On 1 July, 1998 Austria took over the EU presidency for the remainder of the year. With community legislation on digital signatures being on top of the list of information society measures left uncompleted by the British presidency, Austria finds itself rather rudely awakened to deal with a complex matter. What is the status of the discussion in Austria on digital signatures and what can be discerned from it for Austria's handling of the Council negotiations? These are the immediate questions addressed in this article. For the reader more generally interested in the topic, the following outline of Austrian stances and initiatives, particularly the recent Draft Act on Digital Signatures may provide insights into the national discussion of an EU member state.
