits by the Austrian authorities.

The export application was made in December 2024, whereby the weapons should have arrived in Tunisia by the beginning of March 2025. The Tunisian side was ready to extend the deadlines until April 16 and then until May 6, 2025. Finally, Steyr Arms did not receive the necessary permits in good time, which the company was expensive, since in addition to the order value, about 20 to 25 million euros in follow -up shops for spare parts over a period of 25 years.

bureaucratic hurdles and state responsibility

The approval processes were anything but uncomplicated. The Ministry of the Interior attributes the delays to the complex examination processes that result from Austrian neutrality. These exams are necessary because the products delivered fall under the category of weapons of war and therefore the approval of the Interior Ministry is required in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign and Defense. Minister of Economic Affairs Hattmannsdorfer has sharply criticized the existing bureaucracy and demanded that quick decisions and clear procedures be created for companies.

Steyr Arms expresses concerns about the repeated delays and sees the risk that the location in Upper Austria is endangered in the long term. Despite the company's riser, which turned to several ministers as well as the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Association, there was no reaction from the authorities. The data protection regulations of the corresponding ministries were also mentioned as the reason for the missing answers.

Legal bases and international obligations

The situation raises questions that go beyond the company concerned. The legal framework for export control in Austria is anchored in the 2011 Foreign Trade Act and in the War Material Act. Applications for permits are examined in the Interior Ministry, while the Foreign Ministry takes into account the foreign policy and international criteria. These strict controls are part of the framework conditions that Austria receives in the context of international solidarity and peace insurance, since the country is a member of several multilateral export control regimes.

As the difficulties about Steyr Arms show, a strict bureaucracy can lead to restriction on competitiveness of domestic companies. The challenge for Austria will be in the future to find a balance between the necessary safety precautions and the support of the domestic economy.