Vienna International Community - Top Politicians - Latest Headlines

Read updated news about key politicians in Vienna's international community

New Framework Agreement Between Ukraine and Austria to Facilitate Economic and Humanitarian Assistance

A new framework agreement between Ukraine and Austria is to promote a strengthening of economic cooperation as well as the expansion of humanitarian aid on the ground. For this purpose, the Austrian Minister of Labour, Martin Kocher, and the Caritas Secretary General, Andreas Knapp, travelled to Ukraine.

September 8, 2022

Austrian Government has Agreed on Electricity Price Brake

The Austrian federal government has agreed on the long-discussed "electricity price brake" to cushion the high cost of energy. According to information from the federal government, each household will pay a lower electricity price for that share of electricity consumption which corresponds to 80 percent of the average consumption of an Austrian household in the previous year.

September 7, 2022

Austria's Foreign Ministry Launches International Initiatives on the Topic of "Culture of the Future"

The 2022 Foreign Culture Conference on the theme of "Future Culture" was held in the Expedithalle of the Ankerbrot Factory in Vienna. It is primarily about eco-social, digital and ethical challenges and how these can be creatively solved with the help of art.

September 7, 2022

Austria Helps Flood Victims in Pakistan

Following massive flooding in Pakistan as a result of the heavy monsoon rains that have been continuing for many weeks, the Austrian government is providing support on the ground with payments from the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Foreign Disaster Fund. Two million euros in emergency aid from the State Department's Foreign Disaster Fund will help Pakistan with the humanitarian crisis triggered by the climate disaster.

September 7, 2022

OSCE Marks 10 Years of the Ljubljana Guidelines

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) established the Ljubljana Guidelines on Integration of Diverse Societies 10 years ago to address challenges associated with managing integration processes in diverse societies. Today marks the 10th anniversary of this comprehensive set of guidelines.

September 6, 2022

Honduras Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina García Visits Vienna

The Foreign Minister of Honduras, Eduardo Enrique Reina García, met the Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg for a working meeting in Vienna. The discussions focused on bilateral and economic relations between Austria and Honduras, multilateral issues, as well as regional developments in Latin America. In addition the Foreign Minister of Honduras met with IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi.

September 6, 2022

Austria Wants Covid Vaccine Contracts Renegotiated

Austria's Health Minister Johannes Rauch wants to renegotiate existing CoV vaccine contracts. Rauch said he wants to negotiate more flexibility with vaccine manufacturers at the informal meeting of EU health ministers in Prague.

September 6, 2022

Austrian Foreign Ministry Opens Ambassadors Conference 2022

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed the ambassadors to this year's Ambassadors' Conference of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, which takes place in Vienna and Klosterneuburg. The week-long conference brings together the heads of Austrian embassies and permanent representations to intensify the exchange among themselves and with their colleagues in Vienna.

September 5, 2022

Former Austrian Foreign Minister Kneissl Explains Reasons for Move to Lebanon

Austria's former Foreign Minister and ex-FPÖ politician Karin Kneissl explained at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok why she moved to Lebanon instead of Russia. The ex-politician will take part in a discussion tomorrow on a Russian export route in the Arctic Ocean.

September 5, 2022

Political Consultations between Turkey and Austria, OSCE and European Forum Alpbach

Turkey and Austria held bilateral political consultations in Vienna. The focus was on aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as an exchange of views on Turkiye's EU accession process.

September 4, 2022

Austrian Remembrance Service Turns 30

The Gedenkdienst or Austrian Remembrance Service is an Austrian voluntary service celebrating its 30th anniversary since its launch. The Gedenkdienst deals with the causes and consequences of National Socialism and its crimes in Austria and the world and tries to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust in a dignified way.

September 1, 2022

OSCE's Dilemma over Bulgaria's Parliamentary Elections

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened its election observation mission on the 2 October early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, following an official invitation from the national authorities. The OSCE mission will face political turmoil in a country fighting corruption, threatened to be overshadowed by Russian influence and the war in Ukraine

August 31, 2022

Austria's President Van der Bellen Brings in Experts on Energy and Climate Issues as Advisors

Ex-Verbund boss Wolfgang Anzengruber and Wifo economist Angela Köppl are volunteering their expertise to Austrian President Van der Bellen. According to the Federal President's Office, the war in Ukraine and inflation, as well as the slowly emerging energy crisis in Europe, call for expert advice on energy economics and climate issues.

August 31, 2022

Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg at the Informal EU Foreign Ministers Meeting in Prague

Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg took part in the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Prague. The talks once again focused on the Russian war against Ukraine and its global repercussions. Among other things, a general ban on Russian citizens entering the European Union was discussed, which Austria is critical of.

August 31, 2022

Head of Yad Vashem Visits Vienna

On the occasion of his visit to Vienna, Dani Dayan, the director of the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, comments on Corona demonstrations, and Austria's role in the Holocaust and met with high-ranking Austrian politicians.

August 31, 2022

Crisis Around Viennese Energy Supply Company "Wien Energie"

Austria's largest energy supplier urgently needs money to hedge forward transactions. Otherwise, the company would have to realize huge losses.

August 30, 2022

CTBTO's Executive Secretary and Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Reaffirm Commitment to Nuclear Weapons Free World

In a joint statement, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and CTBTO Executive Secretary Robert Floyd reaffirmed their commitment to a nuclear weapons-free world. In a joint statement released on Aug. 29 to mark the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, the two reiterated their determination to enact the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

August 30, 2022

Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg at the Bled Strategic Forum

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg took part in the 17th Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, which this year was held under the motto "The rule of power or the power of rules? At the forum, the Foreign Minister spoke about the geopolitical consequences for Europe triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and held several bilateral talks focusing on the Western Balkans.

August 30, 2022

Turmoil in Kosovo: Diplomacy Mediating a Reigniting Conflict

Serbia and Kosovo have resolved the ethnic issue of the movement of citizens of both countries across their borders, said the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, and the negotiators still have to resolve the burning issue of car registration plates. In recent weeks, the conflict seemed to tighten, however, to find out what exactly it was about, read more!

August 30, 2022

Austrian Chancellor Nehammer Calls for EU-27 to Stand Together for European Electricity Price Cap

Given the sharp rise in energy prices, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer is calling for a European electricity price cap to "finally" put a stop to "this madness that is currently taking place on the energy markets. According to Nehammer. this is only possible through a European solution.

August 29, 2022

High Representative Josep Borrell at European Forum Alpbach

The theme of "The New Europe" is the focus of this year's European Forum Alpbach. One of the most prominent guests is Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. During his appearance, he spoke about the future of Europe, the war in Ukraine and the future challenges for the European Union.

August 28, 2022

Meeting between French President Macron and IAEA Chief Grossi

French President Emmanuel Macron received the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi. The meeting between the two dignitaries focused on the threat posed by Russia's war against Ukrainian civilian nuclear facilities. Macron assured the IAEA Director General of France's support in the IAEA's upcoming mission to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.

August 28, 2022

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference Ends Without Result

The four-week Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York ended inconclusively. The conference failed to implement its disarmament commitments in the face of strong opposition from nuclear-armed states. In the end, Russia vetoed even the minimal result of a joint final declaration. Austria also reacted with disappointment to the inconclusive ending.

August 28, 2022

Meeting between Austria's Chancellor Nehammer and Italy's Prime Minister Draghi in Merano Canceled

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the second South Tyrolean autonomy statute, the meeting between Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will not take place as planned.

August 25, 2022

Former Austrian Foreign Minister Kneissl Causes a Stir with a Tweet About Russia and Putin

Former Foreign Minister and FPÖ politician Karin Kneissl, who danced with Putin at her wedding in 2018, caused a stir with a tweet about the Ukraine war. Kneissl, who was considered to have good connections to Russia, was even on the supervisory board of the Russian oil company Rosneft until May.

August 25, 2022

Climate Bonus and Anti-Inflation Bonus Come Earlier

The payment of the climate and anti-inflation bonus announced by the Austrian federal government will start in September. Because of inflation and the climate bonus, in 2022 all adults who have a main residence in Austria for at least six months will receive €500 and children €250, regardless of their citizenship and age.

August 25, 2022

Rosatom and IAEA Negotiate over Inspection for Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant

Russia's atomic energy agency Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have discussed details of a possible IAEA inspection at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is controlled by Russian troops. IAEA Chairman Rafael Grossi and Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev exchanged "detailed views on all issues related to the planned IAEA mission," according to a Rosatom statement.

August 24, 2022

Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg at the European Forum Alpbach 2022

Through its work, the European Forum Alpbach also functions as an interactive, open think tank and a source of inspiration for Austrian politics. Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is attending the European Forum Alpbach in Tyrol.

August 24, 2022

Ukraine Hosts Crimean Platform While Russian Invasion

The format, which was launched in 2021 to counter diplomatically the Russian annexation of Crimea, takes place this year virtually in the shadow of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This year's Crimea Platform summit was attended online by many international guests, including OSCE's Helga Maria Schmid and Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.

August 24, 2022

OSCE's Dilemma over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s General Elections

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 2 October parliamentary elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The OSCE mission is taking place in a country deeply scarred by war, now in the shadow of the Ukraine war and after a turbulent past few months of political conflict between the ruling parties in the country.

August 24, 2022

Ars Electronica Festival 2022 on Art as a Theater of War

Together with the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ars Electronica's "Welcome to Planet B" festival offers artists who are threatened, persecuted and oppressed because of the political dimension of their works a space on its online platform entitled "State of the ART(ist)".

August 23, 2022

Opening of the European Forum Alpbach 2022

The 77th Forum was officially opened by the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu. The Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also gave a speech in the course of the opening. After more than two Corona years, the Forum is held again in full capacity and is marked by the war in Ukraine.

August 22, 2022

Czech Republic and Slovakia Remember Prague Spring

The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic commemorated the Warsaw Pact invasion of the then Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR) on August 21, 1968. Especially with the background of Russia's current attack on Ukraine, this day is of special significance.

August 21, 2022

Russian Permanent Representative is Cited to the Austrian Foreign Ministry

Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, reportedly commented in response to a tweet by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanking the U.S. for arms deliveries, saying "No mercy for the Ukrainian people!" The Austrian Foreign Ministry is now summoning Ulyanov to "resolutely stand up against such inflammatory statements."

August 21, 2022

Vienna Increases Fees for Public Services

The City of Vienna increases the fees for water, sewage, waste disposal as well as the prices of parking tickets. The adjustment of tariffs for municipal services is made in Vienna based on the applicable valorization law.

August 18, 2022

Austria's Gas Storage Facilities Almost 60 Percent Full

As a result of the war in Ukraine, contingency plans are being put in place in Europe, as well as in Austria, to secure gas supplies. Gas storage facilities in Austria are 59.83 percent full. This means that a total of 57.2 terawatt hours (TWh) of natural gas is stored in domestic storage facilities.

August 17, 2022

Alexander Van der Bellen's First Term in Office: A Presidency With Many Ups and Downs

A final chapter of the first term of the Austrian President is approaching. On 9 October, Alexander Van der Bellen will contest Austria's 14th federal presidential election and will attempt to defend his office. At Vindobona, we take this opportunity to look back on the first term of the President.

August 17, 2022

Embassy of Turkey in Vienna Participated in the Program "100 Jahre Bildung für Wien"

Yusuf Yıldız, Counsellor for Education of the Embassy of Turkey in Vienna participated in the program "Come together 100 years of education" organized by the Vienna Directorate of Education on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Vienna Directorate of Education.

August 16, 2022

Grenada's Former Environment Minister to Become UN Climate Secretary

The former environment minister of the Caribbean island nation of Grenada, Simon Stiell, will be the new UN climate chief. The office of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced today in New York that Stiell has been appointed to succeed Patricia Espinosa of Mexico, who held the post from July 20216 to July 16 this year.

August 15, 2022

Development Policy in Austria: Focus on Combating the Consequences of Pandemics and Poverty

Recently, the Foreign Minister presented an updated version of the goals of Austria's development policy to the Austrian Parliament. If you want to know which goals Austria is aiming for and what this year's focus will be, read on.

August 11, 2022

Forgotten Russian Attack on Georgia: 14 Years After the August War

The 2008 Russo-Georgian War was a military conflict in the South Caucasus between Georgia on the one side and Russia and the internationally unrecognized Russian-backed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other. The Caucasus conflict had a major impact on the relationship between the EU and the USA and Russia. At the time, Russia seized the breakaway Georgian republics. 14 years later, Russia has attacked Ukraine and may have similar goals.

August 8, 2022

Conference in Salzburg of European Women Leaders

The conference "The Next Generation is Female" in Salzburg served as the starting point for a new dialogue platform for top European women politicians. The potential and perspectives of women in top politics are to be taken into account.

August 7, 2022

Hiroshima Memorial Day: Austria Advocates Nuclear Dismantlement

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has once again called on the major international powers to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons. The occasion was the anniversary of the nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

August 5, 2022

Iran Nuclear Talks: Iranian Delegation Heads to Vienna

An Iranian delegation is set to leave for Vienna for a continuation of nuclear negotiations. Chief negotiator Ali Bagheri and his team will set off within the next few hours, the Iranian government announced today.

August 3, 2022

Vienna Mayor Ludwig Accepted Prize for Sustainable and Smart Urban Development in Singapore

The Republic of Singapore awarded the "Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2020" to the City of Vienna. Mayor Michael Ludwig accepted the internationally renowned award, during the World Cities Summit 2022 in Singapore.

August 2, 2022

Commemoration of the Genocides of Sinti and Roma

In Europe, the Nazis slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Sinti and Roma people. Prominent Austrian politicians, like Alexander Van der Bellen and Michael Ludwig, attended the commemoration of the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. The OSCE also declared the importance of this day and commemorated the victims.

August 2, 2022

UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference in New York

The UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty tenth review conference is held in New York after a two-year delay caused by the CoV pandemic. Even before Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, nuclear disarmament had stalled. Now, reducing the nearly 13,000 nuclear weapons worldwide is becoming even more difficult.

August 1, 2022

Iran Nuclear Talks: Iran Can Build Nuclear Bomb, But Does Not Intend to Do So

Iran says it is technically capable of producing a nuclear bomb. But the country does not intend to do so, the semi-official Fars news agency quoted the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammed Eslami.

August 1, 2022

Viktor Orbán Meets Austrian Chancellor for Controversial Talks in Vienna

Viktor Orban, the polarising Prime Minister of Hungary, met with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer last week in Vienna. The two statesmen expressed friendship, but also disagreed on some issues.

August 1, 2022

ICMPD and Austrian Ministry of Interior Host Event for Joint Project "MIGRATION.DIGITAL.PEDAGOGY"

Representatives of International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) and the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria (PH NÖ) met to discuss the results of the joint project 'MIGRATION.DIGITAL.PEDAGOGY'.

July 31, 2022