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Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic
Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian politics with reference to the international interest
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Ban Ki-moon at the Forum Alpbach: Promoting the SDGs in Europe with a Global Mindset
Delivering a keynote, Chairman Ban Ki-moon encouraged all national leaders to act as global leaders with a global citizenship mindset, which he said is a truly crucial asset for every individual to have in order to achieve sustainable development in a global society.
August 29, 2019
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Defence Minister Starlinger Emphasises Importance of Interdisciplinary Cooperation in Defence Policy
Austrian Defence Minister Thomas Starlinger reports on cooperation between his department and various institutes in the field of security and defence policy.
August 29, 2019
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European Forum Alpbach: Promoting the SDGs in Europe
At the European Forum in Alpbach, Tyrol, experts, diplomats and politicians discussed the promotion of UN sustainability goals in Europe.
August 29, 2019
Slovakia's First Female President Comes to Austria
The newly elected Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová visits Vienna for an official visit and is welcomed there by the Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. The visit will also include a meeting with Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein.
August 28, 2019
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Donor List of the Austrian People's Party: Heidi Horten Biggest Donor
The Austrian Conservatives (ÖVP) recently published the donations to the Federal Party from 2018 and from the first 7 months of 2019. The billionaire and art collector Heidi Goëss-Horten donated a total of 931,000 euros during these 19 months. A total of 2.76 million euros was donated to the party during this period. Here you can find out who the other major donors are.
August 26, 2019
USA and Austrian Ministry of the Interior Intensify International Cooperation
During his meeting with the Austrian Minister of the Interior, Wolfgang Peschorn, the US Ambassador to Austria, Trevor Traina, spoke among other things about the continuation of cooperation in the fields of organised crime and counter-terrorism.
August 24, 2019
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Ibizagate: New Book Proves Allegations Against Former Freedom Party Leader Strache
A secretly recorded video led to the fall of Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz Christian Strache and Deputy Leader of the Freedom Party Johann Gudenus in May. Now the journalists of the Süddeutsche Zeitung who took part in the unveiling describe what else could be seen on the Ibiza video and how Strache was tempted to behave corruptly.
August 22, 2019
Chinese Ambassador in Vienna Warns with China's Intervention in Hong Kong
Li Xiaosi, the Chinese ambassador in Austria, has repeated the demands known from Beijing in an interview in the Ö1-Mittagsjournal and threatened with an intervention by China in the continuing violent protests in Hong Kong.
August 20, 2019
Alignment of the Western Balkans with the EU: Slovenian Parliament President Met Sobotka
The President of the Slovenian Parliament Dejan Židan and the President of the Austrian National Council Wolfgang Sobotka met on the sidelines of the Salzburg Festival to discuss the rapprochement of the Western Balkans to the EU and the EU after the elections to the European Parliament.
August 20, 2019
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Meet Austria's New Minister of Finance Eduard Müller
Eduard Müller (58) is an Austrian civil servant and since June 3rd, 2019 Federal Minister of Finance (Secretary of the Treasury) in the Austrian Federal Government Bierlein. In addition to this function, he is also responsible for public service and sports.
August 15, 2019
What Does Vienna Have in Common with the New Silk Road?
In order to ensure sustainable development, the cities along the New Silk Road also have to face major infrastructural and social challenges, as well as climate-ecological challenges. More than 1000 participants from more than 178 cities are expected in September in the Vienna International Center for UNIDO's Bridge for Cities Conference as part of the Belt & Road Initiative.
August 12, 2019
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Economic Growth: Austria Slightly Above EU Average
The Austrian economy is likely to grow by 1.5% in 2019. 1.2% growth is expected for the euro zone and 1.4% for the EU as a whole.
August 8, 2019
Head of the European Commission in Vienna Leaves for Berlin
The current head of the EC European Commission in Vienna, the German citizen Dr. Jörg Wojahn, will move back to Germany as Head of the European Commission's Representation in Berlin.
August 7, 2019
Nuclear Bomb Drops Remembrance Day: Austria Advocates Nuclear Weapon-Free World
The Austrian Federal Government is fully committed to the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. "Nuclear weapons should be abolished once and for all."
August 6, 2019
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Meet Austria's Minister of Education Iris Eliisa Rauskala
Iris Eliisa Rauskala (41) is an Austrian economist and civil servant. She was appointed Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research in the Austrian Federal Government Bierlein. She grew up almost five years in Finland and then in Upper Austria. After her appointment she outed herself in interviews with the media as an openly lesbian woman.
August 6, 2019
Schallenberg: End of Cold War-Era Missile Pact is Threat to European Security
Austria's Foreign Minister regrets the end of the INF Treaty and calls for the voluntary non-stationing of land-based medium-range missiles in Europe.
August 3, 2019
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Southeastern Europe Remains Focus of Austrian Foreign and Security Policy
The Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kemal Kozaric, and Interior Minister Wolfgang Peschorn met for a working meeting in Vienna. Bilateral cooperation and migration were on the agenda.
August 1, 2019
Austria to Support Syria and Mali with EUR 2.5 Million
The Austrian Council of Ministers approved a total of 2.5 million euros in aid payments from the Foreign Disaster Fund for humanitarian aid in Mali and Syria. The money is intended for refugees in the two crisis areas.
July 31, 2019
More EU Infringement Procedures Against Austria
Austria is confronted with an above-average number of infringement proceedings by the European Commission. These include not only proceedings concerning the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment, but also failures in the areas of public procurement, financial market regulation and the fight against tax fraud. Now the EC has also opened an infringement procedure concerning the indexation of family allowances.
July 31, 2019
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National Council Election 2019: How Austrians Abroad Can Vote
Austrian citizens who have their main residence abroad can vote in the Austrian National Council elections on 29 September 2019. By August 8th, 2019, they have to make sure that they are listed in the electoral register of their last main municipality of residence.
July 30, 2019
Devastating - Austria is Only the 21st Most Innovative Country in the World
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) named Austria's neighbor Switzerland as the world’s most innovative country, during the launch of its latest Global Innovation Index. Austria isn't even in the top 20. Biggest issues are the stagnation of public expenditure on research and development and the increase of economic protectionism.
July 26, 2019
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Ursula von der Leyen Gets Johannes Hahn Proposed as Austrian EU Commissioner
Ursula von der Leyen was approved by the European Parliament as the next president of the European Commission. Her first, and very tricky, task is to assign jobs to the commissioners of each country. Johannes Hahn was again nominated by the main committee of the austrian parliament as the Austrian member of the next EU Commission.
July 19, 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
Central European University Accredited as Private University in Vienna
The Austrian accreditation procedure for the CEU Central European University was successfully completed, so that the university can now start its operations in Vienna. Until now, the university was accredited in the USA and Hungary, the teaching took place exclusively in Hungary.
July 12, 2019
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Vienna's City History: Red Vienna from 1919 to 1934
Vienna’s first free municipal election, held in May 1919, results in an absolute majority for the SPÖ - Social Democratic Party (at that time SDAPDÖ - Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Deutschösterreichs). A reform project commences. The goal is a far reaching democratization of society as well as the dramatic improvement of workers‘ living conditions. A revolutionary fiscal policy, built around a luxury tax, provides funding for the creation of over 60,000 apartments along with numerous social, leisure, and cultural facilities by 1934.
July 9, 2019
Poznan Summit: Bringing Western Balkans Closer to EU Remains Priority
Chancellor Bierlein at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Poland. The sixth Western Balkans Conference as part of the Berlin Process, which brings together heads of government from several EU states and their counterparts from the Western Balkans, dealt with connectivity at all levels.
July 9, 2019
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Austrian Federal Council Approves Reform of Party Financing
One day after the National Council passed its resolution, the new regulation on party financing also passed the Federal Council. The new rules already apply to the upcoming election campaign in summer and autumn 2019.
July 9, 2019
Paternity Leave Entitlement Decided by Parliament
Members of the Austrian National Council passed a resolution on the legal entitlement to Paternity Leave (Papamonat). Fathers now have the right to be granted time off. Changes have also been made to child benefit legislation.
July 5, 2019
Austrians Abroad: National Council Election at the End of September 2019
On 29 September 2019, the Austrian National Council is expected to be elected. Austrians living abroad have the opportunity to take part in the election by postal vote. This is possible if you do not have your main residence in Austria and if you have reached the age of 16 by election day at the latest and have registered in the electoral register of an Austrian municipality by 9 July 2019 at the latest.
July 4, 2019
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How North Macedonia Learns from Austria - Best Practices on the Topic of Equal Treatment
During a visit of the delegations of the North 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
Don't Smoke - Austria to Finally Ban Smoking in Bars and Restaurants
Over 1 year after the smoking ban in gastronomy should have come into force, the parliament has once again voted in favour and is to come into force on 1 November 2019. The ban will also apply to shishas and e-cigarettes, with the exception of guest gardens. Through the smoking ban alone, there should be 1,000 fewer deaths per year from passive smoking.
July 4, 2019 · Updated: July 4, 2019; 20:44
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Total Ban on Glyphosate in Austria Adopted
Austria is the first country in the European Union to ban the use of the controversial weedkiller glyphosate. The ban is legally controversial and could contradict EU law.
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
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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
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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
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
Uber Ridesharing Threatens to Retreat from Austria
The US transportation network company Uber wants to mobilise against the taxi and rental car reform in Austria with a petition. The new law would be a setback for Austria in several respects. If the new law is passed on 3 July, we will no longer be able to offer services such as UberX, according to a statement by Uber.
June 27, 2019
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Improving Brazilian-Austrian Relations in Science and Research
A new scientific and technological cooperation agreement with Brazil aims to promote bilateral relations in the field of science and research.
June 27, 2019
46% Fewer Asylum Applications in Austria
13,375 asylum applications were received in Austria last year - 46% less than in 2017 (24,715). A total of 664,480 applications for international protection were filed in the EU (including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein) in 2018. The number of asylum applications in Austria and the EU has thus declined for the third year in a row and has returned to pre-crisis levels.
June 27, 2019
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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
Strengthening Comprehensive Security in the OSCE Area
The OSCE’s Annual Security Review Conference in Vienna will discuss state of play of co-operation on comprehensive security in Europe and beyond.
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
Austrian Parliament: Termination of EU Accession Negotiations with Turkey, Extension of Sanctions against Russia
In a statement to the government, the EU Main Committee of the Austrian National Council has unanimously spoken out in favour of breaking off EU accession negotiations with Turkey. Instead, the parliamentary groups believe that a strategic partnership should be sought.
June 21, 2019
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Albania and North Macedonia: No EU Accession Negotiations for the Time Being, but Austria Still in Favor of It
The decision to start accession negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia was postponed. Several EU states are blocking enlargement in the Balkans. The EU committee of the Austrian Federal Council demands that the Western Balkans become part of the EU. The Austrian Federation of Trade Unions, on the other hand, warns against hasty new admissions.
June 20, 2019
German Road Toll Discriminates Against Foreigners - ECJ
The German car toll violates EU law. This was decided by the European Court of Justice in a ruling. This levy is discriminatory, since its economic burden lies practically exclusively on the owners and drivers of vehicles registered in other member states. In Austria, the ruling is received with great pleasure, as the country has won the case through its infringement proceedings.
June 18, 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
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