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Vienna's International Organizations, Missions & Institutes
Read the latest headlines about diplomatic missions and international organizations in Vienna and Austria
EUR 2.4 Million for Covid-19 Vaccine in Developing Countries
In the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Austria will be supporting the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in a total of 92 developing countries. Foreign Minister Schallenberg warns that the crisis has underlined the "inequalities and fragilities within the community of states" and therefore demands an international approach regarding Covid-19 vaccination.
December 17, 2020
Funding for Erasmus Program Is Increased
One of the European Union's most successful programs, the Erasmus+, will once again receive an increase of funding. In 2019 alone, the program supported almost 1 million learning stays abroad and provided funding for more than 100,000 organizations and about 25,000 projects.
December 16, 2020
Von der Leyen Hopes for Joint Start of Covid-19 Vaccinations
EU Commission President Von der Leyen wants a joint and rapid start of Covid-19 vaccinations for all EU member countries. After the likely approval of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), vaccines will be distributed among the member states and vaccination will start immediately.
December 16, 2020
Re-Invent the EU: Austria Discusses the European Union
The future of the European Union is at stake. Austrian politicians and EU experts discuss the future of the Union in Austria in order to "make Europe a little bit better every day". A series of debates, conferences and other events are initiated to make sure that Austria stays in the right track when it comes to its contribution to the European Union.
December 15, 2020
Austria Helps: Covid-19 Accelerates Global Crises
The Austrian government has decided to increase its funding for the Foreign Disaster Fund and the Austrian Development Agency, which are both responding to ongoing crises in the world. In total, the two programs will be able to help people in need with over EUR 175 million in 2021, an increase of almost EUR 40 million compared to 2020.
December 15, 2020
65th Anniversary of Austria's UN Membership
On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Austria's UN membership, Foreign Minister Schallenberg underlines the importance of the cooperation between the member countries, especially in times like these. He stresses that Austria will continue to do everything in its power to maintain and enhance the functioning international cooperation.
December 15, 2020
European Innovation Council Funds Austrian Projects
Two projects with Austrian-based research are involved in a new funding project of the EU's European Innovation Council. A total amount of EUR 74 million is distributed among 18 projects that research in cutting-edge technologies. Additionally to the funding, coaching and business development supported is provided by the Council.
December 14, 2020
New European Climate Target: Kurz and Gewessler Delilghted
The European Council has agreed on a new climate target for 2030. The member states want to decrease annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent and also take other steps on their path to climate neutrality until 2050. Austria's Chancellor Kurz and Minister Gewessler are pleased with the agreement.
December 11, 2020
European Council: Kurz Hopes for Rapid Approval of Vaccine
Prior to the European Council, Austria's Chancellor Kurz hopes for a rather fast approval process of a Covid-19 vaccine and is looking forward to a succession of close cooperation between the EU and the United States. Other relevant topics for the Council will be sanctions for Turkey, Brexit negotiations, EU climate targets, and the joint fight against terrorism.
December 10, 2020
Exhibition "25 Years of Austria in the EU - Growing in EUrope"
Since this year marked the 25th anniversary of Austria as a member country of the EU, the House of the EU in Vienna will display an appropriate exhibition in its windows until January 7, 2020. This exhibition can also be viewed virtually through a 3D tour, in case a visit to the EU House will not work out.
December 10, 2020
WKO and IV: Need for "Climate Protection with Common Sense"
The heads of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) demand appropriate framework conditions for climate-friendly behavior instead of the race for ever higher climate targets. Both Secretary Generals want "climate protection with common sense".
December 10, 2020
International Visitor Leadership Program Celebrates 80th Anniversary
The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program, celebrates its 80th anniversary. The program has opened doors for more than 225,000 participants from all over the globe and has connected current and emerging leaders to US culture and society.
December 9, 2020
Selmayr Visits Van der Bellen
Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Austria, Martin Selmayr, visited Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen prior to the upcoming European Council. The two politicians discussed current issues in Europea including the Covid-19 pandemic, the relations with the United States and the Brexit negotiations with the United Kingdom.
December 9, 2020
Schallenberg Wants to Work Shoulder to Shoulder with United States
At the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU in Brussels the Foreign Ministers discussed transatlantic relations, the continuing tensions with Turkey and current trouble spots such as Ethiopia and Belarus. Austria's Minister Schallenberg hopes for improved relations between the United States and the EU in the near future.
December 7, 2020
Edtstadler Welcomes European Democracy Action Plan
The European Commission has presented the European Democracy Action Plan with which the EU wants to promote basic human rights values and democracy worldwide. Austria's EU Minister Edtstadler welcomes this initiative and demands a clear focus on the digital area of the plan.
December 4, 2020
New EU Guidelines Relax Air Travelling
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) together with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have issued new guidelines for air travel, which should guide the member states in their respective decisions with regard to Covid-19 measures.
December 3, 2020
Europe-Wide Innovation Award Goes to Wiener Linien
The Europe-wide Innovation in Politics Award 2020 goes to the research project RemiHub, coordinated, among others, by Wiener Linien and the Vienna University of Technology. RemiHub focuses on the urban parcel delivery and was already tested for different delivery services in Vienna.
December 3, 2020
EU Multilateral Christmas Gala in Vienna
Vienna will be the host city of the EU Multilateral Christmas Gala taking place on December 19. The follow-up concert of the "TOGETHER as ONE" event in May will include a special and unique arrangement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony recorded live from the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn.
December 2, 2020
EU Ministers Discuss Reconstruction of Cultural Sector
The EU Ministers for Culture have come together virtually to discuss the reconstruction and the strengthening of the cultural sector. The current pandemic has shown how vulnerable this particular sector is and establishing proper measures in order to avoid similar downfalls in the future is the highest goal for the EU Ministers.
December 2, 2020
EIB Group Cooperates with Hypo Vorarlberg
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has decided to support Austria's economy by unlocking part of Hypo Vorarlberg's regulatory capital. These funds will be used to invest in energy efficiency projects which are directly in line with the EIB's commitment to increasing its climate action lending.
December 1, 2020
Red Ribbon at Austrian Parliament Draws Attention to World AIDS Day
In order to draw attention to World AIDS Day on December 1, the Austrian Parliament has installed a Red Ribbon on Vienna's Hofburg. National Council President Sobotka points out the recent research, treatment and therapy successes and demands tolerance for and the inclusion of people infected with HIV.
December 1, 2020
Vienna Prepares for Mass Testing
The City of Vienna prepares to test its population for Covid-19. The responsible city departments, emergency organizations, and the Austrain Armed Forces have taken measures to provide test capacities for the period from December 4 to December 13. Within this period, every Viennese resident above the age of 10 is eligible for testing.
November 30, 2020
Schallenberg Honors Outstanding Intercultural Projects
Austria's Foreign Ministry honored international intercultural projects in the categories of sustainability, current events, innovation, media, and integration. The prizes went to organizations from France, Kosovo, Indonesia, Poland and Austria, which all played a significant role in impacting communities in the respective countries.
November 30, 2020
Eurostat: Austria Is Second in EU With Research Expenditures
In its recent publication, the statistical office of the European Union, Eurostat, put Austria on second place for research expenditure relative to GDP. Austria has invested 3.19 percent of its gross domestic product in R&D, which is only surpassed by Sweden with 3.39 percent of the country's GDP.
November 27, 2020
Von der Leyen and Kurz: Light At the End of the Tunnel
After a virtual meeting between EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Austria's Chancellor Kurz both assured that there is a light at the end of the tunnel of the Covid-19 pandemic. The two politicians have discussed EU's vaccine strategy and other topics regarding the ongoing pandemic.
November 27, 2020
Austria's Top Managers Launch Economy4Future Initiative
Some of Austria's top managers have launched the economy4future initiative, which focuses on the fight against climate change. The campaign wants to promote dialogue between big companies and young people in order to better shape the economic future in harmony with the resources of the planet.
November 26, 2020
UN Campaign Orange the World: Parliament Shines in Orange
The UN campaign Orange the World is the reason for the Austrian Parliament shining in orange from November 25 to November 29. The Parliament is one of 130 buildings in Austria that want to draw attention to the fight against violence against women - the topic of the UN campaign.
November 25, 2020
Schallenberg: "Compliance With International Humanitarian Law Is a Duty"
Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg emphasizes that "compliance with international humanitarian law is a duty, not a freestyle" before the Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The UN Convention prohibits, among others, the use and production of cluster munitions.
November 25, 2020
Selmayr: Member States Need To Decide on Skiing at Christmas
The recent debate about skiing during the Christmas holidays will need to be regulated on a national level, according to the Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Austria, Martin Selmayr. Selmayr states that the EU has neither the obligation nor the expertise to impose any EU wide rules in this matter.
November 25, 2020
First Austrian Swedish Innovation Exchange Day
The Austrian and Swedish government have decided to hold their first ever Austrian Swedish Innovation Exchange Day, which will try to kick-off a lasting bilateral relationship with regard to innovation, business and industry. The event will be attended by Austrian and Swedish politicians as well as representatives of the economic sector.
November 23, 2020
Violence Protection Summit Welcomes International Guests
The Violence Protection Summit organized by Austria's Federal Chancellery and the Federal Ministry of the Interior will be supported by international participation. UN Special Rapporteur Dubravka Simonovic and EU Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli will be participating in the summit.
November 23, 2020
International Mobility Days 2020 Held Virtually
The International Mobility Days of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce are held virtually. The mobility industry is one of the fastest evolving industries and the future of transportation, especially in growing cities, is a topic that has been dominating international entrepreneurial acton for years.
November 19, 2020
The Vienna Service Office - The Embassy of the City of Vienna inside the Vienna International Centre
The Vienna International Centre hosts a branch office of the City of Vienna, whose sole purpose is to offer the staff of the UN organizations and their relatives rapid and individual assistance with questions of daily life and to provide them with urgently needed information.
November 19, 2020
#RedWednesday: Austrian Parliament Participates For First Time
The campaign #RedWednesday which is organized by the relief organization "Aid to the Church in Need" will be supported by the Austrian Parliament for the first time. The campaign is supported by many countries and raises awareness for persecuted and threatened Christians all around the world.
November 18, 2020
Vienna Migration Conference: The Effects of Covid-19
The Vienna Migration Conference is taking place from November 16 to November 19, 2020, and can be followed online. Due to Covid-19, this year's event is held solely online and, as a matter of fact, will also examine the effects of the current crisis on migration and migration policy.
November 18, 2020
City of Vienna And Global 2000: Clean Drinking Water for Children From Chernobyl
The City of Vienna together with the environmental protection organization Global 2000 will provide another 15 drinking water purification systems that will be installed in the eastern Ukraine. These installations will provide fresh drinking water for thousand of children and their families.
November 17, 2020
Prize for Pre-Scientific Papers: "We Are Europe"
For the first time, the European Commission in Austria together with the Liaison Office of the European Parliament and the Ministry of Education has awarded the "We are Europe" prize to several young Austrians, who have shown a particular good understanding of European topics in their pre-scientific papers.
November 17, 2020
Austrian School Receives VET Innovators Award
The Higher College for Engineering Wolfsberg (HTL Wolfsberg) wins the prize as "entrepreneurial school" in the category VET Innovators Awards during the European Week of Vocational Training. The school has impressed with its sustainable business collaborations and its successes in innovation competitions.
November 13, 2020
Macron, Merkel, Von der Leyen and Kurz on the Fight Against Terrorism
At a video conference, Macron, Merkel, Rutte, Von der Leyen, Michel and Kurz have agreed that the EU needs to act decisively and jointly against a terrorism and extremism. Following the recent terrorist attacks in France and Austria, the politicians demand further discussions about the future procedure of the fight against terrorism.
November 11, 2020
Eurochambres President Demands Rapid Measures for Businesses
At the presentation of the 28th Eurochambres Economic Survey, President of the Association for European Chambers of Commerce Leitl demands "immediate help" for businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, the survey results show sharp declines in many economic indicators.
November 11, 2020
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Chinese Embassy in Vienna
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Austria is located at Metternichgasse 4 in the 3rd district of Vienna, near the Belvedere Palace. The building in which the Embassy is located is also known as Palais Bratmann-Thorsch and was formerly the residence of Austrian-Jewish industrialists and bankers.
November 11, 2020
Austria Supports Syrian Refugees in Lebanon and Jordan
The Austrian government has decided to support Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon with EUR 1 million. The Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister are sure that by supporting Austrian NGOs, the aid will "be helping directly in the crisis regions of the Middle East".
November 11, 2020
Austrian Economic Mission to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain
The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber is organizing an open-industry economic mission to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The program includes networking with local business leaders and multipliers, preparations for the postponed Expo 2020 in 2021 and the opening of new business opportunities.
November 10, 2020
European Vocational Skills Week: Focus on Green and Digital Transition
The European Vocational Skills Week focuses on vocational education and training for environmental and digital change. Numerous online events from 38 countries can be attended to further knowledge and careers. Especially in times of economic and social hardship, obtaining new skills might provide decent recovery.
November 10, 2020
Integration Minister Raab: "Increasing Radicalization Tendencies Need More Determined Cooperation"
At a video conference with her European counterparts, Austria's Integration Minister Raab demanded even more determined cooperation at the EU level to fight extremism and terrorism. She emphasizes the fact that this fight can be only battled together and that it is important to detect the breeding ground for ideologies that stand against common European values.
November 9, 2020
EU Council President in Vienna
EU Council President Michel came to Vienna to commemorate the victims of the Vienna terror attack and to discuss measures that could enhance the fight against terrorism. Chancellor Kurz and Michel both agreed on the fact that the EU needs to find joint solutions for Political Islam and the terror that is often a result.
November 9, 2020
EU Increases Funding for Austrian-Lead Covid-19 Research Projects
Through the Horizon 2020 research program, the EU has increased its funding for 23 Covid-19 related research projects. Two of the funded projects are lead by Austrian companies and four more rely on important Austrian partners to further their research efforts.
November 6, 2020
Vienna Islamist Terror Attack: Live Updates
The attack by an Islamist terrorist began on Monday evening in downtown Vienna directly in front of a synagogue. Five people died, including the suspect. The dead suspect, a 20-year-old man with Albanian roots and parents from North Macedonia, was a sympathizer of the terrorist militia Islamic State and possessed both, the Austrian and the Macedonian citizenship. Twenty-two people were injured, some in critical condition. Three days of state mourning was decided. The investigations are running at full speed. However, it is now assumed that there was only one suspect.
November 2, 2020 · Updated: November 6, 2020; 12:10
Raids on Islamists in Germany after the Vienna Terrorist Attack
The assassin was apparently not only well-connected to Switzerland, but also had connections to Germany. In the meantime, the German police have carried out raids on several residential and commercial premises of suspected Islamists.
November 6, 2020
EU Budget: Austrian Commissioner Hahn Welcomes New Agreement
For the first time ever, the disbursement of funds from the next EU budget will be directly connected to the rule of law of each member state. This was negotiated by representatives of the European Parliament and the Council; among them is Austria's EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn.
November 5, 2020