Vienna International Community - Top Politicians - Latest Headlines
Read updated news about key politicians in Vienna's international community
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
EU Election Preferential Votes - Edtstadler ahead of Karas
Although Austrian People's Party top candidate Othmar Karas received more preferential votes than in the last EU election, after counting most of the preferential votes he is still behind the list second candidate Karoline Edtstadler (also Austrian People's Party).
May 28, 2019
Transitional Government Following the Dismissal of Cabinet Kurz - What's Next?
After Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's cabinet had been expressed no-confidence in a special session of the National Council, the government was removed from office today by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. In a speech last night, Van der Bellen outlined the next steps towards a transitional government until the National Council elections in September as follows.
May 28, 2019
Head of China's Top Legislative Body in Vienna
Li Zhanshu, one of China's most powerful politicians was in Vienna and was received by Austria's central institutions despite the domestic political turbulences.
May 28, 2019
European Elections 2019: Austrian Preliminary Final Results
The preliminary result of the 2019 European elections (without absentee ballot) has been announced. The Austrian People's Party won clearly ahead of the Austrian Socialist Party (SPÖ) and the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ). The Greens and NEOS followed in places 4 to 5. Votes cast by absentee ballot are not yet included in this result. The turnout without postal votes was 50.6%. In Vienna, the turnout including postal votes was 58.71%.
May 27, 2019
Austrian Government Dismissed: National Council Denies Government Confidence
The parliamentary motion of no confidence of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) was supported by the right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Liste Jetzt. The majority of the members of the National Council thus expressed their distrust of Chancellor Kurz's government and removed it from office.
May 27, 2019
Austria's Government Faces Expected Motion of No Confidence
After the victory in the election to the European Parliament, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his government are threatened with an abrupt end. The Social Democrats (SPÖ) will table their own motion of censure against the entire Kurz cabinet. A clear decision by the Freedom Party (FPÖ) is still pending.
May 27, 2019
European Elections - Who Stands for Election and How Can a Non-Austrian EU Citizen Vote in Austria?
After the political earthquake in Austria and the end of the turquoise-blue government, the EU election on Sunday is eagerly awaited. A decision will be made on 18 EU mandates from Austria. In European elections, EU citizens are entitled to vote in Austria as long as they are registered in the European electoral register.
May 24, 2019
Ibiza Affair: Austria Has a New Minister of the Interior
Eckart Ratz took over from Herbert Kickl - in the context of an expert government formed by Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz as a result of the Ibiza Affair - the official duties and the office of the Federal Minister of the Interior until the inauguration of a new government after the early National Council election in September 2019. Like his predecessor Herbert Kickl, Eckart Ratz also does not mince his words.
May 23, 2019
Austrian Transitional Government Takes Office
President Van der Bellen has sworn in the new ministers Valerie Hackl, Walter Pöltner, Eckart Ratz and Johann Luif.
May 22, 2019
Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl to Remain in Transitional Government
While President Van der Bellen has removed Interior Minister Kickl from office, Foreign Minister Kneissl will remain in a transitional government at her own request.
May 21, 2019
Chancellor Sticks to Dismissal of Interior Minister - FPÖ Ministers Exit Government
Government crisis. Chancellor Kurz sticks to dismissal of interior minister. Right-wing populist FPÖ ministers leave government.
May 20, 2019
Ibiza-Video - New Elections in Austria after Vice Chancellor Resignation
After the release of the incriminating video of "foreign secret services" and the resulting resignation of Vice-Chancellor Heinz Christian Strache, the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) headed by Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz calls for early elections as soon as possible. He had also informed the Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. "Enough is enough", Kurz said in a press statement on Saturday evening.
May 18, 2019
Putin and Van der Bellen Open Sochi Dialogue Forum
The Sochi Dialogue Russian Austrian Forum was opened in the Black Sea port city as part of a working discussion between Russian and Austrian representatives from politics, business, science, education, art and culture.
May 15, 2019
The Ambassadors of the Four Allied Powers in the Austrian Federal Chancellery
On the occasion of the "Liberation" Day of Austria from National Socialism by the Allies in 1945 and the end of the Second World War (Victory in Europe Day), Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz received the four ambassadors of the USA (Trevor Traina), Great Britain (Leigh Turner), France (representative of Francois Marcel Michel Saint-Paul) and Russia (Dmitrij Ljubinskij) at the Federal Chancellery.
May 13, 2019
Antisemitism in Austria - Initiative to Reverse Worrying Trends
As the Jewish community in Austria reports growing concerns about the rise of antisemitism, at the invitation of the FRA - EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, local and EU policymakers, Jewish community organisations and civil society met to discuss how to combat this worrying trend.
May 3, 2019
Foreign Minister of Albania Gent Cakaj Visits Vienna
Austria emphasises its continued support for the commencement of EU accession negotiations with Albania.
April 26, 2019
Belt and Road Initiative - China's Reconquest of the World
Many heads of state did refrain from appearing at the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing this year, or are increasingly expressing themselves critically. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also expressed his caution after meeting President Xi and Prime Minister Li Keqiang for talks.
April 26, 2019
Alibaba's Jack Ma Hosted Lower Austrian Business Delegation
In order to improve bilateral relations and exports between Lower Austria and the Chinese partner province Zhejiang near Shanghai, a large delegation from Lower Austria headed by Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner was touring East China this week. The plan is to increase goods exports by 100 million euros within four years.
April 26, 2019
WeWork Cooperation to Facilitate Internationalization of Austrian Start-ups in the USA
The aim of the cooperation between shared workspace provider WeWork and AWS - Austria Wirtschaftsservice is to support innovative Austrian start-ups in their internationalisation in New York and on the US market.
April 26, 2019
National Council: Against Nuclear Power and Nuclear Waste Repositories at Austria's Borders
The Austrian National Council unanimously expressed its opposition both to nuclear waste disposal at Austria's borders and to the commissioning of the Mochovce 3 reactor, as well as to the obligations under the Nagoya Protocol on Biological Diversity.
April 26, 2019
Exclusive Mini-Davos Conference in Austria's Most Beautiful Ski Resort
European Commissioner Günther Oettinger invited for two days leading politicians, bankers and industrialists to his Europe Forum 2019 in Lech am Arlberg in the Austrian Alps.
April 26, 2019
Silk Road Initiative in Mutual Interest - Chinese Delegation at Austrian Parliament
During a working visit by Ma Biao, former member of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and current Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Austrian parliamentarians show interest in the trade partnership with China.
April 19, 2019
Montenegro and Austria Emphasise Good Relations
The Prime Minister of the Western Balkan country Montenegro, Duško Marković, and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stressed in Vienna the good relations and the potential for further cooperation in the economic field.
April 12, 2019
Forty Tax Offices Become One Tax Office Austria
The structures will be flattened and work processes made more efficient in such a way that 40 authorities will become a single authority with 33 departments at the 79 existing facilities.
April 10, 2019
Czech-Austrian Economic Relations: President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman Visits Vienna
During the visit of the President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, bilateral economic relations were the focus of talks with Federal President Van der Bellen as well as at the Austrian-Czech Economic Forum in the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.
April 6, 2019
Leaders Discuss Azerbaijani-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict in Vienna
The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to discuss the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The two heads of state also met with Austrian President Van der Bellen and Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
April 5, 2019
International Mine Awareness Day: By 2025 We Want to Make the World Minefree
Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl stresses Austria's commitment to the International Mine Awareness Day. In the last 20 years Austria has provided more than 33 million euros for mine action and supported projects in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Mozambique, Ukraine and other countries.
April 4, 2019
Economic Mission to Cambodia and Laos
The Vienna Chamber of Commerce visited the Southeast Asian countries Cambodia and Laos in the context of an economic mission with 15 participants to meet ministers and establish contacts for future participation in tenders for infrastructure projects.
April 4, 2019
Rotes Wien 1919-2019: 100 Years of Socialist Avant-Garde and Quality of Life
The socialist and later social democratic Vienna celebrates its success story in the form of a series of events, exhibitions and specials. The city administration sees the period of the "Red Vienna" (from 1918 to 1934) as a founding myth that continues to have an impact to this day and shapes the DNA of the city, and is comparable to New York City as a melting pot and Ellis Island.
April 4, 2019
Former Top Indian Diplomat Returns to Vienna
Shivshankar Menon, former Foreign Secretary and National Security Adviser of India, who speaks some German, will visit Vienna in April, where he regularly visited the IAEA from 2008 to 2014, as a member of India's Atomic Energy Commission. At a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are particularly high, he will talk about "The New Asian Geopolitics".
March 28, 2019
Austria to Become Most Sustainable Tourism Destination in the World
Sustainability Minister Elisabeth Köstinger presented the "Plan T - Master Plan for Tourism" in Salzburg. This strategy paper is intended to ensure that Austria not only remains one of the leading tourist destinations, but that this position is further strengthened. For the first time sustainability is anchored as a basic principle for tourism. The strategic realignment of Österreich Werbung (ANTO Austrian National Tourist Office) is also on the agenda.
March 26, 2019
150th Anniversary - Japan and Austria Enjoy Excellent Bilateral Ties
Foreign Minister Kneissl has concluded her visit to Japan, which served, among other purposes, as preparation for the visit of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in autumn on the occasion of 150 years of relations between Japan and Austria. During her stay Kneissl also took part in numerous bilateral meetings and in the international women's conference WAW World Assembly for Women.
March 26, 2019
UNIDO Supports the Philippines Achieving Its Development Goals - Secretary of Foreign Affairs in Vienna
The Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines H.E. Mr. Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. visited the UNIDO in Vienna to meet Li Yong, the Director General. “The Government of the Philippines highly appreciates UNIDO’s relevance in helping the country achieve its development goals.”
March 22, 2019
Sergey Lavrov to Participate in Session of UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs at the Vienna International Center and also met Federal President van der Bellen during his visit to exchange ideas.
March 14, 2019
Evo Morales in Vienna to Present Bolivia's Anti-Drug Policy
Bolivian President Morales took part in the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs at the Vienna International Center and was in Vienna on this occasion. He also met Federal President Alexander van der Bellen.
March 14, 2019
Iraqi Expert Roundtable in Vienna - How to Reconstruct the City of Mosul?
More than 70 experts from Iraq, Austria and the relevant international community met in Vienna at the invitation of the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce to discuss the reconstruction of the devastated northern Iraqi city of Mosul and find solutions. Here is the report of the Expert's Round Table on the Reconstruction of the City of Mosul.
March 14, 2019
Minister of External Affairs of India Sushma Swaraj Met Karin Kneissl
Karin Kneissl, Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs accompanied by senior officials of her Ministry recently visited India. The visit of Minister Kneissl is part of the regular exchange between the two countries. During the visit, Minister Kneissl had a meeting with External Affairs Minister, Smt Sushma Swaraj, in New Delhi.
March 7, 2019
Emir of Qatar Struggling for Survival Visited Vienna
The 38 year old Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who 5 years ago ascended the throne as successor of his father Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and is now fighting under pressure of his neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia, for the survival of his monarchy, came to an official visit to Austria to talk about business.
March 7, 2019
Lithuania and Austria to Join Forces in the Fight Against Climate Change
During a visit by President of the Republic of Lithuania, Ms. Dalia Grybauskaitė, to the Presidential Chancellery of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, they both agreed to continue to cooperate closely in the fight against climate change.
March 4, 2019
Prime Minister of the Newly Named Republic of North Macedonia at the Vienna Opera Ball
Only a few days after the historic renaming of the Republic of Macedonia into the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, visited Vienna at the invitation of Federal Chancellor Kurz and together they visited the Vienna Opera Ball.
March 1, 2019 · Updated: March 4, 2019; 12:33
Barnier Meets the Austrian Government - What's the Point of a Brexit Postponement?
The Brussels chief negotiator for the Brexit, Michel Barnier, visited Vienna for talks with Foreign Minister Kneissl, Chancellor Kurz and Chancellery Minister Blümel. The agenda of the meeting included an exchange on the current state of the Brexit negotiations and the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
March 1, 2019
Kneissl in the Eastern South Asia Countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal
Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl's journey through Eastern South Asia took her via Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan to India. The trip focused on bilateral relations between Austria and the individual countries, development cooperation and the expansion of economic activities in the fields of tourism, energy and infrastructure.
February 26, 2019
Official Visit of President of Hungary - Criticism of Expansion of Paks Nuclear Power Plant
President János Áder of Hungary paid an official visit to Austria. The main topic of discussion between Áder and Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen was climate protection.
February 25, 2019
Chancellor Kurz in Washington, D.C. - Trump Demands Higher Military Expenditures
US President Donald Trump and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met in the White House for a working meeting. The trade relations, the demand for higher military expenditures for Austria, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project and the Serbia-Kosovo conflict were addressed.
February 21, 2019
Fight Against Anti-Semitism - The Jewish Community in NYC and Austria
As part of his trip to the USA, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met David Harris, Executive Director of the AJC American Jewish Committee, and once again Holocaust survivor Rabbi Arthur Schneier.
February 21, 2019
Meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - Focus on Middle East Conflict
The meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz focused on the Middle East conflict. According to Kurz, the USA is currently working on "a solution to the situation in the Middle East". The US will therefore "probably present a proposal" before the end of this year.
February 21, 2019
USA Visit by Federal Chancellor Kurz - Focus on Economic Relations
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz travels to the USA on an official working visit. During the trip, Kurz will meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton, Ivanka Trump, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The one-on-one meeting with Donald Trump in Washington will last only about 15 minutes.
February 19, 2019
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