Austria - European Union Political News - Vindobona.org

Representation of the European Commission in Vienna Organized Event “Solidarity and Justice for Ukraine”

The European Commission organized the event "Solidarity and Justice for Ukraine" at the House of the EU in Vienna on the anniversary of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It was attended by a large number of diplomatic, academic and political participants, who reaffirmed support for Ukraine at all levels and discussed ways to punish Russian atrocities.

February 27, 2023

Minister Edtstadler Wants to Maintain Unity in the European Union

Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler said that the European Union must maintain unity despite the economy and the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

February 24, 2023

Romania’s Foreign Minister Not Satisfied with Austria’s Schengen Veto

Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has expressed his dissatisfaction about Austria’s Schengen block in the Austrian newspaper “Die Presse”. He said that the Veto was “unjust, unexpected, and unannounced”.

February 22, 2023

Chancellor Nehammer Discussed Migration Issues With the Spanish Prime Minister in Vienna

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Vienna. He mentioned the Spanish expertise in terms of external border control. On the same day, he also met with the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo.

February 20, 2023

Finnish Prime Minister Marin Visited Vienna

The Finnish head of government Sanna Marin visited Vienna for the first time for working talks and was received by Chancellor Karl Nehammer and President Alexander Van der Bellen. Finland and Austria share enough interests, but not the status of neutrality.

February 20, 2023

30 Years of EU Single Market: Austria’s Advantages are Apparent

30 Years of the EU Single Market have had a positive influence on Austria’s economy. This is shown by the reports of the Ministry of Labor and Economy and the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO).

February 18, 2023

New Year’s Reception for the Diplomatic Corps at Austrian Presidential Chancellory

Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen hosted the New Year's reception for the Diplomatic Corps in the Ceremonial Hall of the Vienna Hofburg. Van der Bellen used his speech to clarify Austria's diplomatic goals and Austrian Neutrality.

February 16, 2023

Austrian Security Policy Handbook Presented in Japan

To increase knowledge of the European Union's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and thus lay the groundwork for cooperation, the Austrian Common Security and Defense Policy Handbook was translated into several Asian languages. This handbook has now been presented in Japan.

February 15, 2023

Federal Police Director Emphasizes Importance of EU External Border Protection

Austrian Federal Police Director Michael Takács took part in the “Effective Management of EU Borders” conference in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. The conference had two central themes: protecting EU external borders and combating smuggling.

February 12, 2023

Chancellor Nehammer Emphasizes Migration Subject in the EU

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer at the EU summit has called for more financing for EU border protection. He also called for more control on irregular migration at EU level.

February 9, 2023

Chancellor Nehammer Threatens to Block Summit Declaration Because of Migration Issues

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has threatens to block a summit declaration of all EU heads of state. The reason for this is that the Chancellor is opinionated that the EU does not put enough work into the issue of migration.

February 8, 2023

Austria's Agriculture Minister Totschnig against Mercosur Agreement

Austria's Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig is against ratification of the Mercosur trade agreement. In his opinion, the agreement with South America would put domestic farm families and supplies under pressure.

February 6, 2023

Austrian Parliament Implements EU Directive for Better Protection of Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers are to be better protected in Austria in the future. After a delay of more than a year, the Austrian Parliament today passed a new Whistleblower Protection Act and accompanying amendments to the law, thus implementing a corresponding EU directive.

February 1, 2023

Minister Edtstadler Met With Hungarian Minister Varga in Vienna

Austrian Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler has met with the Hungarian Minister of Justice Judit Varga in Vienna where they talked about current challenges such as illegal immigration and the Russian aggression on Ukraine.

January 31, 2023

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Bujar Osmani Will Visit Brussels

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani will visit Brussels to meet with EU and NATO Officials.

January 30, 2023

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Met with Chancellor Nehammer

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer Welcomed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Vienna. Their main topic of discussion was migration and requesting EU regulations regarding the external borders.

January 30, 2023

Chancellor Nehammer Visited Georgia

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has visited Georgia and expressed his support for the country’s EU integration. He also understood the complicated situation and showed comprehension regarding the Russia sanctions.

January 30, 2023

Italy Initiates EU Proceedings Against Austria

The Italian Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini has taken legal action against Austria. He has initiated an infringement procedure because of the transit driving bans in Tyrol.

January 25, 2023

Schallenberg Attended the Foreign Council Affairs Meeting in Brussels

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg attended the Foreign Council Affair meeting in Brussels, where he talked about several topics regarding European Security and other subjects.

January 24, 2023

Chancellor Nehammer Requests Two Bio. Euros for Bulgaria’s Border Protection

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer asked the EU Commission for two Bio. Euros to support Bulgaria’s border control. Nehammer and the Minister of Interior Gerhard Karner observed the situation this week at the Bulgarian-Turkish border.

January 24, 2023

IAEA Chief Grossi and Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg Visit Brussels

Austria recorded a small but significant diplomatic success at Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg's visit to the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. Already in the run-up to the meeting, the EU foreign ministers met Rafael Grossi, Director General of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the initiative of Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

January 23, 2023

Foreign Minister Schallenberg Met With His Macedonian Counterpart Bujar Osmani

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg had a meeting with his counterpart of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani. Since North Macedonia will hold the OSCE Chairmanship in 2023, they discussed a lot of OSCE-related topics.

December 14, 2022 · Updated: January 20, 2023; 12:00

Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani Visits Vienna

The Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, met in Vienna with the Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, as well as with the OSCE leadership, as North Macedonia will assume the OSCE Chairmanship for 2023.

September 1, 2022 · Updated: January 20, 2023; 12:00

EU Grants Austria Subsidies Which Amounts 100 Mio. Euros.

The European Commission will grant Austria 100 million Euros as a measure for the reduction of power consumption approved under the framework for state aid in crises.

January 19, 2023

Swiss President Alain Berset Visited Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen welcomed the newly inaugurated Swiss President Alain Berset. It is a tradition that newly inaugurated Swiss Presidents make their first state visits abroad in Austria. Berset also met with Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, and many more Austrian politicians.

January 16, 2023

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti Visited Vienna

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited Vienna, where he met with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and then held a speech at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna in the evening.

January 16, 2023

Vienna Establishes "External Reporting Office for EU Infringements"

An External Reporting Office for EU Legal Violations, which was set up in Vienna at the beginning of 2023 following the requirements of the EU Whistleblowing Directive, is to make it possible to report violations of EU law. Marion Winkler took over the management of the External Reporting Office with an appointment decree.

January 10, 2023

Czech Foreign Minister States That Austria's Schengen-No Was Unexpected

Czech Presidency Europe was briefly troubled by Austria's No to Schengen enlargement regarding Bulgaria and Romania. For Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, Austria's "no" vote regarding Romania's and Bulgaria's Schengen accession came "suddenly".

January 4, 2023

Foreign Minister Schallenberg and his Slovenian Counterpart Travel to Montenegro on Behalf of the EU

On behalf of the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Foreign Minister Schallenberg and his Slovenian colleague Tanja Fajon traveled to the previous model country among the accession candidates. It is currently going through a constitutional crisis.

December 21, 2022

Minister Edtstadler Pushes for Registration of Migrants in Hungary

Austrian Minister of Europe Karoline Edtstadler pushes for the initial registration of migrants in Hungary before they enter Austria. This is seen as a preemptive measure against the rising numbers of illegal migrants in Austria.

December 20, 2022

EU Delegation in Vienna Organized Charity Gala "#EU4UKRAINE

The EU Delegation to the International Organizations in Vienna organized for the third time the EU Multilateral Christmas Charity Gala. The Kalush Orchestra, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) winner from Ukraine, also came to MuTh for the EU Multilateral Christmas Charity Gala in favor of Ukraine and performed together with the Janoska Ensemble, the Chorus Juventus of the Vienna Boys Choir.

December 18, 2022

Minister Schallenberg at the European Foreign Affairs Council

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg traveled to Brussels for the European Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) to meet with his counterparts from the other EU-member states. The main focus of the agenda was Iran.

December 14, 2022

Austrian President Van der Bellen Visited Slovenia

Re-elected Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen traveled to Slovenia for an official visit with his counterpart Borut Pahor. Besides discussions around the common issues in Slovenian, Austrian and European politics, this visit was also a farewell meeting between "personal friends", as Pahor is leaving office.

December 14, 2022

List of National Days of the Home Countries of All Foreign Missions and Delegations in Vienna, Austria

The Vindobona table below is an updated list of National Days of all nations, which belong to at least one of following categories: Foreign Missions and Delegations in Vienna, Austria; Diplomatic Corps and other representations in Austria; International Organizations in Vienna and Permanent Missions; Missions and Delegations to the OSCE.

February 11, 2015 · Updated: December 14, 2022; 08:12

Symbolic Act of Handover in St. Stephen's Cathedral on the Occasion of the Swedish EU Presidency

Sweden's next year's Presidency of the Council of the European Union was acclaimed by the Swedish Embassy with a unique event at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. On the occasion of the traditional Swedish Festival of Lights, St. Stephen's Cathedral hosted a concert featuring a Lucia procession to symbolize the transfer of the EU presidency.

December 13, 2022

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani Visits Vienna

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani came to Vienna for a meeting with Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The visit of Tajani asked for the opportunity to consolidate cooperation and talks with Vienna on the main bilateral issues (especially in the fields of economy, energy and infrastructure), European and international, starting with the migration issue.

December 13, 2022

Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode Accuses Austria of Lying

Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode wrote a letter to Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, strongly criticizing him for Austria's rejection of his country's Schengen accession.

December 12, 2022

Annual Meeting for Intercultural and Religious Dialogue of the European People's Party in Vienna

The annual meeting of the Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue of the European People's Party (EPP) parliamentary group in the European Parliament took place this weekend in Vienna. Without religions and their contribution to the formation of values, a future for Europe is unimaginable, according to the EPP.

December 11, 2022

Romania Got Denied Schengen Because of Austria's Veto

On Thursday, the 26 responsible ministers of the Schengen states held a summit in Tirana where Austria denied Romania and Bulgaria access to the Schengen area. Chancellor Karl Nehammer made reassuring statements on Saturday regarding this issue.

December 11, 2022

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Landsbergis Visits Vienna

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis came to Vienna for a visit, meeting his counterpart in Austria, Alexander Schallenberg. In addition, Landsbergis met with IAEA Chief Rafael Mariano Grossi and OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid. The exchanges focused on the Russian war in Ukraine, in particular European support efforts against the backdrop of the approaching winter, as well as the prosecution of war crimes. In addition, the two foreign ministers discussed current developments in Iran and increasing migration pressure.

December 11, 2022

Wirecard Scandal: Trial of Marsalek and other Austrian Entrepreneurs to Begin

The Wirecard criminal trial in what is believed to be the biggest fraud case in Germany since 1945 begins in Munich. The public prosecutor's office accuses the former Wirecard CEO, Austrian Markus Braun, and his two co-defendants of forming a criminal gang, falsifying the group's balance sheets and cheating lenders of 3.1 billion euros

December 7, 2022

Austria Still Declines the Schengen Expansion

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer confirmed Austria’s negative position towards the Schengen expansion today. At the Western Balkan meeting today in the Albanian capital Tirana, Nehammer declined further Schengen expansions for now.

December 7, 2022

Sweden Received Austria's Minister for Europe Edtstadler

Austria's Minister for Europe Karoline Edtstadler traveled to the Swedish capital Stockholm on a working visit and met with her Swedish counterpart Jessika Roswall for talks on the country's EU presidency next year. The Austrian minister also met with Nobel Prize winner in physics Anton Zeilinger to kick off "Nobel Week".

December 6, 2022

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The 16 Days of Activism is an annual campaign against gender-based violence that runs from November 25 to December 10, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. There are 20 panels on the outside grills of the French Embassy building in Vienna dedicated to preventing and combating violence against women.

December 6, 2022

Schallenberg Travels to Slovakia for “Slavkov 3” Meeting

The Austrian foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg traveled to Slovakia to meet with his Slovak and Czech counterparts to discuss the important topics currently challenging the region.

December 5, 2022

OPEC Plus Sticks to Production Strategy

The OPEC+ oil alliance is sticking to its current production strategy for the time being. EU sanctions against Russia's oil revenues will apply from tomorrow. The OPEC+ countries have nevertheless confirmed their previous oil production targets. However, an expert committee wants to review the production strategy every two months.

December 4, 2022

Austria Condemns Hunger as a Weapon

Austria condemns Russia's tactic of using world hunger as a weapon. Austria pledges € 3.8 million to the initiative "Grain from Ukraine" for the delivery of Ukrainian grain to needy people in Ethiopia and Sudan.

November 28, 2022

Anniversary of 160 Years of Romanian Diplomacy and 15 Years since Romania's Accession to the EU

On the occasion of the Romanian National Day, H.E. Emil Hurezeanu, Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Austria, together with H.E. Stelian Stoian, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Romania to the International Organizations based in Vienna, hosted the reception. The reception on the occasion of the National Day of Romania took place in the premises of the Vienna Stock Exchange Halls.

November 27, 2022

Austria Supports Expansion of Croatian LNG Terminal Krk

Croatia wants to expand its terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the Adriatic island of Krk far beyond its own needs and develop it into a hub for gas supply in the region - gas is also to flow from there to Austria and Germany in the future. At a meeting on Krk, Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder agreed to support each other in strengthening energy security, diversifying energy sources and ensuring the security of supply with natural gas and hydrogen.

November 24, 2022

European Erasmus Program Promotes Mass Sports in Austria

Grassroots sport will be the sport priority in the EU's Erasmus+ program in 2023 and will be allocated budget funds accordingly. The focus will be on European knowledge transfer to strengthen fairness, values and cohesion in sports.

November 23, 2022