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Austria - International Political News
Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian foreign politics with reference to the international interest
Russian Foreign Minister Gets Excluded from OSCE Security Meeting
The annual Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Security Council took place between the 1st and 2nd of December in Lodz, Poland, where the Foreign Ministers of the OSCE Countries met. However, the meeting was overshadowed by the back-and-forth situation between the Ministers of some OSCE countries – mainly Poland - and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
December 2, 2022
Austria Gives 8 Million Euros to Syria and Jordan
The Syrian conflict, which has been going on for more than 10 years, has led to one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises. The precarious situation on the ground and in neighboring Jordan, where many Syrian refugees are, is worsening and a political solution to the conflict is not in sight. Austria's humanitarian aid on the ground is helping to prevent illegal migration to Europe, the government said.
November 30, 2022
Iran Nuclear Talks: Iranian Officials Say Talks Are "Dead End"
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the nuclear negotiations have reached a "dead end", adding that Europe has not fulfilled its obligations. Even so, Iran's foreign ministry said it is committed to finding a diplomatic solution to its nuclear dispute with the U.S. and Europe, but it is not optimistic the negotiations with Washington will succeed.
November 29, 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
Orange the World: Austria Combating Violence Against Women
Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread human rights violations. Especially in Austria, the worst violence against women recently occurred, namely femicides. In 2022, Austria will also participate in the UN campaign "Orange the World - 16 Days against Violence", which takes place annually between November 25, the International Day against Violence against Women and Girls, and December 10, the International Human Rights Day.
November 24, 2022
Austria Gives 5.5 Million Euros for Burkina Faso and Mali
The Sahel is facing a multitude of crises. In addition to widespread poverty and the worst drought in decades, armed conflicts and terrorist violence are affecting the people of the region. With a total of 5.5 million euros from the Foreign Ministry's Foreign Disaster Fund, the Austrian federal government aims to alleviate the existing suffering in Burkina Faso and Mali.
November 23, 2022
Austrian Research Center Stresses Too Little Attention to Conflict Countries at COP27
The Austrian Centre for Peace research center calls for stronger cooperation as a solution for climate protection and peace. ACP emphasizes that at the COP27 (UN Climate Change Conference) the impact of the climate crisis in conflict countries was only touched upon marginally, although the pressure of the climate crisis on such countries is the highest.
November 22, 2022
Austrian Parliament Calls for More Support for Protests in Iran
The Austrian Parliament, the National Council, unanimously condemned the violent suppression of the current protests in Iran. The deputies demanded that actions on the part of Iranian institutions in Austria be monitored more closely and punished.
November 22, 2022
Austria Strengthens Cooperation with Serbia and Hungary Against Illegal Migration
Austria, Hungary and Serbia once again consulted on the topic of migration. In the Serbian capital Belgrade, Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer met with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. As a result of Serbia's visa-free policy, Hungary and Austria are exerting pressure on it.
November 21, 2022
Austrian President Van der Bellen Meeting with Iran Experts
Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen met with experts today at noon for an exchange on the current situation in Iran. Afterward, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen spoke about the situation in Iran in a video statement.
November 21, 2022
Austria Participates in Conference to Strengthen Protection Against Explosive Weapons
The high-level international conference to sign the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences of the Use of Explosive Weapons in Inhabited Areas was held in Dublin. Austria was also represented at this conference.
November 20, 2022
Explosions at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant Worry IAEA
There have been several powerful explosions at the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhya, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IAEA experts on site had reported dozens of impacts near and on the site of Europe's largest nuclear facility.
November 20, 2022
North Korea Sets Missile Test on Purposeful Escalation with the West and the IAEA
The provocation on the part of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, which has been going on for years, is becoming more and more intense. In recent weeks alone, a large number of missiles have been fired at both the east and west coasts. The International Atomic Energy Agency fears that North Korea's nuclear program is moving forward.
November 20, 2022
Austria's Chancellor Nehammer on Missile Strike in Poland
According to current knowledge, a misguided Ukrainian missile was the cause of the impact in Poland. Austria's Chancellor Nehammer calls for prudence as the "order of the day,", especially in times of war, and condemns the large-scale Russian missile attack on Ukrainian civilian facilities.
November 16, 2022
Austrian Government Adopts New Three-Year Program for Development Policy
The new three-year program of the Austrian development policy from 2022 to 2024 was adopted. According to the government, the three-year program aims to open up sustainable life prospects for people in partner countries by creating an environment of social and political stability on the ground and sustainable development in line with the 2030 Agenda.
November 16, 2022
How Austria's Population is Developing
Around eight billion people currently live on earth. According to the UN, this figure will rise to around ten billion by the end of the century. According to the latest forecasts, the trend in Europe and Austria is different. Read more about the United Nations World Population Prospects 2022!
November 15, 2022
Austria's Schools Abroad to Meet the Demand for Skilled Workers
Austria's Minister of Education, Science and Research Martin Polaschek presents the future strategy of Austrian schools abroad during his working visit to Albania. During his visit to the Austrian school abroad in Shkodra, the Minister of Education emphasizes the potential of these schools, especially about the demand for skilled workers in Austria, and announces a reorientation of the schools.
November 14, 2022
WWF Austria Demands Climate Conference 2026 in Vienna
The World Climate Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh is being held these weeks. Meanwhile, the environmental protection organization World Wide Fund For Nature is calling on the Austrian federal government to apply for a "Vienna Climate Conference 2026".
November 13, 2022
Space Diplomacy: UNOOSA and United Kingdom on Global Space-Related Climate Action Efforts
With the support of the UK Space Agency, the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs has published a report on the use of space technology to support climate action. At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), the report was released to coincide with Earth Information Day. It aims to improve understanding of how selected stakeholders are utilizing space technology.
November 11, 2022
IAEA at the UN Climate Summit in Egypt
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency is also well-represented at the World Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Between the energy crisis and climate targets, nuclear energy is regaining importance in several countries, and for the agency, the task is to convince.
November 10, 2022
Austria Plans to Increase Climate Aid
A significant increase in Austria's international climate financing budget is planned. The climate protection ministry will provide an additional 220 million euros by 2026, according to Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen at the UN World Climate Conference in Egypt.
November 9, 2022
Austria and European Security: Extended Mandate for EU Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The UN Security Council has renewed the mandate of the EU-led stabilization mission EUFOR Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Austria currently provides 167 soldiers and Major General Anton Wessely an Austrian is in command of the EUFOR force in Bosnia. In recent months, however, Moscow has expressed reservations about the EU mission.
November 9, 2022
Austrian Think Tank Identifies Need for Improvements to Ukraine's Reconstruction Plan
Together with the GROWFORD Institute in Kyiv, the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies has investigated how the Ukrainian government's reconstruction plan, presented in July, should be evaluated. How much will Ukraine's reconstruction cost and where will the money come from?
November 8, 2022
What is the Alps-Adriatic Economic Network?
Since 2007, the Network of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Crafts, Agriculture and Economy of the New Alpe Adria (NAAN) has been working to deepen economic relations. It now comprises - with the new addition of Bolzano - ten chambers from Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, with one million member businesses, NAAN is making rapid progress toward becoming an EU Alps-Adriatic macroregion. Read more to find out about the project.
November 7, 2022
Austrian President Van der Bellen at the UN Climate Summit in Egypt
Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen is going into the COP27 world climate conference with mixed feelings. Given the insufficient or inadequately implemented results of previous climate summits, optimism is "not easy - but necessary," said Alexander Van der Bellen at the conference venue in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
November 7, 2022
Vienna Conference on Journalist Safety 2022
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, the Austrian Foreign Ministry, together with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, hosted the Vienna Conference on the Safety of Journalists. The conference, entitled "Safety of Journalists: Protecting media to protect democracy" was attended by more than 400 representatives of governments, international organizations, media and civil society.
November 6, 2022
Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce and EU-Mercosur Agreement
The Association Agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, includes provisions on political dialogue, cooperation and trade. For the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce, the agreement is a fair trade deal that increases exports and jobs, and high social and environmental standards remain untouched. The EU would be the first region to conclude an agreement with Mercosur.
November 4, 2022
Austria at Western Balkans Conference in Berlin
Austrian Federal Minister Susanne Raab represented Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the Western Balkans Conference in Berlin, as the Austrian Foreign Minister had to cancel his participation due to a positive Corona test. Minister Raab declared at the Western Balkans Conference "that we as the EU must finally get going when it comes to the integration of the six states of the Western Balkans."
November 4, 2022
OSCE Operations in Ukraine and Russian Opposition in Vienna
Russia represents an increasingly tough opposition in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, while the organization is trying to support Ukraine by all means. Despite a veto from Moscow, the OSCE has resumed its work on a limited basis in support of Ukraine despite the closure of the Special Monitoring Mission.
November 3, 2022
Delegation of Iranian Nuclear Negotiators Will Arrive in Vienna
An Iranian delegation will travel to Vienna in the coming days to try to resolve differences with the International Atomic Energy Agency. This was stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
November 3, 2022
Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto Visits Vienna
Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto is visiting Vienna and met with various dignitaries in Vienna. Bilateral talks with Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Secretary-General of the OSCE Helga Maria Schmid and IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi focused on European security, energy security and the Russian war in Ukraine.
November 1, 2022
Celebration of the 99th Foundation Day of Türkiye in Vienna
The invitation of the Turkish Embassy in Austria was accepted by numerous representatives of the diplomatic corps, representatives of Austrian state institutions as well as prominent members of the large Turkish diaspora in Vienna. The reception on the occasion of the celebration of the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey took place in the Strauss Hall of the Vienna Kursalon.
October 30, 2022
Gas Supply Security: Austrian Chancellor Travels to the United Arab Emirates
In order to secure gas supplies for the next few years, an Austrian delegation, led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer, travelled to Saudi Arabia to negotiate future gas supplies. How much liquefied natural gas could be delivered to Austria in the coming years can be read in the following article.
October 29, 2022
President of Hungary Katalin Novák Visits Austria
The Hungarian President, Katalin Novák, is the first head of state to visit the re-elected President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen. The conversation between the two heads of state focused on the fight against illegal migration, climate change and the war in Ukraine.
October 27, 2022
Interpol to Hold its Anniversary General Assembly in Vienna in 2023
Next year, Vienna will have the special honour of hosting the General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organisation, or Interpol. The Assembly is particularly special because the international organisation will be celebrating its centenary next year.
October 27, 2022
UNESCO Celebrates "50 years of World Heritage - 30 Years of Ratification by the Republic of Austria".
At the invitation of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO, the celebrations of this year's double World Heritage anniversary took place. The motto of the event was "50 years of World Heritage - 30 years of ratification by the Republic of Austria" and took place in the historic Kursaal of the town of Baden near Vienna, itself part of the transnational World Heritage site "Great Spa Towns of Europe".
October 24, 2022
South Korean Prime Minister Receives Austrian Foreign Minister
To celebrate 130 years of bilateral relations between South Korea and Austria, the South Korean Prime Minister received Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. On the agenda are topics such as the security situation in the region, a visit to the Demilitarised Zone, business visits and the opening of an exhibition at the Museum of Art History.
October 24, 2022
Russian Organization in Austria Criticizes "Anti-Russian" Posters
The Coordination Council of the Organization of Russian Compatriots in Austria (KSORS) has condemned the appearance of "anti-Russian posters with unacceptable content" in Austria. The poster was on a building of the Angewandte in Vienna, the Applied Arts University. Russia is called a "terrorist state" on the poster.
October 23, 2022
Meet the New Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna of the Republic of Korea
Ham Sang Wook, the Republic of Korea's new Ambassador in Austria and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna presented his credentials to the Austrian Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, and to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Ghada Waly. Meet Ambassador Ham Sang Wook, the new South Korean Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna.
October 21, 2022
Western Balkans Summit in Berlin: "Need Unity in Tackling Illegal Migration"
Austria has been trying to curb illegal migration and smuggling of migrants for a long time. At this year's so-called "Berlin Process", the situation in the Wet Balkans was discussed, especially with regard to the issue of migration, where Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was also present.
October 21, 2022
Ankara and Vienna Sign Cooperation Agreement
The capitals of Austria and Turkey, Vienna and Ankara, will intensify their cooperation in the future. Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig received the Mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, in the City Hall. Both mayors signed a cooperation agreement to this effect in Vienna City Hall.
October 19, 2022
Foreign Policy Report 2021 Puts Security in Europe in the Spotlight
The recently presented Europe and Foreign Policy Report 2021 outlines the foreign policy problems and challenges that Austria, but also Europe, had to deal with in the past year.
October 19, 2022
Intercultural Achievement Awards 2022 Awarded by Austria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
For the 9th time, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents the Intercultural Achievement Awards (IAA) to international and national projects. The award ceremony was opened by Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, at the Vienna Jazz Club Porgy & Bess.
October 18, 2022
Austria and Greece Cooperate Against Illegal Migration and Announced "Closing ranks in the joint fight against trafficking mafia"
Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Greece's Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi announced the joint fight against the "trafficking mafia" at a working meeting in Vienna's Herrengasse. The protection of the EU's external border against illegal migration is a top priority.
October 18, 2022
Austrian Foreign Minister Criticises Iran at the Foreign Affairs Council
At the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, the Austrian Foreign Minister criticised Iran's behaviour, which has always been "part of the circumvention constructions" surrounding the EU sanctions against Russia. Other topics discussed at the Council were the ongoing missile attacks in Ukraine and the EU enlargement around Bosnia and Herzegovina.
October 18, 2022
New UN Human Rights Chief on his First Day in Office: "Human Rights are Humanity's Common Language"
As of today, the Austrian Volker Türk is in office as the new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Already experienced, Türk has dedicated his life to championing human rights and will act as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as of today.
October 17, 2022
German and Austrian Interior Ministers Discuss Migration Issues
The German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and her Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner recently discussed the current migration issue on the sidelines of the EU Council of Interior Ministers. Karner insisted on a joint approach. Furthermore, the two discussed the preparations for the upcoming "Berlin Process".
October 17, 2022
Austria Increases Contribution to World Food Program to 60 Million Euros
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought the issue of food supply into global focus. Therefore, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry budget will be increased to 20 million euros annually from 2023-2025. A strategic partnership between Austria and the World Food Programme (WFP) is also in the works.
October 16, 2022
Slovak Foreign Minister Káčer Visits Vienna
Slovakia's new Foreign Minister Rastislav Káčer paid an inaugural visit to Vienna in one of his first official acts. The exchange with Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg focused on joint action in response to the Russian war on Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis, as well as the European integration of the Western Balkan states.
October 16, 2022
Meet the New Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations in Vienna
Merle Pajula, Estonia's new permanent representative, presented her credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Ghada Waly. Meet Ambassador Merle Pajula, the new Ambassador to Austria and permanent representative of Estonia to the International Organizations in Vienna.
October 13, 2022
