2026-04-24
Austria enacted the European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act to transpose Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 and designate the Financial Market Authority as the competent supervisory authority. The legislation empowers the FMA to enforce compliance through extensive investigative powers, mandatory disclosures via the European Single Access Point, and the imposition of administrative penalties for breaches. These sanctions include fines of up to EUR 500,000 or 0.5% of annual turnover, alongside measures such as trading suspensions and prohibitions on issuing European Green Bonds.
All English translation of the authentic German text is unofficial and serves merely information purposes. The official wording in German can be found in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt; BGBl.). All translations have been prepared with great care, but linguistic compromises had to be made. The reader should also bear in mind that some provisions of these laws will remain unclear without certain background knowledge of the Austrian legal and political system. Please note that these laws may be amended in the future and check occasionally for updates. Federal Act transposing Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 on European Green Bonds and optional disclosures for bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable and sustainabilitylinked bonds (European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG; EuGB-Verordnung-Vollzugsgesetz)) EUROPEAN GREEN BOND REGULATION ENFORCEMENT ACT (EUGB-VVG) Original Version: Federal Law Gazette I 5/2026 Date: 23.04.2026
European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 2 / 12 TABLE OF CONTENTS Article 1. Purpose of this Federal Act Article 2. Competent Authority Article 3. European Single Access Point (ESAP) disclosure obligations Article 4. Powers of the FMA Article 5. Administrative penalties Article 6. Exercising of supervisory and sanctioning powers Article 7. Publication of decisions Article 8. Notification of administrative penalties and administrative measures to ESMA Article 9. Cooperation and exchange of information Article 10. Right of appeal Article 11. Professional secrecy Article 12. Special procedural provisions Article 13. Costs Article 14. Gender-neutral use of language Article 15. References Article 16. Transposition Note Article 17. Entry into force Article 18. Enforcement
European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 3 / 12 TEXT Purpose of this Federal Act Article 1. This Federal Act transposes Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 on European Green Bonds and optional disclosures for bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable and for sustainabilitylinked bonds. Competent Authority Article 2. (1) Pursuant to Article 44 (1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, the FMA shall be the competent authority for supervising compliance with this Federal Act and Regulation (EU) 2023/2631. (2) Pursuant to Article 44 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, the FMA shall be the competent authority for supervising the compliance of originators with their obligations under Title II, Chapter 2, and Articles 18 and 19 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631. Note for the following provision See Article 17 para. 2 about the time frame for applicability European Single Access Point (ESAP) disclosure obligations Article 3. (1) In accordance with Article 15a (4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, the FMA is the competent collection body pursuant to Article 2 no. 2 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 for the publication of information pursuant to Articles 20 and 21 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 in the European Single Access Point (ESAP) that is being established pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2023/2859. (2) The FMA shall be the collection point pursuant to Article 3 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 for the collection of information stated in Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 submitted on a voluntary basis. (3) The FMA may determine by means of a Regulation a specific format, additional meta data to be included, and the submission modalities for the submission of data pursuant to Article 15a (1) point b of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, if this appears expedient taking into consideration rules under European Union law. (4) The FMA shall be empowered as the controller under data protection law pursuant to Article 4 point 7 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) in conjunction with the tasks pursuant to paras. 1 and 4 for processing personal data as defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/679. Powers of the FMA Article 4. (1) The FMA shall be authorised at all times in relation to the monitoring of the observance of the regulations contained in this Federal Act, in Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 as well as any delegated acts issued on the basis of this Regulation irrespective of the powers conferred upon it in other Federal Acts:
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European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 5 / 12 14. following a three-month period after the requirement pursuant to no. 12 to make public the fact that the issuer of European Green Bonds no longer complies with Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 as regards the use of the designation ‘European Green Bond’ (europäische grüne Anleihe) or ‘EuGB’, and to require that issuer to publish that information on its website; 15. to carry out on-site inspections or investigations at sites other than the private residences of natural persons, and for that purpose to enter premises in order to access documents and other data in any form, where a reasonable suspicion exists that documents and other data related to the subject-matter of the inspection or investigation may be relevant to prove an infringement of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631. Articles 119 to 122 of the Code on Criminal Procedure 1975 (StPO; Strafprozeßordnung 1975), published in Federal Law Gazette no. 631/1975, shall apply accordingly; where the affected party opposes the FMA’s intended measure, the Federal Administrative Court (BVwG; Bundesverwaltungsgericht) shall decide by means of a resolution about the FMA’s request, applying the principle of legality and proportionality in accordance with Article 5 StPO. The FMA shall be required to justify its request for an inspection and the submit it to the Federal Administrative Court (BVwG; Bundesverwaltungsgericht) along with the relevant files. 16. to issue a public statement where a sufficiently well-grounded suspicion exists that an issuer of European Green Bonds fails to comply with the obligations set out in this Federal Act, in Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 as well as any delegated legal acts issued on the basis of that Regulation where informing the public is necessary, and is also proportionate with regard to potential detriments for the affected party; 17. administrative penalties shall be imposed pursuant to Article 5 against an issuer of European Green Bonds in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/2631. (2) The FMA shall conduct the tasks and powers listed in para. 1 in any of the following ways:
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European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 7 / 12 b. including forbidden exposures in the pool of securitised exposures, c. failing to include the necessary explanations in the factsheet , or d. failing to provide the FMA with proof at the latter’s request, 7. breaches the obligations in relation to additional disclosure obligations in relation to securitisations pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, especially by a. drawing up a prospectus without attaching the prescribed statement, b. drawing up a prospectus that does not contain the necessary information, or c. failing to include the necessary information in the factsheet or the allocation report, 8. breaches the obligations regarding the periodic disclosure of information by issuers of bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable or sustainability-linked bonds pursuant to Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 including the delegated act issued pursuant to Article 21 (4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, 9. failing to cooperate with the FMA during an investigation or review pursuant to Article 4, 10. breaching another requirement pursuant to Article 4 para. 1, 11. using the designation “European Green Bond” (europäische grüne Anleihe) or “EuGB” for a bond, without meeting the requirements pursuant to Article 3 in conjunction with Title II of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, 12. breaching the obligation to submit information pursuant to Article 15a (1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631to the competent collection body pursuant to Article 2 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 as the same time as publishing it, or 13. breaching the obligation to obtain a legal entity identifier (LEI) pursuant to Article 15a (2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, commits an administrative offence and shall be punished by the FMA with a fine of up to twice the amount of the profits realised or losses avoided because of the breach, where those can be determined, or where they are unable to be determined to be punished with a fine of up to EUR 50 000. (2) The FMA may impose fines against legal persons, if natural persons who acted individually or as part of a body of a legal person and who have a managerial role within the legal person on the basis of:
European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 8 / 12 (4) The total annual turnover shall be determined on the basis of the most recently adopted annual financial statement. Where the legal person is a parent undertaking or a subsidiary of a parent undertaking which is required to prepare consolidated financial accounts in accordance with Directive 2013/34/EU, the relevant total annual turnover or the corresponding type of income in accordance with the relevant Union law in the area of accounting according to the last available consolidated accounts approved by the management body of the ultimate parent undertaking; Where the FMA is unable to determine or calculate the bases for the total revenues, then it shall estimate them. In so doing, all relevant circumstances shall be taken into account that are relevant for the estimate. (5) The FMA also has the power in the case of breaches pursuant to para. 1 to take the following actions:
European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 9 / 12 authorities of other Member States to ensure that the exercising of their supervisory and investigative powers as well as the administrative penalties and other administrative sanctions pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 are effective and appropriate. Publication of decisions Article 7. (1) A decision imposing a sanction under administrative procedural law or another measure under administrative procedural law for a breach against this Federal Act, Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 or a delegated act issued upon the basis of that Regulation, shall be published by the FMA on its website without delay, once the natural or legal person subject to that decision has been informed of that decision. This publication includes details about the type of the breach and identifying the persons responsible. (2) Where FMA arrives at the conclusion that the publication of the identity of the legal entities, or identity or personal data of natural persons, is disproportionate following a case-by-case assessment conducted on the proportionality of the publication of such data, or where such publication would jeopardise the stability of financial markets or an on-going investigation, then the FMA shall:
European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 10 / 12 in the publication shall however only be allowed to remain visible on the FMA’s website, for the period that is permissible under the applicable data protection provisions. Notification of administrative penalties and administrative measures to ESMA Article 8. (1) The FMA shall submit aggregated information to ESMA on an annual basis about all administrative penalties and other administrative sanctions imposed pursuant to the Federal Act. (2) Where the FMA has published administrative penalties or other measures under administrative procedural law, then it shall simultaneously report them to ESMA. (3) The FMA shall inform ESMA about all administrative penalties or other sanctions under administrative procedural law that have been imposed but not published in accordance with Article 7 para. 2 no. 3, including any appeals in relation thereto and the outcome of the appeal procedure. Cooperation and exchange of information Article 9. The FMA shall cooperate and exchange information with the competent authorities of other Member States and ESMA in enforcing this Federal Act and Regulation (EU) 2023/2631. Right of appeal Article 10. (1) The legal right of appeal to the Federal Administrative Court (BVwG; Bundesverwaltungsgericht) exists against any FMA decision on the imposing of administrative penalties or other administrative sanctions based on a breach of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631. (2) The party affected by the publication pursuant to Article 4 para. 1 nos. 12, 14 and 16 or pursuant to Article 7 para. 1 may file a request to the FMA to review the lawfulness of such a publication in a procedure concluded by means of an administrative decision (Bescheid). In this case, the FMA shall announce the initiation of such proceedings in a similar manner. If, in the course of this review, it is found that the publication was unlawful, the FMA shall correct the publication or, at the request of the person subject to this publication, either revoke it or remove it from its website. If an appeal brought against an administrative decision (Bescheid) that was made public pursuant to Article 4 para. 1 nos. 12, 14 and 16 or pursuant to Article 7 para. 1 is granted suspensory effect before courts of public law, the FMA shall make this known in the same manner. The publication shall either require to be corrected or at the request of the concerned party either revoked or removed from the FMA's Internet presence, if the administrative decision (Bescheid) has been repealed. Professional secrecy Article 11. Valid provisions in accordance with other Federal Acts regarding the obligation to maintain professional secrecy shall not be affected by the provisions of this Federal Act.
European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 11 / 12 Special procedural provisions Article 12. Fines imposed by the FMA pursuant to this federal act shall flow to the Federal Government. Costs Article 13. The costs of the FMA from its activity as the competent authority shall be assigned to the appropriate accounting group, pursuant to Article 19 of the Financial Market Authority Act (FMABG; Finanzmarktaufsichtsbehördengesetz), published in Federal Law Gazette I no. 97/2001, or where subaccounting groups are to be established within the accounting group in accordance with the Federal Act to that sub-accounting group to which the performance of supervisory duties in accordance with the supervisory laws listed in Article 2 para. 3 FMABG is to be allocated. Gender-neutral use of language Article 14. Where designations stated in this Federal Act relating to persons are given only in the masculine form, they shall refer equally to all genders. The respective gender-specific form shall be used when applied to specific persons. References Article 15. (1) Where references to other federal acts are made in this Federal Act, those acts are to be applied in their respective current versions. (2) Where references to the following legal acts of the European Union are made in this federal act, those acts shall be applicable, unless instructed otherwise, in the following version:
European Green Bond Regulation Enforcement Act (EuGB-VVG) 12 / 12 Transposition Note Article 16. This Federal Act serves to transpose Directive (EU) 2023/2631 and the effective enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859. Entry into force Article 17. (1) This Federal Act shall enter into force on the following day after publication. (2) Article 3 and Article 5 para. 1 nos. 12 and 13 in the version of the Federal Act published in Federal Law Gazette I No. 5/2026 shall apply from 10 January 2030. The FMA shall inform ESMA by 9 January 2030 that it is the collection body pursuant to Article 15a (4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 and that it is the collection body pursuant Article 3 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 for the collection of information on a voluntary basis listed in Directive (EU) 2023/2631. Enforcement Article 18. The Federal Minister of Finance shall be responsible for enforcing this Federal Act.