Vienna's International Organizations, Missions & Institutes

Vienna - Moscow: Maintaining All Communication Channels Is Crucial

All the evidence suggests that Russia is to blame for the poison attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. To date, 19 EU countries and 7 non-EU countries have expelled more than 150 diplomats. By deciding not to expel Russian diplomats, Austria is opposing most of its partner countries.

March 27, 2018

Jens Weidmann Demands in Vienna an End to Massive Bond-Buying Program

The head of Deutsche Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann, visits Vienna to receive the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold (Grosses Goldenes Ehrenzeichen) from Finance Minister Hartwig Löger. In his speech he called for a rapid end to bond purchases by the European Central Bank (ECB).

March 26, 2018

Austrian Support for Peace and Security Programm in Horn of Africa Region

Vienna based ADA - Austrian Development Agency signs an agreement on peace and security in the Horn of Africa with EU and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development). The EUTF - EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa provides 40 million euros. 35 million of this will be made available to ADA and 5 million directly to IGAD. The ADA passes on one million euros to IGAD. The Swedish International Development Agency SIDA will also contribute one million euros..

March 26, 2018

OSCE Secretariat and UNODC Sign Joint Action Plan to Countering Transnational Threats to Security

Recently, the UNODC and the OSCE, two of the largest international organisations in Vienna, signed a follow-up agreement to better address threats and developments threatening international public security, which is against drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism and in favour of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

March 23, 2018

OECD's Angel Gurría and IIASA Agree to Tackle Critical Global Problems Facing Humanity

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Secretary-General Angel Gurira led a high-level OECD delegation to visit IIASA. The Secretary-General gave a special lecture titled "Better Policies to meet the Systemic Challenges of the 21st Century" at the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, which was followed by the signing of an OECD-IIASA Memorandum of Understanding. The aim of the agreement is to jointly shape and develop innovative policies by applying systems thinking to the critical global issues facing humanity.

March 22, 2018

Analysis: Vienna's 900 Years of Close Ties With Former Tax Haven Liechtenstein

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen visited the Principality of Liechtenstein during a state visit to Vaduz. After 14 months, he has finally visited the last of Austria's neighbouring countries. The state was known as a tax haven until November 2013. The Liechtenstein tax affair and offshore leaks have contributed to the neighbouring country signing an international agreement to prevent tax evasion.

March 22, 2018

Austrian Attaché at Tel Aviv Embassy Poses in T-Shirt of Right-Wing Identitarians

Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl has recalled Jürgen-Michael Kleppich, Attaché at the Austrian Embassy in Tel Aviv. The reason for this are media reports that shortly after Kleppich moved to Israel in January 2018, he posted a picture of himself in a T-shirt from the shop of right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement on Facebook.

March 22, 2018

Expat Advise: How Does the Austrian Tax and Social Security System Work?

If you are moving to Vienna as an expat or are already living here with employment income and want to find your way around the complicated Austrian tax and social security system, Vindobona recommends attending an interesting event organised by the Vienna Business Agency and Deloitte Austria.

March 22, 2018

80th Anniversary of Mexico’s Protest Against Anschluss of Austria to Hitler-Germany

On 19 March 1938 Mexico submitted a note of protest to the League of Nations against the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany (known as “Anschluss”). At that time Mexico was the only member of the League of Nations to issue a written protest.

March 21, 2018

Hungary Forces Central European University of US Billionaire Soros to Move to Vienna

In view of the political pressure exerted by the Hungarian government under the proposed amendments to Act CCIV of 2011 on Hungarian National Higher Education, the Central European University (CEU) of US billionaire George Soros feels compelled to look for alternatives. The city of Vienna naturally offers itself as an excellent alternative or supplement. The CEU and the City of Vienna are already in negotiations about a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would enable CEU to open a satellite campus site in Vienna. The Otto Wagner area at Baumgartner Höhe is being examined as a possible location.

March 16, 2018

Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, Austria / 在ウィーン国際機関日本政府代表部

Updated address, contact and mission details of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, Austria (Ständige Vertretung Japans bei den Internationalen Organisationen in Wien), including its priorities in the nine international organizations where the Permanent Mission of Japan (PMJ) is engaged.

March 12, 2018

Annual Report of the European Commission: How did Austria do?

The European Commission presented its annual reports on 27 EU member states. How did Austria do? Well, it kinda ended up with a black eye. The report took a pop at Vienna for a number of structural shortcomings, including tax burden on labour, pension and healthcare expenditures, house prices, restrictive regulation in the services markets, stagnating productivity and and not enough action on spreading digital technologies. That isn’t a particularly good report card for the previous coalition government of ÖVP und SPÖ. Let’s see if the new coalition government of ÖVP und FPÖ can make the grade the next time around.

March 11, 2018

Extremism-Gate: Special Session of Austrian National Council Convened

The somewhat opaque events surrounding the house search of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counter-Terrorism (BVT) are now making political waves. It is deeply disturbing that a unit, which in itself is not responsible for this, is supposed to have carried out the house search at the BVT and allegedly took highly sensitive intelligence information with it. The matter stinks to high heaven. The Austrian opposition has convened the National Council. The parties SPÖ, NEOS and Liste Pilz (LP) demand that Interior Minister Herbert Kickl (FPÖ) provides a complete explanation.

March 9, 2018

Austrian Delegation Seeks to Improve Economic and Political Relations with Jordan

An official visit of President Van der Bellen to Jordan will take place from 17 April to 19 April 2018. The delegation to Amman will be accompanied by an economic mission headed by WKO Vice President Richard Schenz. The economic mission of the WKO is the response of an invitation issued some time ago by the President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Kingdom.

March 8, 2018

IAEA Staff Association Ball 2018 Review: Colours of Africa

Recently, the IAEA Staff Association Ball 2018 took place in the halls of the Vienna Hofburg. Many international guests came together under the motto "Colors of Africa". A great multicultural ball with fantastic dancefloors from ballroom to latin to disco. A glittering and happy end to the 2018 ball season.

March 7, 2018

The OSCE in 2030: Undivided Security in Europe Now More at Risk Than 10 Years Ago

In the Austrian National Defence Academy, the security issue "The OSCE in 2030: Undivided Security in Europe restored?" was discussed in the form of a public panel discussion. At the invitation of the International Institute for Peace (IIP), the Karl-Renner-Institut, the Scientific Cluster for Polemology and Legal Ethics, the FES Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe (ROCPE), the Austrian National Defence Academy and the ISP Institute for Security Policy, Hannes Swoboda as moderator and the panelists Thomas Greminger, Fyodor Lukyanov, Stephanie Liechtenstein, Alena Kupchyna discussed the hoped-for security policy development of Europe and the OSCE.

March 7, 2018

Trevor Traina Looks Forward to Become the United States Ambassador to Austria

Today Mr. Trevor Traina testified before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Nomination Hearing. If confirmed, Mr. Traina is to become the next Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Austria. Traina: I am humbled to be President Trumps nominee to be the United States Ambassador to Austria. If confirmed, his grandmother, who just celebrated her hundredth birthday and who is the widow of his late grandfather Wiley T. Buchanan Jr. (who also served as U.S. ambassador to Austria), would have the confusing honor of being the wife and the grandmother of the Ambassador to Austria.

March 1, 2018

Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein in Austria

Updated embassy and consulate contact details of the Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein in Vienna. Aktualisierte Botschafts- und Konsulatskontaktdetails der Botschaft des Fürstentums Liechtenstein in Wien.

March 1, 2018

Embassy of Austria in the Principality of Liechtenstein

Updated embassy and consulate contact details of the Embassy of Austria in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Aktualisierte Botschafts- und Konsulatskontaktdetails der Österreichischen Botschaft im Fürstentum Liechtenstein.

March 1, 2018

Embassy of Austria in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Updated embassy and consulate contact details of the Embassy of Austria in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Aktualisierte Botschafts- und Konsulatskontaktdetails der Österreichischen Botschaft in Islamabad, Pakistan.

March 1, 2018

Chancellor Kurz Visits President Putin: "The situation in Syria is dramatic"

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz traveled to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin. The focus of the trip was a working meeting with the Russian President, with whom Kurz discussed, among other things, the bilateral relations of both countries, the relationship between Russia and the EU, the Ukraine conflict and the current situation in Syria.

February 28, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in Austria: Juan Bautista Sunye Mendia

Updated background details of Mr. Juan Bautista Sunye Mendia, the current Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in Austria.

February 23, 2018

Federal President Widow Margot Klestil-Löffler Designated to Become Special Envoy to Russia and China

Due to tensions in the CEI Central European Initiative in Trieste between the Italian diplomat Giovanni Caracciolo di Vietri as CEI Secretary General and his deputy Margot Klestil-Löffler, it is rumored that the Foreign Office must find a new job for Klestil-Löffler. This is what the daily "Der Standard" writes in its Thursday issue.

February 23, 2018

Austria's Economic Upturn will Continue in the First Half of 2018

The Austrian National Bank expects GDP growth of 0.8 percent for the first two quarters compared to the previous quarter. The economic momentum is unbroken.

February 22, 2018

Meet Her Excellency Austria's New Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl

Karin Kneissl (53) was recently appointed Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs. At present, she is busy touring Europe and introducing herself to her counterparts, or inviting them to the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs in Vienna.

February 20, 2018

IIASA Builds Bridge through Science with Israel

The Laxenburg based international research organization IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) has recently announced that Israel has become its newest member country. Israel joins 24 other countries whose National Member Organization’s representatives constitute the IIASA Governing Council. Israel has established the Israel Committee for IIASA - made up of representatives from Israeli universities, government ministries, and the public - to represent the Israeli membership of IIASA.

February 19, 2018

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in Austria: Alberto Carnero Fernández (2013-2017)

Updated background details of Alberto Carnero Fernández, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in Austria.

January 1, 2015 · Updated: February 14, 2018; 17:47

Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Vienna, Austria

Updated address and contact details of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Vienna, Austria

February 14, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to Austria: H.E. Mr. Eloi Laourou

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to Austria Eloi Laourou presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

January 9, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi to Austria: H.E. Ms. Else Nizigama Ntamagiro

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi to Austria Else Nizigama Ntamagiro presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

January 9, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Austria: H.E. Mr. Le Dung

The new Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Austria Le Dung presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

January 9, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire to Austria: H.E. Mr. Roger Albéric Kacou

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire to Austria Roger Albéric Kacou presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

January 9, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to Austria: H.E. Mr. Prakash Kumar Suvedi

The new Nepalese Ambassador to Austria Prakash Kumar Suvedi presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

January 9, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Austria: H.E. Mr. Heng Wing Chan

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Austria Heng Wing Chan presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

January 9, 2018

Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in Vienna, Austria

Updated address and contact details of the Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in Vienna, Austria. (Updated Consular Section information please see below.)

January 2, 2018

Goals of Austria's OSCE Chairmanship 2017

Germany will chair the OSCE until the end of December and will then hand over to Austria in 2017. Austria will promote greater security and stability as well as the preservation of common values within the OSCE region.

August 31, 2016

Social Progress Index: Austria Ranked 13th

Austria has been ranked 13th by NGO Social Progress Imperative, in its Social Progress Index ranking. It precedes Japan and Germany and scored many points thanks to renewable energy projects. However, the state reveals shortages with respect to education, tolerance and equal opportunities. Nordic states, such as Finland, Canada and Denmark lead the index.

July 25, 2016

What Role Should the OSCE Play in the Refugee Issue?

Possible roles for the OSCE in the context of the migration and refugee flows across the OSCE area were discussed at a special meeting of the Permanent Council in Vienna. The OSCE Permanent Council is one of the main regular decision-making bodies of the Organization bringing together representatives of all 57 OSCE participating States and the 11 Partners for Co-operation.

July 21, 2016

Austrian Ministerial Council Approves EUR 1.5 Mln for Iraq Humanitarian Aid and Resettlement

The Austrian Ministerial Council approves 1.5 million euros in funding for humanitarian aid and resettlement in Iraq. The humanitarian aid for the population in need on the ground and measures aimed at promoting resettlement are supposed to contribute towards managing the refugee crisis.

July 15, 2016

Austria Takes Over OSCE Chairmanship: "Need for Decisive Action!"

In his first address to the OSCE Permanent Council as incoming OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz said that the fight against radicalization will be the main priority of Austria’s 2017 OSCE chairmanship. In first address to OSCE Permanent Council, incoming Chairperson-in-Office Austria’s Foreign Minister Kurz, stresses

July 14, 2016

New "Open Austria Initiative" Supposed to Open Doors to Silicon Valley

Foreign Ministry and Austrian Economic Chamber open joint office in California to support Austrian companies and pave their way for success in Silicon Valley.

July 14, 2016

OSCE: "Reliable, Affordable and Sustainable Energy Supplies are Prerequisite for Stability and Security"

Energy experts from the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, representing both government institutions and private sector companies, will begin a week-long field study of sustainable energy in Austria and Germany.

July 12, 2016

Western Balkans Summit was Held in Paris

Following the 2014 Western Balkans Summit in Berlin and the Vienna Western Balkans Summit of August 2015, the third Western Balkans Summit was held in Paris in the context of the ‘Berlin Process’. More than 500,000 of the people with migration background who live in Austria are from the region. Austrian companies have hundreds of branches or subsidiaries in the Western Balkans, which clearly illustrates the very close economic relations.

July 8, 2016

Western Balkans Countries Discussed Investment, Jobs and Integration in Vienna

The World Bank and the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) held a high-level policy dialogue on ‘Investment, Jobs and Integration’ last week. Ministers and senior officials from the Western Balkans region as well as policy experts from international organisations and the business community gathered to discuss the challenges the region is currently facing, in particular the high unemployment rate, low international competitiveness, and lack of modern infrastructure.

July 8, 2016

Christine Muttonen Elected President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today congratulated Christine Muttonen on her election as President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

July 6, 2016

Human Rights of Refugees Must Also Be Protected

On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the OSCE and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) emphasized that any solutions to the refugee crisis in Europe must ensure the dignified treatment and protection of the human rights of all refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and migrants.

June 21, 2016

Austrian Business Meets Foreign Diplomacy

In the context of the ‘Business meets Diplomacy’ series of events, representatives of the Austrian economy meet members of the foreign diplomatic corps for an exchange of views on Austrian business and the economy.

June 20, 2016

20 Years Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): Ministerial Meeting at VIC

Marking the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), a Ministerial Meeting was held at Vienna International Center. Hosting some 40 international organizations, Austria is a hub for the promotion of peace, safety and security, sustainable development and the fight against crime, drug abuse and terrorism.

June 20, 2016

Central European Initiative Discusses Refugee Crisis in Banja Luka

Foreign Ministers of the 18 member states of the Central European Initiative (CEI) met in Bosnia Herzegovina, which holds the initiative’s annual rotating Chairmanship this year. Discussions mainly focused on the refugee crisis and potential solutions.

June 20, 2016

Expert Meeting in Vienna: "Make Migration a Resource for All"

Making migration a resource for public institutions, the private sector, local communities and migrants themselves was the main topic of an expert meeting on the long-term approach to migration governance, organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA).

June 20, 2016