ÖBB Annual Report 2025

299 Inherent limitations in preparing the consolidated non-financial statement When reporting on forward-looking information, the Company is required to prepare such forward-looking information on the basis of disclosed assumptions about events that could occur in the future and possible future actions by the Company. The actual outcome is likely to differ, as expected events often do not occur as assumed. When determining the disclosures in accordance with the EU Taxonomy Regulation, management is required to interpret undefined legal terms. Undefined legal terms may be interpreted differently, also with regard to the legal conformity of their interpretation and are therefore subject to uncertainties. Responsibilities of the auditor of the group non-financial statement Our objectives are to plan and perform an assurance engagement to obtain limited assurance about whether the consolidated non-financial statement in accordance with the requirements of Sec. 267a UGB, the reporting in accordance with the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the reporting in accordance with the requirements of ESRS, including the materiality assessment process, are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an assurance report that includes our conclusion. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this consolidated non-financial statement. We exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the engagement. Our responsibility for the assurance engagement on the consolidated non-financial statement with regard to the materiality assessment process encompasses:  Performing risk-based procedures, including obtaining an understanding of internal control relevant to the engage- ment, to identify risks that cause the process to not comply with the applicable requirements of ESRS, but not for the purpose of providing a conclusion on the effectiveness of that process, and  Designing and performing procedures to assess whether the process is consistent with the Company’s description in the disclosure IRO-1 in accordance with ESRS 2. Our other responsibilities in relation to the reasonable assurance engagement on the consolidated non-financial statement include  Performing risk-based procedures, including obtaining an understanding of internal control relevant to the engage- ment, to identify representations that are more likely to be materially misstated, whether due to fraud or error, but not for the purpose of providing a conclusion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control; and  Designing and performing procedures responsive to disclosures in the consolidated non-financial statement where material misstatements are more likely. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.