Vienna International Community - People in the News - Latest Headlines

Read updated news about key players in Vienna's international community, such as expats, executives, politicians, diplomats, investors, artists and others.

Politburo Member of Communist Party of China Courted by Austria's Top Leaders

Yang Xiaodu, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the National Supervisory Commission of the PRC, visited Vienna and met with Alexander Van der Bellen, Wolfgang Sobotka, Clemens Jabloner and UNODC, among others.

October 17, 2019

Vienna's UNODC and China Sign Agreement on Combating Corruption

The United Nations and China, represented by the Chairmen of the National Supervisory Commission of the Peoples Republic of China, Yang Xiaodu - currently visiting Vienna - signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in combating corruption.

October 17, 2019

The Austrian Leadership Program Draws International Alumnis to Austria

The current round of the Austrian Leadership Program (ALPS) was dedicated to deepening and expanding existing contacts.

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

Inaugural Visit of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Ralf Beste

The newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany H.E. Mr. Ralf Beste met the First President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka in Parliament.

October 15, 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

Writer Peter Handke Awarded Nobel Prize for Literature 2019

The Swedish Academy has awarded the Austrian writer Peter Handke the Nobel Prize in Literature 2019 "for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the periphery and the specificity of human experience". The prestigious award is endowed with more than 800,000 euros.

October 10, 2019

Billionaire Heidi Horten Unveils Her Contemporary Museum Concept

Heidi Goëss-Horten has announced the winning architectural office, which will design the new museum of the Heidi Horten Collection in the Palais Goëss-Horten (Hanuschhof / Stöcklgebäude) until the beginning of 2022.

October 9, 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

Model European Parliament with 100 Participants in Vienna

Students from ten countries discussed European policy issues in the Great Redouten Hall of the Austrian Parliament.

October 8, 2019

First Sub-Two Hour Marathon Challenge - Why Vienna Was Chosen?

Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge, the current marathon world record holder, plans to break the last great barrier of modern athletics - the 2-hour marathon. An epic challenge of this magnitude needs a suitable and equally grand location to do it justice, and the Prater in Vienna is the perfect fit - from the air quality to the climate.

October 7, 2019

Kurz Is Assigned the Mandate to Form a Government

Federal President Van der Bellen gave the mandate to form a government to the head of the Austrian People's Party, Sebastian Kurz. Kurz announced talks with all parties. The most discussed coalition variant is the cooperation with the Green Party.

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

Election 2019: Five Parties Make Their Entry into the Austrian National Council

Five political parties will be represented in the newly elected Austrian National Council. In addition to ÖVP, SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS, the Greens - after a two-year forced break - have also rejoined the House. The Liste JETZT, on the other hand, failed, as did the other small parties, at the 4% hurdle.

October 4, 2019

Government Formation: Party Leaders in the Presidential Chancellery

Next Monday, Federal President Van der Bellen will commission ÖVP leader Kurz to form a government.

October 2, 2019 · Updated: October 4, 2019; 13:03

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

Diplomatic Academy: Diplomacy is Profoundly the Art of Dialogue

At the opening ceremony of the Diplomatic Academy's 2019/2020 academic year, National Council President Sobotka underlined the importance of dialogue in international relations.

October 3, 2019

Austrian-American Hollywood Legend Eric Pleskow Has Died

Eric Pleskow, the expelled son of a Jewish merchant family in Vienna, Hollywood legend and Viennale president, died at the age of 95 in Connecticut.

October 2, 2019

Austrian Caretaker Government Demission and Re-Appointment

President Van der Bellen has entrusted the transitional government with the temporary continuation of the administration. Until a new government is formed, Chancellor Bierlein's government will remain in office.

October 1, 2019

Meet the Ambassador of Germany to Austria: H.E. Mr. Johannes K. Haindl

Ambassador Johannes K. Haindl is a lawyer and trained diplomat. He was the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Vienna from 2015 to 2019. He has gained diplomatic experience in Germany, the United States, the Czech Republic, Turkey and the Western Balkans. He is married and has 3 children.

September 14, 2018 · Updated: October 1, 2019; 12:12

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

Schallenberg: Human Rights are Simply Non Negotiable

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg addressed the UN General Assembly, stressing the need for enhanced international cooperation.

September 27, 2019

Austrian President and Chancellor at UN General Assembly

President Van der Bellen, Chancellor Bierlein, Environment Minister Maria Patek and activist Anika Dafert attended the 74th UN General Assembly in New York.

September 25, 2019

Ambassador Kumlin Granit Takes Over from Ambassador Al-Hadid as New Chairperson of IAEA Board of Governors

The IAEA Board of Governors elected by acclamation Ambassador Mikaela Kumlin Granit of Sweden as the Chairperson of the IAEA’s Board of Governors for 2019–2020.

September 24, 2019

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at UN General Assembly

Tight schedule at the Annual General Meeting in New York City. Meetings with counterparts from Iran, Javad Zarif, Belarus, Vladimir Makei and Iraq, Mohamed Ali Alhakim and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer. A speech to the UN General Assembly is scheduled for Thursday. The strengthening of Vienna as a UN location is also on the agenda.

September 24, 2019

Austria's Oldest Holocaust Survivor Marko Feingold Dies at 106

The oldest Austrian survivor of the atrocities of National Socialism, Marko Feingold, was a significant contemporary witness to the Holocaust.

September 23, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Sultan Al Saud

The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Austria, Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Sultan Al Saud presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg. He is also non-resident ambassador to Slovakia and Slovenia.

September 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of Qatar to Austria: H.E. Sultan Salmeen Al-Mansouri

The new Ambassador of Qatar to Austria, H.E. Sultan Salmeen Al-Mansouri presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to Austria: H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Ojeda Viglione

The new Ambassador of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to Austria, H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Ojeda Viglione presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Austria: H.E. Mr. Nom Piseth

The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Austria, H.E. Mr. Nom Piseth presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Netherlands to Austria: H.E. Mr. Albert Hendrik Gierveld

The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Austria, H.E. Mr. Albert Hendrik Gierveld presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of Germany to Austria: H.E. Mr. Ralf Beste

The new Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Austria, H.E. Mr. Ralf Beste presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg. He succeeds Ambassador Johannes K. Haindl in this position.

September 20, 2019

Multilateralism: Austrian Delegation at UN General Assembly in New York City

Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York together with Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Sustainability Minister Maria Patek. Schallenberg speaks as Austria's representative.

September 20, 2019

Federation of Industries Warns Against Wrong Location Policy Decisions

In the context of the current election discussions, the Federation of Austrian Industries (Industriellenvereinigung) appeals to the political rationality of all parties with regard to location not to take short-sighted and ill-considered decisions.

September 20, 2019

Presentation of the European State Prize in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

With the European State Prize, the Austrian Foreign Ministry once again honours the extraordinary commitment of organisations and citizens to the promotion of European awareness in Austria.

September 18, 2019

Visit of Japanese Princess Kako to Austria

The Japanese Emperor's niece, Her Imperial Highness Princess Kako of Akishino, visits Austria for several days on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Austria and Japan, and met with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Bierlein for talks.

September 18, 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

Passing the Baton at Fulbright Austria

Fulbright Austria has recently been placed under a new leadership. Dr. Hermann Agis has replaced the former executive director Dr. Lonnie R. Johnson, who will retire on September 30, after over 20 years of service.

September 12, 2019

Jane Goodall Awarded Honorary Cross in Vienna

The well-known primate researcher and environmental activist Jane Goodall has been awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art 1st Class by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.

September 12, 2019

Reception for Representatives of Churches and Religious Communities

Brigitte Bierlein and Alexander Schallenberg invited the representatives of the churches and religious communities based in Austria to the Federal Chancellery.

September 10, 2019

Inaugural Visit of the New Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Chalupka

The intertwining of climate change and justice as well as the responsibility of man and the Protestant Church before God were central points of the discussion.

September 10, 2019

Who Will Become the Next IAEA Director General?

Following the death of Yukiya Amano, the IAEA is still looking for a new Director General. The Board of Governors of the IAEA has received 4 applications for the prestigious position of IAEA Director General from Argentina, Burkina Faso, Romania and Slovakia. The candidate must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Board. Read on to find out who the candidates are.

September 10, 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

Cultural Policy is a Cornerstone of Austrian Soft Power

The BMEIA Federal Ministry for Europe Integration and Foreign Affairs presented the achievements of Austrian foreign culture in the Vienna Konzerthaus (Auslandskulturtagung). In addition to the highlights of the past year, such as the Year of Remembrance 2018, the Cultural Programme during the Austrian EU Presidency and the bilateral Cultural Year with Albania, the central areas of activity of Austrian foreign cultural work were highlighted.

September 4, 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

Holzmann is the New Austrian National Bank Governor

The liberal Robert Holzmann (70) took over as Governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) on 1 September 2019, succeeding Ewald Nowotny. The manner in which he will hold his office as governor will be followed with interest. The economist has already stated that he will pay more attention to the monetary policy of the European Central Bank (ECB) than his predecessor.

September 3, 2019

What Do You Know About the Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen

Alexander Van der Bellen is an Austrian economist, former politician of the Green Party and since 26 January 2017 ninth Austrian Federal President of the Second Republic.

October 4, 2018 · Updated: September 2, 2019; 20:02