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.

Meet the Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to Austria: H.E. Ms. Nardi Elizabeth Suxo Iturry

The new Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia) to Austria, H.E. Ms. Nardi Elizabeth Suxo Iturry presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg. Nardi Suxo is also the new Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the United Nations and the other international organizations in vienna.

July 18, 2019

France in Austria: National Day Celebration (Bastille Day)

At the invitation of Ambassador Saint-Paul, the Permanent Representative to the UN, Jean-Louis Falconi and the Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Véronique Roger-Lacan, a reception was held at the French Embassy in Vienna.

July 15, 2019

European Commissioner: Austria Sends Hahn for Third Time

The Austrian Federal Government under Chancellor Bierlein has announced that Johannes Hahn will again be nominated as an Austrian member of the future EU Commission.

July 12, 2019

Meet the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Austria: H.E. Mr. Shin Dong-ik

H.E. Mr. Shin Dong-ik is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Austria and to the Republic of Slovenia and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the International Organizations in Vienna. He was followed in this post by Ambassador Shin Chae-hyun in July 2019.

March 26, 2019 · Updated: July 10, 2019; 12:00

Billionaire Heidi Horten to Become Museum Founder

The billionaire, patron and art collector Heidi Goëss-Horten has acquired a palace for the permanent presentation of her Heidi Horten Collection in downtown Vienna, right next to the State Opera and Albertina. Agnes Husslein-Arco is intended as director. The museum in the Hanuschhof is scheduled to open in early 2022.

July 5, 2019 · Updated: July 5, 2019; 15:17

How North Macedonia Learns from Austria - Best Practices on the Topic of Equal Treatment

During a visit of the delegations of the Macedonian Ministry of the Interior and the OSCE Mission Skopje to the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Vienna, representatives of all sides exchanged views on the subject of equal treatment.

July 4, 2019

Austria Looks Forward to Collaboration with New EU Parliament President Sassoli

Congratulations come from the Austrian Parliament. National Council President Sobotka and Second National Council President Bures congratulate David Sassoli on his election and look forward to working with the European Parliament.

July 4, 2019

European Parliament - How are the MEPs in Key Functions Elected?

At the first plenary session after the European elections, Parliament elects a new President, 14 new Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors. The ninth European Parliament was elected in 2019 elections and is to last until the 2024 elections.

July 3, 2019

Austrian Foreign Ministry - Diplomatic Excursion 2019 to Lake Neusiedl

Foreign diplomats and heads of international organisations in Austria were invited by the BMEIA Federal Ministry for Europe Integration and Foreign Affairs to the annual summer excursion to Burgenland (Diplomatenausflug 2019).

July 3, 2019

Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Austria

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella was on a two-day state visit to Austria. The main topics discussed were Sea Watch 3, South Tyrol and the situation of the European Union after the elections.

July 3, 2019

European Parliament - Karas to Be Vice President Again

Othmar Karas, member of the EU and Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), has been re-elected as one of 14 vice-presidents of the European Parliament. Together with him further vice-presidents were confirmed.

July 3, 2019

Schallenberg Represents Austria in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg travelled to Geneva on the occasion of the current meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Last year Austria was elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2019 to 2021.

July 2, 2019

Foreign Minister Alois Mock Awarded Posthumous Honour from Political Academy

The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) honours a great member and a historical personality. The event room in the historic Springer Schlössl, the seat of the political academy of the ÖVP, now bears the name of the former foreign minister - it is now called Alois Mock Aula.

June 28, 2019

So What Does the Future Hold for the Eurozone?

The Eurozone between crisis and reform. At the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the renowned European financial experts Agnès Bénassy-Quéré, Klaus Regling, Elke König and Josef Zechner discussed the structure, challenges and necessary financial market reforms within the euro zone.

June 28, 2019

Marathon Under Two Hours - World Record Holder Kipchoge Wants to Break Barrier in Vienna

The marathon Olympic champion and world record holder, the Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge, wants to run the marathon in less than 2 hours in Vienna in October, thus cutting his current record of 2:01:39 hours by an impossible 2 minutes.

June 27, 2019

Oligarch Firtash May Be Extradited to the USA

The Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash may be extradited from Austria to the USA. The Supreme Court of Justice of Austria (OGH) confirmed a corresponding ruling of the Vienna Higher Regional Court (OLG) and dismissed both a nullity appeal of the General Procurator's Office and a renewal application by Firtash's defense counsel. The decision as to whether Firtash will actually be extradited lies now with the new Austrian Minister of Justice, Clemens Jabloner.

June 25, 2019

First Visit Abroad Leads Foreign Minister Schallenberg to Finland

His first bilateral trip abroad took Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg to Helsinki. The trip focused not only on European policy issues but also on the EU Presidency, which Finland will take over on 1 July 2019.

June 25, 2019

Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg at EU Foreign Affairs Council for the First Time

In Luxembourg, Federal Minister Alexander Schallenberg represented Austria for the first time at the FAC Foreign Affairs Council and the Council of the European Union.

June 21, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Holy See to Austria: H.E. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Dr. Pedro Lopéz Quintana

The new Ambassador of of the Holy See to Austria, H.E. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Dr. Pedro Lopéz Quintana presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

June 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Paraguay to Austria: H.E. Mr. Juan Francisco Facetti

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Paraguay to Austria, H.E. Mr. Juan Francisco Facetti presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

June 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Austria: H.E. Ms. Morakot Sriswasdi

The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Austria, H.E. Ms. Morakot Sriswasdi presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

June 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Austria: H.E. Mr. Roberto Betancourt Ruales

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Austria, H.E. Mr. Roberto Betancourt Ruales presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

June 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of Greece to Austria: H.E. Ms. Catherine Koika

The new Ambassador of Greece to Austria, H.E. Ms. Catherine Koika presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

June 20, 2019

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Austria: H.E. Mr. Baker Fattah Hussen

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Austria, H.E. Mr. Baker Fattah Hussen presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

June 20, 2019

Elisabeth Gürtler Receives United States Friendship Award

Austrian entrepreneur Elisabeth Gürtler-Mauthner (69) received the Cultural Icon Award in acknowledgement of her achievements and long friendship with the United States of America from US Ambassador Trevor Traina.

June 20, 2019

Get to Know Austria's New Minister of Defence Thomas Starlinger

Thomas Starlinger (56) is an Austrian officer (Major General), consultant and politician. He is regarded as a proponent of a professional army. Most recently, he worked as an adjutant to Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, who also appointed him Federal Minister of Defence on 3 June 2019.

June 18, 2019

European Forum Wachau 2019 - Stability and Continuity in European Policy

Austria will continue to represent its interests in Europe in a proven manner, said representatives from politics and business at this year's European Forum Wachau.

June 17, 2019

New Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg Took Office

Austria is and remains a reliable partner in the world and in Europe, stressed the new Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in his first speech to the Austrian National Council. Since developments at the international level are continuing and important decisions are pending, he said that what is needed most of all now is "a sense of proportion to what is possible, trust, reliability and stability".

June 17, 2019

Chancellor Bierlein Introduced Transitional Government to Parliament

"We stand for reliability and we are seeking trust", affirmed the first Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Brigitte Bierlein, at the beginning of her statement before the National Council plenary.

June 13, 2019

Meet the Ambassador of the Republic of India to Austria: H.E. Ms. Renu Pall

Renu Pall is the Ambassador of India to Austria and Montenegro, and Permanent Representative of India to the International Organizations in Vienna since February 2017.

February 7, 2017 · Updated: June 13, 2019; 13:44

Cooperation of the Metropolises Hamburg, Vienna and Zurich

The three German-speaking cities of Hamburg, Vienna and Zurich want to cooperate more closely in their sustainable development within the framework of a city trialogue in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

June 12, 2019

Potential President of the EU Commission Michel Barnier Met Top of New Austrian Government

Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier was in Vienna to meet several members of the new government, including Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Officially, the Brexit negotiations were the focus of the talks, however, unofficially Barnier repeatedly shows interest as Jean-Claude Juncker's successor in the office of EU Commission President.

June 11, 2019

Global Compact for Migration: Top UN Refugee Agency Diplomat Volker Türk at the Kreisky Forum

Austria's top diplomat in the UNHCR, a United Nations Programme, the international law expert Dr. Volker Türk has made an appeal to governments, NGOs and individuals to rethink refugee protection and to implement the UN Global Compact for Refugees adopted in 2018.

June 6, 2019

Austrian Top Diplomat Albert Rohan Deceased

As one of his first duties the new Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg had to inform the public about the death of one of the most distinguished diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Albert Rohan died shortly after his 83rd birthday. He had played a crucial role in shaping Austrian foreign policy in numerous international functions.

June 5, 2019

New Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg Inaugurated

The new Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (49) was sworn in by the Federal President as Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs. He succeeds Karin Kneissl.

June 5, 2019

Summit of German-speaking Heads of State in Linz 2019

This year's informal meeting of German-speaking heads of state with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, King Philippe of Belgium, Federal President Ueli Maurer, Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen took place in Linz. The main topics were current political questions from the respective countries and the future of Europe based on the results of the European elections.

June 5, 2019

Ten Years of IST Austria Celebrations

IST Austria (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) was inaugurated in June 2009 with four professors. Today, almost ten years later, the Institute employs about 700 people, among them 34 European Research Council grantees out of 51 professors, performing cutting-edge research in biology, physics, mathematics, and computer science. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the opening IST Austria organized a festive event with the following participants, among others: Michael Ignatieff, Alice Dautry, Edith Heard, Daniel Zajfman, Alexander Van der Bellen, Johanna Mikl Leitner and Thomas A. Henzinger the president of IST Austria.

June 5, 2019

Western Balkans: Austrians Demand EU Accession Negotiations Begin

After the EU Commission issued a recommendation for the opening of accession talks with the two Western Balkan states North Macedonia and Albania, the European parliamentarians of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) Karas and Mandl demand that the "promises" be kept. The decision to open accession talks will be taken by the Member States later in June.

June 5, 2019

Karas Remains Head of People's Party EU Delegation for One Year, then Follows Edtstadler

The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) members of the European Parliament have elected Othmar Karas as their leader for only one year. From 2020, the second on the list, Karoline Edtstadler, will automatically take over. As reported by Vindobona.org, Edtstadler received more preferential votes in the EU election than Karas, the previous head of delegation.

June 4, 2019

Turkish - Austrian Diplomatic Efforts Bear Fruit

According to outgoing Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has promised in a telephone conversation to ease the Turkish blockade of Austria in the "Partnership for Peace (PfP)" programme. The PfP is a NATO program aimed at creating trust between NATO and non-NATO members.

June 3, 2019

Criticism of the Lack of Foreign and European Policy Reports

The opposition, represented by Andreas Schieder (SPÖ), criticises the fact that for the last three years the Foreign Ministers Kurz and Kneissel have not submitted any annual Foreign and European Policy Reports for the purpose of reporting on fundamental foreign policy issues.

June 3, 2019

Government Declaration by Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein

The first female Federal Chancellor of Austria, Brigitte Bierlein, addressed herself after her inauguration in a short statement "to all Austrians and all people living in our country".

June 3, 2019

Swearing In of the Austrian Caretaker Government

Austria now has a transitional government team consisting of 12 people (six women and six men).

June 3, 2019

40 Years of the UN in Vienna - The Tireless Commitment of António Guterres

UN Secretary General António Guterres completed a busy programme when he came to Vienna for the 40th anniversary celebrations and the R20 Austria World Summit. The VIC Vienna International Centre is the place where, with the help of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the 193 member states, 15 Vienna-based UN organisations and more than 5000 people from 125 countries from around the world are bound together.

May 31, 2019

Combat Climate Change - António Guterres' Remarks at the R20 Austrian World Summit

Because of climate change all around the world the sea level is rising, floods, drought, wildfires and extreme storms appear, and people are now losing their homes and being forced to migrate. Read what António Guterres had to say in Vienna after a trip to the South Pacific.

May 30, 2019

40 Years of the UN in Vienna - Guterres, Kneissl and Ludwig at Ceremony

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the VIC Vienna International Centre (UNO-City), UN Secretary General António Guterres, former Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl and Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig attended a ceremony at the Vienna headquarters of the United Nations.

May 30, 2019

Brigitte Bierlein to Become Austria's First Female Chancellor

The President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Austria is to be appointed interim Federal Chancellor in a few days. Clemens Jabloner becomes Vice-Chancellor and Justice Minister. Alexander Schallenberg becomes Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs.

May 30, 2019 · Updated: May 30, 2019; 18:23

Clemens Jabloner Nominated Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Justice Minister

The former President of the Austrian Administrative Court for many years (1993 - 2013) and current University Professor of Legal Theory at the University of Vienna, Dr. Clemens Jabloner (70), is to become interim Vice-Chancellor and Justice Minister. This was announced by the new Austrian Interim Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein.

May 30, 2019 · Updated: May 30, 2019; 16:15

Alexander Schallenberg Appointed Austrian Foreign Minister and Minister for European Affairs

The new Austrian Interim Chancellor Ms. Brigitte Bierlein has declared her intention to appoint career diplomat and lawyer Dr. Alexander Schallenberg (50) as Karin Kneissl's successor and thus designated interim Foreign Minister and Minister for European Affairs.

May 30, 2019

Farewell to Formula 1 Legend Niki Lauda

The international sports world and everyone who knew him bid farewell to Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda. Many celebrities were present at the funerals in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, along with his family, friends and companions. During the requiem, Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen said that we were standing at the coffin of a great Austrian.

May 30, 2019