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Austria - European Union Political News
Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian - European Union (Brussels) politics with reference to the international interest
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas Visiting Vienna
In preparation for Germany's EU Presidency in the second half of 2020, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas visited Austria and met Foreign Minister Schallenberg, among other things to restore normality in the area of freedom of travel as quickly as possible.
June 19, 2020
Austria's Contribution to the "Conference on the Future of Europe"
Minister for European Affairs Karoline Edtstadler started her Austria Dialogues on the Conference on the Future of Europe (Konferenz zur Zukunft Europas) with a series of talks with representatives of the Federal Provinces, mayors and EU municipal councils.
June 9, 2020
Austrian Airlines Deal: EUR 450 Million for Vienna Hub Guarantee
The Lufthansa subsidiary will receive EUR 450 million from the Republic of Austria, EUR 300 million of which as a loan guarantee and EUR 150 million as equity.
June 9, 2020
Visit to the Western Balkans by Foreign Minister Schallenberg and European Affairs Minister Edtstadler
A trip to the Western Balkans by Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler took the two Austrian People's Party politicians to Albania, Serbia and Kosovo.
June 1, 2020
Austria Agrees to ESM Pandemic Crisis Support
The National Council has given its approval for financial aid within the framework of the ESM. Specifically, Finance Minister Blümel was authorized to approve a decision in the ESM Board of Governors to grant corona financial aid to all applicant ESM member states within the framework of the ESM Pandemic Crisis Support.
May 14, 2020
Austria and Germany Agree to Open Borders on 15 June
The gradual opening of the borders between Austria, Germany and Switzerland will begin as early as Friday. From May 15th onwards there will only be spot checks at the borders between Austria and Germany, both countries announced. From 15 June, the borders are to be opened completely. Opening to Italy is not an issue for the time being.
May 13, 2020
Coronavirus in Europe: Update
European coronavirus infections have passed 1,000,000. The number of deaths has now reached 166,007. According to the WHO World Health Organisation, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is still in Europe, together with the US, where there are now more deaths than in the rest of the world. The number of infected and dead people is still doubling every four days in most European countries. Most of the 32 European countries presented in this study are under a state of emergency with curfews and border controls. There is also a lack of doctors, lung respiratory equipment and hospital beds. Following the situation update for the European Union, EEA, United Kingdom and Switzerland, as of April 21, 2020.
April 21, 2020
Coronavirus Tracing Apps: What is the EC's Position on this?
The European Commission has published a guidance on the development of new apps that support the fight against coronavirus in relation to data protection and intends to ensure full data protection standards of apps fighting the pandemic.
April 20, 2020
Easier Access to Austria for Commuters from Abroad
"Ongoing consultations with Austria's neighbouring countries are making life easier for commuters from abroad", says European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler.
April 14, 2020
Crisis Between Athens and Ankara: Greek Prime Minister in Vienna
Thousands of refugees still hope to enter the EU from Turkey. Athens is therefore strengthening its border management, seeking support from the EU and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travelled to Vienna.
March 11, 2020
EC Renews Talks with North Macedonia and Albania
The process of rapprochement between the two Western Balkan countries and the EU European Union, supported by Austria, now seems to be gaining momentum again after the EU Commission today reiterated its recommendation to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia.
March 2, 2020
Money Laundering: Austria about to Ratify European Council Directive
The Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism, which has already been ratified by 35 member states of the Council of Europe, is now also being discussed in the Austrian National Council.
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
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
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
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
Minister for European Affairs Edtstadler: Inaugural Visit to Brussels
During her inaugural visit to Brussels, the new European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler met members of the EU Commission as well as the Special Representative for the Fight against Anti-Semitism, Katharina von Schnurbein. In the course of her talks with EU Neighbourhood Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, Edtstadler stressed that "Austria remains committed to the rapid start of EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania".
January 23, 2020
War in Iran: Austria for EU Mediation Role
In view of the tense situation in the Middle East, Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg pleads at a special meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels for a return to dialogue, the continuation of the nuclear agreement and a possible mediation role for the EU.
January 10, 2020
EU Climate Neutrality by 2050, but Austria Against Nuclear Energy
The EU's commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 is an important milestone. Each state is free to evaluate its own national climate mix. The Austrian head of government stressed that nothing had changed in Austria's attitude that nuclear energy is not a safe and sustainable source of energy.
December 13, 2019
Green Deal: Austria Against Nuclear Energy
In contrast to other partners, MEPs from all Austrian political groups stressed that Austria should oppose nuclear energy at European level. From Austria's point of view, the climate neutrality sought by the European Commission should be built up safely and sustainably.
December 11, 2019
Austria's Budget Planning in Line with EU Rules
In its assessment of the budget planning of the euro states, the European Commission has established that Austria fulfils the requirements of the EU Stability and Growth Pact in its budget planning for 2020.
November 20, 2019
Paris Peace Forum: "Protecting Civilians in Populated Areas"
At the Peace Forum, Austrian Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein met French President Emmanuel Macron, several Heads of State and Government and directors of international organisations. She also presented the initiative "Protecting Civilians in Populated Areas".
November 12, 2019
Repatriation: Round-Table with Representatives of African Embassies at the Ministry of the Interior
Embassy representatives from French-speaking African countries, representatives of the French Office for Immigration and Integration and representatives of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior met in Vienna to strengthen cooperation in the field of return and reintegration.
November 12, 2019
Nuclear Deal: Austria Disappointed at Iran's Behaviour
The result of a meeting of the Council of EU Foreign Ministers on regional developments in the Gulf States and Iran is to get Iran to comply again with the agreements of the Vienna Agreement.
November 12, 2019
New Head of the European Commission in Austria Took Up His Post
Martin Selmayr, until recently Secretary General of the European Commission and previously Head of Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker, became Head of the Commission's Representation in Austria on 1 November. The Representation has around 20 staff and acts as a link between Brussels and the people, politics, business, media and interest groups in Austria.
October 31, 2019
House of the European Union in Vienna: More than 500,000 Visitors in 10 Years
For exactly 10 years, the House of the European Union in Wipplingerstraße has been a meeting place for all those who wish to exchange views on the EU. The Representation of the European Commission and the Liaison Office of the European Parliament in Austria operate under this same roof. Together with numerous partners, they have organised some 2450 events over the past ten years, welcoming some 530,000 visitors.
October 16, 2019
Turkey: Schallenberg Calls for an End to EU Candidate Status
The meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg focused on the Turkish military offensive in Northern Syria. In the run-up to the meeting, Foreign Minister Schallenberg emphasised that the military action was "simply wrong" and that it was now the EU's turn to take clear decisions.
October 16, 2019
EU Once Again Fails to Reach Deal on North Macedonia and Albania
The two Western Balkan states must continue to wait for the hoped-for start of EU accession negotiations. France, the Netherlands and Denmark blocked an EU decision in support of the two Balkan states and justified it with doubts about the progress of reforms. Austria has pledged its support until the last minute and has tried to turn the tide.
October 16, 2019
Vienna Migration Agency Develops Recommendations for EU
Entitled "Breaking the gridlock and moving forward: Recommendations for the next five years of EU migration policy", participants of the Vienna Migration Conference 2019 will explore migration policy options and the formulation of future strategies.
October 11, 2019
Visit of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia to Austria
While the Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski pays his respects to Austria and the Federal President continues to strongly support the accession of North Macedonia into the European Union, it becomes known from Paris that France's President Emmanuel Macron is vetoing EU accession negotiations with the Balkan states of North Macedonia and Albania, as he apparently considers the progress made so far in the two countries to be insufficient.
October 11, 2019
Start of the Austrian-Slovenian Year of Neighbourhood Dialogue
The Federal Ministry for Europe Integration and Foreign Affairs opened the Austrian-Slovenian Year of Neighbourhood Dialogue with a concert with Austrian and Slovenian artists in the Viennese REAKTOR and in the presence of the Slovenian ambassador Ksenija Škrilec. More than 60 cultural events are planned in both countries until autumn 2020.
October 10, 2019
Schallenberg: Full Integration into the European Union for Albania
After his visit to North Macedonia, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met with representatives of the Albanian state and city governments in Tirana.
October 8, 2019
25 Years of Diplomatic Relations between North Macedonia and Austria
Working visit of Alexander Schallenberg to the Macedonian leadership in Skopje, with the aim of exchanging views on the opening of EU accession negotiations and regional issues, and to reassure North Macedonia of full Austrian support for a speedy EU accession.
October 7, 2019
Bulgarian Head of State Radew Met Austria's Heads of State
During the first official visit of the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev to Vienna, he met with President Van der Bellen in the Hofburg, Chancellor Bierlein in the Federal Chancellery and President Sobotka in Parliament.
October 7, 2019
Hearing of Austrian Commissioner-Designate Johannes Hahn
The Austrian EU Commission candidate Johannes Hahn passed the stress test in the EU Parliament.
October 4, 2019
Juncker: EU Requires a Strong Austrian Voice
European Commission President Juncker congratulated Sebastian Kurz on his victory in the National Council elections.
October 1, 2019
New Croatian Foreign Minister in Vienna
The visit of the new Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić-Radman, to the Foreign Ministry in Vienna focused on the forthcoming EU Presidency, which Croatia will assume for the first time on 1 January 2020, as well as the possible start of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.
September 13, 2019
The European Way: Meet the Team of Ursula von der Leyen
At the heart of the new Commission's work is the need to address the changes in climate, technology and demography that are transforming European societies and way of life. Von der Leyen has structured and presented her team according to these requirements. Read below where the 27 commissioners come from and what they represent.
September 10, 2019
Austrian Johannes Hahn Becomes EU Budget Commissioner
Today, Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented her team and the new structure of the next European Commission. Austrian Johannes Hahn will be in charge of Budget and Administration, and will report directly to Von der Leyen. According to the President-elect von der Leyen, as a long-serving member of the College, he knows about the importance of nurturing a modern administration.
September 10, 2019
Western Balkans: Meeting of Austria with the Heads of State of Croatia and Slovenia
Traditional meeting of the presidents of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Slovenia, Borut Pahor, and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in the Croatian coastal town of Šibenik. The objective was more common EU foreign policy.
September 5, 2019
Integration Report 2019: Asylum Applications Decline, Immigration Persists
The Expert Council on Integration chaired by Prof. Dr. Katharina Pabel presented Austria's ninth Integration Report. The report deals with integration monitoring and the perspectives of integration. It covers topics such as immigration, asylum, residence, school, apprenticeship, adult education, labour market, social issues, dealing with different gender roles, integration of young people, family reunification, marriage migration and dealing with religious diversity. Read the key findings here.
September 5, 2019
Schallenberg: "Europe is incomplete as long as the countries of the Western Balkans are not part of the EU"
Foreign Minister Schallenberg once again sees Austria within the framework of the EU as one of the strongest advocates for the Western Balkan states and calls at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Helsinki for a rapid rapprochement of the Western Balkan states.
September 3, 2019
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová's First Visit to Vienna
The first visit of the newly elected Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová to Vienna led to Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein.
September 2, 2019
Ban Ki-moon at the Forum Alpbach: Promoting the SDGs in Europe with a Global Mindset
Delivering a keynote, Chairman Ban Ki-moon encouraged all national leaders to act as global leaders with a global citizenship mindset, which he said is a truly crucial asset for every individual to have in order to achieve sustainable development in a global society.
August 29, 2019
European Forum Alpbach: Promoting the SDGs in Europe
At the European Forum in Alpbach, Tyrol, experts, diplomats and politicians discussed the promotion of UN sustainability goals in Europe.
August 29, 2019
Slovakia's First Female President Comes to Austria
The newly elected Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová visits Vienna for an official visit and is welcomed there by the Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. The visit will also include a meeting with Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein.
August 28, 2019
Alignment of the Western Balkans with the EU: Slovenian Parliament President Met Sobotka
The President of the Slovenian Parliament Dejan Židan and the President of the Austrian National Council Wolfgang Sobotka met on the sidelines of the Salzburg Festival to discuss the rapprochement of the Western Balkans to the EU and the EU after the elections to the European Parliament.
August 20, 2019
Economic Growth: Austria Slightly Above EU Average
The Austrian economy is likely to grow by 1.5% in 2019. 1.2% growth is expected for the euro zone and 1.4% for the EU as a whole.
August 8, 2019
Head of the European Commission in Vienna Leaves for Berlin
The current head of the EC European Commission in Vienna, the German citizen Dr. Jörg Wojahn, will move back to Germany as Head of the European Commission's Representation in Berlin.
August 7, 2019
More EU Infringement Procedures Against Austria
Austria is confronted with an above-average number of infringement proceedings by the European Commission. These include not only proceedings concerning the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment, but also failures in the areas of public procurement, financial market regulation and the fight against tax fraud. Now the EC has also opened an infringement procedure concerning the indexation of family allowances.
July 31, 2019
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