The Austria Financial Market Authority (FMA) published its goals and supervisory priorities for 2026, setting out a programme focused on maintaining the resilience and stability of supervised firms while making supervision more risk-based and efficient. A central theme is simplification and debureaucratisation to cut costs for both supervised entities and the authority and to redirect resources to emerging risks linked to geopolitics and digitalisation. Key measures include a push to streamline data reporting requirements, with an European Banking Authority task force chaired by Helmut Ettl identifying a potential 25% reduction in reporting costs. The FMA also highlighted its “360 degree” platform as the core of its digital transformation to harmonise on-site inspections, streamline reporting and speed up authorisations. On risk priorities, the FMA flagged global threats such as potential asset bubbles, activity outside regulated markets (including private credit and stablecoins), and geopolitical risks including financial sanctions, and it said it will focus on accelerating the reduction of non-performing loans, particularly in commercial real estate. From 1 January 2026 the FMA will assume responsibility for financial sanctions supervision, positioning itself as a “one stop shop” in Austria; combined inspections covering anti-money laundering and financial sanctions are intended to deliver an estimated 25% synergy for supervised entities.

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