In an increasingly interconnected world, English has gained
prominence as the international language of commerce. Proceedings
in English before Austrian courts would open the doors for
international litigation and ensure effective communication and
understanding among all parties involved. It is high time to
strengthen Austria as an important seat for international
litigation.
Standstill vs. innovation
Under Article 8 of the Federal Constitutional Law, German is the
official language of the Republic of Austria. Therefore, court
proceedings must be conducted in German. While little has been done
so far to officially establish English as a second court language,
some Austrian attorneys, businesses and judges are pushing for
proceedings to be conducted in English. The president of the
Commercial Court in Vienna, for example, has been advocating for
English proceedings and has proposed a pilot project in this
regard.
