Vienna's Foreign and Bilateral Relations

Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, diplomacy, culture and tourism between Austria and its partners

No More Direct Flights Between Beijing and Vienna

Because of the coronavirus crisis, Air China has now also temporarily suspended all flights between Beijing and Vienna. AUA Austrian Airlines already suspended all flights to China on 6 February 2020 - provisionally until the end of the winter flight schedule.

February 26, 2020

Vienna Welcomes New Ambassadors from Turkey, Kosovo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Chad and Equatorial Guinea

Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen welcomed the six newly accredited Ambassadors of the Republic of Kosovo, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Guinea and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Austria to the Presidential Chancellery of the Vienna Imperial Palace for the presentation of their letters of accreditation.

February 26, 2020

Portrait: Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Austria, H.E. Mr. Zenebe Kebede Korcho

The new Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Austria, H.E. Mr. Zenebe Kebede Korcho presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

February 26, 2020

Portrait: Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to Austria, H.E. Mr. Mamadou Siradiou Diallo

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea (République de Guinée) to Austria, H.E. Mr. Mamadou Siradiou Diallo presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

February 26, 2020

Portrait: Ambassador of the Republic of Chad to Austria, H.E. Mrs. Mariam Ali Moussa

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Chad to Austria, H.E. Mrs. Mariam Ali Moussa presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

February 26, 2020

Portrait: Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to Austria, H.E. Mr. Pantaleón Mayiboro Miko Nchama

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to Austria, H.E. Mr. Pantaleón Mayiboro Miko Nchama presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

February 26, 2020

Portrait: Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Austria, H.E. Mr. Ozan Ceyhun

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Austria, H.E. Mr. Ozan Ceyhun presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

February 26, 2020

Portrait: Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Austria, H.E. Mr. Lulzim Pllana

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Austria, H.E. Mr. Lulzim Pllana presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

February 26, 2020

Suspicion of Coronavirus: Holidaymaker in Austria Died

In the Austrian province of Carinthia a 56-year-old Italian holidaymaker from Friuli died in the night to Wednesday. The Carinthian authorities have reported that she is suspected of being infected with the coronavirus. A curfew has been imposed on the woman's apartment complex. On Wednesday afternoon it became known, that the suspected coronavirus case in Bad Kleinkirchheim in Carinthia has not been confirmed. The woman did not die of coronavirus.

February 26, 2020 · Updated: February 26, 2020; 15:08

Austrian Chancellor Kurz at 10 Downing Street

Chancellor Kurz met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London today. The discussion with Johnson focused on London's future relations with the European Union.

February 25, 2020

Austria Reports Its First Two Coronavirus Cases as Outbreak Widens

In the Austrian province of Tyrol, two people have been proven to be infected with the coronavirus. A second test was also positive. These are the first two confirmed cases in Austria. The infected persons are two 24-year-old Italians from Lombardy who live in the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck.

February 25, 2020 · Updated: February 25, 2020; 14:25

Coronavirus: Emergency Meeting of Central European Health Ministers in Rome

At the invitation of the Italian Government, the Health Ministers of Austria, Italy, Slovenia, France, Switzerland and Germany are meeting today.

February 25, 2020

Austria is Arming itself against the Coronavirus

The Austrian Federal Government today presented a package of measures against "all" upcoming scenarios, with the aim of ensuring transparency, information and protection for the population. The next 2 to 3 weeks will be decisive in determining how the coronavirus situation develops.

February 24, 2020

Italy-Austria: Coronavirus Emergency Measure Caused Chaos and Panic

A false coronavirus alarm paralysed train traffic between Italy, Austria and Germany. Meanwhile the far right Freedom Party demands that the National Security Council should discuss the situation and that travel to Austria from the affected regions should be restricted.

February 24, 2020 · Updated: February 24, 2020; 11:57

Coronavirus: Temperature Checks Effective Immediately at Vienna Airport

Following a decision by the Austrian health authorities, the body temperature of passengers on direct inbound flights from China are being measured at Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien Schwechat) with respect to coronavirus.

February 6, 2020 · Updated: February 24, 2020; 09:31

Iran Nuclear Agreement: Rouhani and Zarif Met Schallenberg

Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani in Iran to mediate in the nuclear dispute. Rouhani himself has compared the US sanctions against Iran with the corona virus, saying that fear of it is greater than reality.

February 23, 2020

Business with China Slumps: Chamber of Commerce Sets Up Coronavirus Hotline

Because of the coronavirus crisis, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) is now also reacting and setting up an auxiliary hotline for the approximately 1,000 affected companies in the Austrian-Chinese trade.

February 23, 2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in Austria: Current Risk Assessment

The opposition demands the highest alert level and border controls for Austria. Minister of the Interior: "Coercive measures not excluded". What is the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for Austria's population and for travellers travelling in and out of Austria?

February 23, 2020

Portrait: New Permanent Representative of Andorra to the International Organizations in Vienna

The new Permanent Representative of Principality of Andorra to the United Nations (Vienna), who is also the new Ambassador to Austria, Jaume Serra Serra, presented his credentials to the Deputy Director-General for the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Dennis Thatchaichawalit.

February 21, 2020

Meet the New Ambassador of Andorra, H.E. Mr. Jaume Serra Serra

The new Ambassador of the Principality of Andorra to Austria, H.E. Mr. Jaume Serra Serra presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

January 18, 2020 · Updated: February 21, 2020; 17:00

Austria: 1.5 Mio Foreigners out of 8.9 Mio Population

1,487,020 people or 16.7% of the population in Austria are foreign nationals. Read which are the 15 largest foreign nationalities in Austria?

February 20, 2020

Coronavirus: Infopoint for Affected Companies

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber has set up a central contact point in Vienna for companies that have requests in connection with the coronavirus. The "Coronavirus Infopoint" brings together all information from Austria and abroad on this topic.

February 19, 2020

Headquarters Agreement with OPEC Fund Limits Privileges and Immunities

An amendment to the Headquarters Agreement between Austria and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) is intended to bring the 1981 Convention up to date and comparable with modern Headquarters Agreements.

February 18, 2020

Austria's Blockade of the Libya Mission "Sophia"

The EU foreign ministers have reached a basic consensus for a military mission to monitor the UN arms embargo on Libya. The EU naval operation "Sophia" in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, however, will be terminated, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in a statement after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

February 18, 2020

New Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations Office at Vienna

The new Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Mr. Frédéric Labarrère, presented his credentials to the Director-General of UNOV, Ms. Ghada Waly.

February 17, 2020

Austrian Airlines Extends China Flight Ban as Coronavirus Toll Climbs

AUA Austrian Airlines extends its flight suspensions to mainland China (Beijing and Shanghai) until the end of the winter flight schedule on 28 March 2020. Most recently the flights had been suspended until 29 February.

February 16, 2020

Follow-up Meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chancellor Kurz

Following Alexander Schallenberg's visit to Mike Pompeo just a few days ago, the Federal Chancellery has now confirmed, according to various media, the fact that Sebastian Kurz will also be travelling to Washington, D.C. at the beginning of March.

February 14, 2020

Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Power are Major Challenges

The international community currently faces numerous challenges in the field of nuclear safety. At the ICONS - International Conference on Nuclear Security Conference of the IAEA in Vienna, these issues were discussed at policymaker level.

February 13, 2020

Permanent Representative of Cuba H.E. Ms. Sánchez Lorenzo Presents Credentials

The new Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations (Vienna), Loipa Sánchez Lorenzo, presented her credentials yesterday to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Ghada Waly. Find her resume as follows.

February 12, 2020

Counter-Terrorism: Challenges Posed by Foreign Fighters Returning from Conflict Areas

Security conference in Vienna calls on countries to address challenges posed by foreign terrorist fighters in respect of international law.

February 12, 2020

U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria

Updated address and contact details of the Embassy of the United States of America, including all sections of the Embassy (ECONOMIC / POLITICAL, POLITICAL / MULTILATERAL, AGRICULTURE, CULTURE AND INFORMATION, ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF THE DEFENCE ATTACHé, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, CUSTOMS DECLARATION, NARCOTICS DIVISION, LEGAL) and other US representations in Vienna, Austria.

April 1, 2019 · Updated: February 12, 2020; 11:00

Permanent Representative of El Salvador Presents Credentials

The new Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations in Vienna, Julia Emma Villatoro Tario, presented her credentials to the Director-General of UNOV, Ghada Waly. Find her resume as follows.

February 11, 2020

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in Vienna

The 82-year-old United States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, who has been in office since February 28, 2017 and was nominated by Donald Trump, visited Vienna and met, among others, US Ambassador Trevor Traina, WKO President Mahrer, Finance Minister Blümel, Environment Minister Gewessler and Economics Minister Schramböck.

February 11, 2020

Brexit: Global Research Institute IIASA Gratified that UK Remains Member

The UK, which is one of 23 member countries and which has been a member of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg near Vienna since 2015, has confirmed funding for a further five years of UK membership of the institute.

February 10, 2020

Guide to VAT Refund for Visitors to Austria - Cash Refund at Vienna International Airport

Austria has one of the highest refund rates for large purchases, at up to 15%. A convenient way for visitors from third countries or non-EU countries is to apply for a cash refund of the VAT at the airport (Flughafen Wien Schwechat) on all their purchases made in Austria before their return flight.

February 10, 2020

Schallenberg Completes UN Headquarters and Washington, D.C. Visit

After talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination Volker Türk, US Secretary-General Mike Pompeo and others, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg ended his visit to the USA. The focus was on the 75th anniversary of the UN and Austria's 65th anniversary of UN membership.

February 7, 2020

Austrian Measures against the Novel Coronavirus

At a press conference at Vienna International Airport (Wien-Schwechat) on the coronavirus, Minister of Health Anschober and Minister of the Interior Nehammer provided information on the measures taken by Austria and the airport as follows..

February 7, 2020

Schallenberg Met UN Secretary General Guterres

UN Secretary-General Guterres met with Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

February 6, 2020

Inaugural Visit of the New UNODC Boss Ms. Ghada Waly

Ghada Fathi Waly, the new Executive Director of UNODC and the new Director-General of UNOV, met Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen for talks during her inaugural visit.

February 4, 2020

UNWG International Festival - Charity Bazaar 2020 at the Austria Center Vienna

Once again this year, 20,000 visitors from all nations are expected at the 52nd Bazaar of the United Nations Womens Guild Vienna (UNWG) at the Austria Center Vienna. With the sale of culinary delicacies, products and handicrafts from over 80 countries, the UNWG collects money for needy children. The proceeds will again be donated to charitable organizations.

February 4, 2020

Schallenberg in NYC and in Washington, D.C.

During his three-day visit to the USA, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, among others. The participation at the National Prayer Breakfast is also on the agenda.

February 4, 2020

China Returnees: No Coronavirus in Vienna yet

The first coronavirus test results (2019-nCoV PCR tests) of those seven Austrians who returned Sunday from the Chinese province of Hubei and were transferred directly to the Hygiene Centre Vienna are now available and all of them are negative.

February 4, 2020

Inaugural Visit: Kurz Meets Merkel in Berlin

The multi-year financial framework, the EU's future process and climate protection in focus at meetings with Chancellor Merkel. There is broad agreement on the financial framework, but on many other issues the chancellors are far apart.

February 3, 2020

Russia Commemorates 500 Officers Murdered by Austrians

During a memorial service for the victims of a horrible war crime, ceremonial wreath-laying ceremonies were held in the Mühlviertel district, attended by Russian, Israeli and Austrian representatives. Known under the euphemistic name "Mühlviertler Hasenjagd" (Mühlviertel hare/rabbit hunt), in February 1945 National Socialist units as well as soldiers and civilians hunted and murdered over 500 escaped Soviet prisoners after a major escape from the Mauthausen concentration camp.

February 3, 2020

Digital Tax: Google Charges Customers

The search engine operator Google wants to collect the new digital tax, which has been levied in Austria since January on income from online advertising by international corporations, in its entirety from its advertising customers.

January 31, 2020

Reception of Austria-Accredited Ambassadors in the Federal Chancellery

The new Austrian Federal Government is in favour of continuing multilateral cooperation, especially in cooperation with the European countries.

January 31, 2020

Russian Embassy: Economic Networking Russia and Austria

In order to promote economic relations between the two countries, Ambassador Dmitrij Ljubinskij invited about 160 members of the Wirtschaftsforum der Führungskräfte (WdF) to the Russian Embassy in Vienna (Nassaupalais - Palais Simon Vienna).

January 31, 2020

UN Executive Director Yury Fedotov Bids Farewell to Vienna

The Russian diplomat Yury Fedotov, who was - until December 31, 2019 - the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and also the Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna (UNOV) has now officially taken his leave.

January 30, 2020

Sobotka in Rome Promotes EU Enlargement Towards the Western Balkans

Meetings with top Italian politicians, but also the commemoration of the Shoah were the focus of a visit by Wolfgang Sobotka to Rome.

January 30, 2020

Corona Virus: Austrian Airlines Suspends Flights to Mainland China

AUA Austrian Airlines will suspend its flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai. Also its parent company Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines will suspend their flights to and from Mainland China until February 9th.

January 29, 2020