ÖBB Annual Report 2025

Group Management Report 182 Österreichische Bundesbahnen-Holding Aktiengesellschaft Consolidated Financial Statements | Group Management Report 139 Political influence and lobbying activities In the 2025 financial year, ÖBB worked hard in Austria to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and to improve stability and financing. For example, efforts were made to speed up approval procedures, reduce bureaucracy, and simplify procedures relating to tax law in order to increase competitiveness and implement infrastructure expansion more quickly. The financial basis for the upgrade, maintenance, and operation of the railway infrastructure was also secured as part of the 2025 / 2026 budget preparation. Finally, a statement on the Climate and Energy Fund’s 2025 annual program called for the receipt of promised funding and multi-year planning security. A major focus was placed on strengthening and stabilizing rail freight. High electricity prices and strong price pressure led to economic burdens and traffic shifts to the road. The renovation of the German railway network also resulted in detours and additional costs. ÖBB communicated with political and industrial stakeholders at an early stage in order to draw attention to the impacts and develop alternatives. At EU level, activities focused on securing funds as part of the “Connecting Europe Facility,” pan-European connectivity, and strategic infrastructure projects (Regulation on the use of railroad infrastructure capacity, military mobility, and the European Commission’s High Speed Rail Action Plan, European Train Control System – ETCS). Efforts to obtain subsidies remained central to rail freight, while passenger rights were central to passenger transport. In the event of non-rail-specific legislation (e.g. chemicals legislation such as PFAS, nature conservation), the Group strives to minimize risks that may arise for rail transportation in general and for ÖBB in particular. ESRS G1-5.29.c The activities of Corporate Affairs are presented transparently on the intranet and – in accordance with Group guidelines – reported to the Board of Management and Supervisory Board committees on an ongoing basis. ESRS G1-5.29.a Memberships Like all companies registered in Austria, ÖBB is obliged to be a member of the Austrian Federal Economic Chambers. The Group also maintains voluntary memberships, such as in the Federation of Austrian Industries, the Austrian Association for Public and Social Economy (VÖWG), and ZOVI (Project Office for the Future Initiative in Transportation and Infrastructure), as well as many others. All memberships can be viewed in an internal Group database. New memberships undergo a detailed screening process (antitrust law, compliance, risk assessment, etc.) and must be approved by the Board of Management without exception. ESRS G1-5.AR13 Positions In the two years prior to the reporting period, the following persons held a comparable position in public administration or moved from such a position to a comparable position in the ÖBB Group: ESRS G1-5.30 Name Old position New position Pia Kranawetter Deputy Head of Cabinet Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport Since October 2024 (currently on leave of absence) Head of Communications and Public Affairs, ÖBB- Infrastruktur AG Cornelia Breuß Head of Communications and Public Affairs ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG Since August 2024 Head of the Mobility Section at the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology Political contributions ÖBB is actively committed to its goals, but does not make political contributions at any time – either financially or in kind – as this is contrary to the Group-wide compliance guidelines. ESRS G1-5.29.b Identification number The identification number in the EU Transparency Register is 36636102190-34. ESRS G1-5.29.d | MR139 E.  Non-financial statement E.1. General information E.2. Environmental inform ation E.3. Social information E.4. Governance information E.5. ESRS index