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Austria Switches Completely to Renewable Energy Sources

By 2030, Austria's current government wants to achieve a total anergy transition. In the next nine years, the government plans for massive investments in the renewable energy sector in order for Austria to be able to produce 100 percent of its electricity with renewable energy sources by 2030.

March 12, 2021

Schallenberg on the International Women's Day: "Women Must Play a Key Role in Decision-making"

Austria will take over special responsibility for women's policy concerns in the UN Commission on the Status of Women at the end of March. On the occasion of this role and the International Women's Day, which was celebrated on March, 8, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg demands more women in decision-making roles.

March 11, 2021

Edtstadler: Eurobarometer Confirms Need to "Actively Engage" EU Population

The EU Conference on the Future of Europe will be starting on May 9. The EU Council, European Parliament and European Commission have now signed a joint declaration, which sets the path for a series of citizen-led debates. Austria's Minister for European Affairs Edtstadler welcomes the step and sees it as a necessity to listen to the European population.

March 11, 2021

Vorarlberg Eases Lockdown on March 15

The model region Vorarlberg will start the easing of its lockdown on March 15. Opening steps as announced by the Austrian Health Minister and Vorarlberg's Governor include the sectors of restaurants, youth sports, events and self-help groups. The whole project will be accompanied scientifically.

March 10, 2021

City of Vienna Will Offer 40-Day Long Festival

The City of Vienna has announced that it will organize the so-called "Kultursommer Wien", a cultural event that will comprise 1,000 performances on 40 different stages through 40 days. Mayor Michael Ludwig wants to "provide perspectives that are good for the heart, brain and soul" during the Covid-19 pandemic.

March 10, 2021

Covid-19 in Austria: British Mutation Dominant

The British Covid-19 virus mutation is now the dominant form in Austria. Currently, the British variation accounts for almost 60 percent of the infections, while the regular type is only detected in around 36 percent of the cases. Austria's Health Minister Rudolf Anschober demands obedience to the protective measures and recognizes an uncomfortable rise of Covid-19 patients in hospitals and intensive care units.

March 9, 2021

Crisis in Yemen: "Humanitarian Aid is Vital for Survival"

In order to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the Austrian government has decided to provide EUR 3 million for the malnourished and diseased people from Yemen. The funds will be provided to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is currently working in Yemen to better the situation for the Yemeni population.

March 9, 2021

Waly and Raab: Cooperation in Protection of Women

Ghada Waly, UNODC head and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, met with Susanne Raab, Austria's Minister for Women's Affairs, to discuss the protection of women from violence and the concrete measures taken by the UNODC and Austria's government in this issue.

March 8, 2021

AstraZeneca Vaccine: Approval Also for Older People in Austria

Austria's National Immunization Panel (NIG) has decided to repeal its restrictions for the Covid-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca. Previously, the panel had only released the vaccine for people from 18 to 64-years old, because of the lack of data for efficiency among older people. Now, however, studies have shown that the vaccine can be used for all age groups.

March 8, 2021

International Women's Day 2021: Gender Pay Gap in Austria Still Significant

Since the International Women's Day is on March 8, Statistics Austria has revealed some data that show the still significant differences between women and men in Austria's workforce. On average, women earn around 14 percent less than men and only 3.8 percent of employed women hold managerial positions, compared to 8.1 percent of employed men.

March 5, 2021

EC Supports 7 Austrian Projects to Boost Economic Growth

The European Commission (EC) will support seven Austrian projects under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI). In total 226 projects in all of the 27 EU Member States were approved to receive funding, which will attempt to design and implement national reforms to boost economic growth in the respective countries.

March 5, 2021

Online Pre-Travel Clearance for Austrian Borders Successful

Since January 15, 2021, the electronic pre-travel clearance for travelers who want to enter Austria has been used more than 700,000 times. Although analogous forms can be submitted in exceptional cases, the online pre-registration has taken over and saves a lot of resources, which can be used for contact tracing and other measures, according to Austria's Health Minister Rudolf Anschober.

March 4, 2021

Covid-19 in Austria: Slight Easing of Regulations

The Austrian government has announced some new regulations with regard to the Covid-19 situation in Austria. The province of Vorarlberg will be facing relaxations of the current regulations as early as March 15, while the rest of the country will need to wait until the end of March and April for the opening of gastronomy and the cultural sector.

March 2, 2021

Austria's Culture Sector Met With German Scientists to Discuss Opening Steps

Austria's State Secretary for the Arts and Culture Andrea Mayer and other representatives of the arts industry met with the authors of two German studies which concluded "that the risk of infection in the theater, cinema, opera or concert hall is a calculable one".

March 1, 2021

Vienna Ice Dream Concludes Extraordinary Season

The 26th Vienna Ice Dream has closed its doors for this season. After 66 days of ice skating under special circumstances, the organizers are pleased about the results and are particularly delighted about the fact that there was not a single reported case of infection which happened on the venue.

March 1, 2021

Schramböck and Baldwin at International Research Conference

At the research conference hosted by the Research Center International Economics (FIW), Austria's Economics Minister Margarete Schramböck had the opportunity to take part in discussions with the star economist Richard Baldwin and a number of other important representatives of international economics research.

March 1, 2021

WIFO Director Badelt Sees Climate Issue as "Biggest Problem for Austrian Economy"

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) director Christoph Badelt emphasizes the need for public discussion of the current climate crisis and demands a "comprehensive transformation process" driven by Austria's Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler in order to battle the ongoing climate change.

February 26, 2021

Austria Continues to Invest In Bicycle Transportation

Austria's Ministry of Climate Protection continues to support the purchase of e-bicycles and transport bikes. Enterprises, associations and individuals will benefit from the increased subsidy amount and a reduction of value-added tax for bicycle repair services.

February 26, 2021

Free Covid-19 Take-Home Tests Start March 1

Starting from March 1, another Covid-19 test opportunity will be available for Austrians. Pharmacies will offer five free take-home antigen tests per person per week. In addition to the free tests conducted at more than 900 pharmacies, testing conducted at Austrian businesses, and various testing lanes, the take-home tests will be yet another opportunity of self-assessment.

February 25, 2021

Schallenberg Delighted About Delivery of Vaccinations to Ghana

The international COVAX initiative shows its first remarkable success. 600,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by AstraZeneca were delivered to West Africa, specifically to Ghana. Austria's Foreign Minister, an active supporter of COVAX, emphasizes the importance of cooperation and solidarity in the fight against the pandemic.

February 25, 2021

Covid-19 in Austria: More Than 500,000 Vaccinations

Austria has already carried out more than 500,000 vaccinations against Covid-19, 200,000 people have already received their second immunization. In March, Austria's Health Minister Anschober expects delivery of more than one million doses. The second quarter of 2021 should provide Austria three times the delivery volume of the first quarter.

February 23, 2021

Equal Pay Day: Austria's Women Earn 14.3 Percent Less

On February 21, 2021, Austria "celebrates" its Equal Pay Day. The current gender gap in income is at 14.3 percent, which amounts to 52 days of the year in which women work uncompensated. Austria's Women's Minister Susanne Raab uses the occasion to install certain measures that aim to reduce this difference.

February 19, 2021

Outdoor FFP2 Mask Obligation Possible

In a recent adaptation of the appropriate decree, Austria's Health Minister Rudolf Anschober implemented a possible FFP2 mask obligation order by local authorities for certain outdoor areas. According to the Health Minister, the face mask is an important factor in decreasing the spreading of the Covid-19 mutations - even in crowded outdoor areas.

February 18, 2021

Austrians Show Decreased Approval for EU

In a recent survey published by the European Parliament, the EU loses approval in Austria. Almost half of the Austrians survey believe that the European Union moves in a completely wrong direction, while only 35 percent believe the opposite. Compared to the numbers from 2019, the EU is losing support in Austria.

February 18, 2021

Germany Extends Entry Ban for Tyrol

The German government has decided to extend its entry ban for Tyrol until March 3, 2021. The German Health Minister Spahn sees this step as "necessary" in order to prevent the South African Covid-19 mutation from spreading in Germany. Austria's government and the EU Commission demand more coordination and dicussion.

February 16, 2021

Deadline for Austrian "Reemployment Promise" Gets Extended

To further support the hard hit Austrian economy, the Minister of Labor and Minister of Tourism have decided to extend the deadline for the so-called "reemployment promise". This allows employers to lay off their employees and agreeing to re-hire them, once the sector is allowed to open up again. The affected employees receives unemployment benefits without any placement activities by the Austrian Arbeitsmarktservice.

February 15, 2021

Covid-19 in Austria: Hotels And Restaurants Closed Until Easter

After easing the latest lockdown for the retail sector and schools in Austria on February 8, the opening of restaurants and the cultural and tourism sector was heavily discussed. However, Austria's government has announced that hotels, restaurants, cultural establishments and recreational facilities will remain closed until further notice.

February 15, 2021

Vienna - Salzburg: Frequent Intervals Will Be Maintained

The important rail connection between Vienna and Salzburg will keep having regular intervals due to an emergency award by the Austrian Ministry of Climate Protection. The ministry will continue to order trains from the Austrian Railways (ÖBB) and Westbahn in order to assure a frequent rail connection until April 7.

February 15, 2021

Austria's and EU's GDP Forecast Gives Hope

In the EU winter forecast for the level of economic output in the near future, Austria's and the whole Euro area's GDPs are said to grow by almost 4 percent in 2021 and 2022. Although the economies declined in the fourth quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021 due to the impact of the second wave, the economic outlook is still promising for the remainder of 2021 and 2022.

February 12, 2021

Austria's Youth Minister Speaks at UN's Social Development Council

At the 59th session of the UN Commission for Social Development, representatives of the various member countries discuss the topic of "Digitalization for Social Development". Austria's Youth Minister Susanne Raab highlighted the importance of children and young people during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in her speech.

February 12, 2021

European Year of Rail: Inauguration of EU Locomotive in Vienna

The European Year of Rail wants to highlight the advantages of rail as as safe and sustainable means of transportation. For this occasion, a specially branded EU locomotive was inaugurated at the Vienna Central Station by Austria's Climate Protection Minister Gewessler, representative of the European Commission in Austria Selmayr, and Austrian Railways CEO Matthä.

February 11, 2021

Austrian Museums Highlight UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Austria's Ministry of Arts and Culture together with the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Austria have presented the project "17 Museums x 17 SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals", which will focus on 17 Austrian museums each focusing on one of the SDGs developed by the United Nations.

February 11, 2021

WKO: Austria's Tourism Industry Needs Every Possible Help

The chairman of the division responsible for tourism in the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce, Robert Seeber, demands all possible help for the hard-hit Austrian tourism industry. Seeber emphasizes the need for urgent measures, so the tourism sector can once again "act as an economic locomotive and employment engine to boost the entire national economy."

February 10, 2021

Austria Takes Over Montenegrin Covid-19 Patient

Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg agreed to take over a Montenegrin Covid-19 patient who needs immediate intensive care. The patient has already been transfered to a hospital in Lower Austria, where he will receive intensive medical attention. This is the third time that Austria is helping Montenegro with the treatment of Covid-19 cases.

February 10, 2021

Olga Neuwirth Receives Wolf Prize 2021

The Austrian composer Olga Neuwirth has received the Wolf Prize 2021 in Music. The composer can now compare herself with other laureates of the prize such as Paul McCartney, Placido Domingo, and Stevie Wonder. Andrea Mayer, Austria's State Secretary for the Arts and Culture, congratulates Neuwirth on the prize and on "being able to successfully assert herself in the male-dominated world of music."

February 10, 2021

Vienna Stock Exchange: New Calculation Technology Increases Quality

The Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Börse AG) has implemented a new index calculation technology, called "Vienna Index Engine" (VIE). The new software will allow even higher processing speed and stability for indices available on the exchange, which will also benefit more than 140 global financial institutions that rely on the indices of the stock exchange.

February 9, 2021

Austrian Government Warns of Travel to Tyrol

Due to the latest information on the South African Covid-19 mutation in Tyrol, the federal government has issued a travel warning for the province. All non-essential travel should be avoided and the government urges those who have been to Tyrol in the past two weeks to get tested.

February 8, 2021

Legendary "Sound of Music" Star Plummer Is Dead

The Canadian-American actor Christopher Plummer is dead. He played Baron von Trapp in the film musical "The Sound of Music" in Salzburg alongside Julie Andrews. He died at the age of 91 surrounded by his family.

February 5, 2021

Covid-19: Austria Offers Admission of Portuguese Patients

To alleviate the current health crisis in Portugal, Austria accepted to admit ten patients that will be treated in Vienna and other provinces. Due to the slightly improved situation in Austrian intensive care units, the Portuguese Covid-19 patients and other patients with serious illnesses will be transfered to hospital in Austria.

February 5, 2021

Austrian "Stopp Corona" App Connected to Other EU Countries

The "Stopp Corona" app by the Austrian Red Cross goes international. The app has been connected to EU-wide data matching and will thus communicate with currently 11 other warning apps. This allows for an interconnected warning system that is important for travel abroad within the European Union.

February 5, 2021

United Nations in Vienna Offer Virtual Tour

The United Nations in Vienna offer an insight into the work at the Vienna International City (VIC). Due to Covid-19, regular tours have been suspended since March 2020, which is why the Visitor Service of the UN headquarters in Vienna is now offering an adequate substitution for the regular tours.

February 5, 2021

Technology Oscar for Austrian Software

This year's "Oscar" awards have already an Austrian winner. Christoph Sprenger, a software developer who works in New Zealand, has written code which simulates realistic hair, fire and collapsing buildings. Together with two colleagues, the Salzburg native will receive the "Technical Achievement Award".

February 4, 2021

New Entry Regulations for Austria

Austria's government announced a new version of entry regulations, which aim to prevent the spreading of Covid-19 mutations in the country. The new measures include weekly tests and pre-registration for commuters. The new regulation will be valid from February 10, 2021.

February 4, 2021

WKO Heads: Easing of Lockdown Was Necessary

Both, the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce's (WKO) President, Harald Mahrer, and Secretary General, Karlheinz Kopf, are pleased by the government's decision to open the retail sector and body-related service providers again. They furthermore demand a clear perspective for industries that are yet to be opened.

February 4, 2021

Vienna Hopes for Revival as Congress Metropolis

The Covid-19 pandemic has influenced numerous different industries. Conventions, congresses and large-scale corporate events have not been possible, although they were important drivers for Vienna's tourism and international standing as congress metropolis. For 2021 and the upcoming years, the city hopes to experience a revival of this particular industry.

February 3, 2021

Austria's National Budget: EUR 22.5 Billion Deficit

The Covid-19 crisis has severely impacted Austria's economy and national budget. The Ministry of Finance has issued its financial results for the year 2020, which shows a deficit of EUR 22.5 billion. Higher expenditures for measures in connection with Covid-19 and a decrease in public levies are the main reasons for the bad results.

February 3, 2021

Edtstadler in Paris: Meetings with Secretaries of State and Chief Rabbi

In order to discuss Covid-19 coordination and the fight against terrorism and anti-Semitism, Austria's Minister for European Affairs Karoline Edtstadler has traveled to Paris, France and met with, among others, Secretary of State for Europe Clément Beaune and Chief Rabbi of France Haim Korsia.

February 2, 2021

Covid-19 in Austria: New Rules Apply From February 8

Austria's federal government has announced a slight relaxation of the current lockdown. Shops and schools will reopen under certain requirements, but penalties for disregarding measures and and entry into Austria will be tightened. The aim of the government is to contain the current virus mutations from the UK and South Africa.

February 2, 2021

Third Covid-19 Vaccine: Only Approval for 18 to 64 Years Olds in Austria

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved a third Covid-19 vaccine - produced by Astra Zeneca. However, Austria's National Immunization Panel has recommended the use of the newest of the three vaccines only for the age groups below 65 due to a lack of sufficient data for older generations.

February 1, 2021

British in Vienna: First Residence Permit Handed Out

The first British citizen living in Vienna has received her approved residence permit. After the UK has left the EU on December 31, 2020, about 12,000 Britons living in Austria will need to apply for a residence title by the end of 2021. British Ambassador to Austria Leigh Turner is pleased by the processing of the Austrian officials so far.

February 1, 2021