Austria International Political News | International | EU | Domestic

Read the latest headlines about developments in Austrian politics with reference to the international interest

Minister Schallenberg Welcomed Bolivias Vice President David Choquehuanca

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has met with Bolivian Vice President David Choquehuanca. Together they talked about the good relations between the two countries and the consequences of the Russian aggression on Ukraine.

March 14, 2023

Foreign Minister Schallenberg and His Italian Counterpart Traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina where they talked to several representatives of the country about the EU support for the country's reform and its general path towards the EU.

March 13, 2023

Austrian Justice Minister Zadic Wants to Strengthen the International Criminal Court

EU justice ministers have met again in Brussels to discuss the legal consequences of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Austria's Justice Minister Alma Zadic wants to strengthen the International Court of Justice in the fight against war crimes in the Ukraine war.

March 12, 2023

Chancellor Nehammer Will Present Austria’s Future in the State of the Nation Adress

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer Will give a speech about the “Future of the Nation Address”, where he plans to present Austria’s plans for the coming decade.

March 9, 2023

Secretary-General Tieffenthal Participated in the European Ministers Council

A Council Meeting between all Development Ministers of the European Nations took place in Stockholm. Secretary-General Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal represented Austria in the meeting, where they discussed global healthcare and the rebuilding of Ukraine.

March 9, 2023

Challenges of the OSCE in Montenegro's Presidential Election

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened an election observation mission for the March 19 presidential elections in Montenegro. The OSCE mission taking place in the former Yugoslav republic of Montenegro faces a country that had problems with the legality of elections and the circumstances in which they are conducted, 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.

March 9, 2023

New Executive Board for the Austrian Institute of Technology

The largest research and technology organization in Austria, the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), with 1,400 employees, is getting a new three-person management team. Read more about Austria's largest research and technology organization!

March 9, 2023

Space Diplomacy: Petition to UN COPUOS by ESO and Astronomy Groups

In a paper submitted to the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), an international collaboration involving the European Southern Observatory (ESO) proposes a new Expert Group to protect dark and quiet skies.

March 8, 2023

French-Austrian Gallery of Pioneer Women in Sport

On the occasion of International Women's Day and the 500 days leading up to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, the French Embassy in Austria has made a conscious decision to place March 2023 under the sign of female sports.

March 8, 2023

Partnerships with Central European Neighbors in the Field of Education

The Central European Cooperation in Education and Training (CECE) Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary.

March 7, 2023

Foreign Minister Schallenberg Wants to Promote More Women in Foreign Politics

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg amidst International Woman’s Day said that he wants the equality of women and the protection of their rights to be a living priority in international politics.

March 7, 2023

Edtstadler Wants to Help Implement Project for a Safer Internet with the IGF

Austrian Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler and State Secretary Florian Tursky Discussed in a panel in Vienna the promotion of the “Global Digital Impact” by the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

March 7, 2023

Minister Schallenberg Shows Solidarity for LDC Countries at Doha Conference

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg attended the Least Development Countries (LDC) in Doha. There, he expressed solidarity for the LDCs and reassured Austria’s support for the countries.

March 6, 2023

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen Met the Departing Czech President Milos Zeman

Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen made an Official visit to the Czech head of state, who is leaving office after two terms.

March 5, 2023

A Historic Agreement Was Reached After Years of Talks to Protect the World's Oceans

After more than a decade of talks, the UN member states have agreed on a treaty to protect the oceans beyond state jurisdiction better. Climate organizations praised the treaty.

March 5, 2023

City of Vienna: Europe's Nuclear Energy Sector is Heavily Dependent on Russia

The European Union's recently adopted tenth package of sanctions against Russia continues to leave one area completely untouched - nuclear energy. A new study by the Cities for Nuclear Free Europe network, where Vienna is also involved, aims to prove interconnections between the European and Russian nuclear sectors.

March 5, 2023

SOS Children’s Villages under Pressure for the Abduction of Ukrainian Children

Already last week, the internationally active aid organization SOS Children's Villages, founded in Austria, was confronted with accusations of being involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia.

March 2, 2023

City of Vienna Pushes for Rent Cap

The City of Vienna has called for an Austrian-wide rent price cap since it does not want to implement these regulations on its own. The rent price cap is heavily debated in Austria at this moment because the guideline value for rents might increase too much in April.

March 2, 2023

IAEA Confirms Traces of Highly Enriched Uranium in Iran

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found particles of very highly enriched uranium in Iran. As the Director-General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, officially confirmed for the first time, the uranium had a purity level of 83.7 percent. The value is not far from 90 percent, which would be necessary for nuclear weapons.

March 2, 2023

Austria Should Do More to Fight and Prevent Corruption

An evaluation report published by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has found that the Austrian state is doing too little to fight corruption in some areas and needs to improve its strategy on it.

March 1, 2023

Ex-OMV Chief Doubts Policy Statements on Russian Gas Pullout

Russian gas supplies to Austria are currently causing discussions. While the Austrian government wants to do without gas supplies from Russia altogether by 2027, OMV refers to long-term contracts.

March 1, 2023

New Funding for Economic Transformation in Austria

The Ministry of Labor and Economic Affairs (BMAW) has announced a new funding track under the Climate and Transformation Offensive. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) supports the Austrian economy in the transformation and the BMAW provides €300 million for research funding until 2026.

March 1, 2023

Austrian National Council Ends Brokerage Fees

A long debate will end on Wednesday as the Austrian national council will end the fee for brokers in the real estate market. Until now, new tenants used to pay the brokerage fee when they moved into their new apartment. The situation has changed now.

February 28, 2023

Mask Mandate Ends in Viennese Public Transport

What was announced at the beginning of this month now is a reality. Starting in March, Vienna will end its mask mandates. The city has been particularly strict with Covid covid regulations as it is the last state to end the mandates in public transport.

February 28, 2023

Great Success for Austria in the Marie Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship Call 2022

Austrian institutions participated in this call for proposals with 150 project applications in a coordinating role and were able to win at least 37 of these projects in an extremely competitive selection process. This makes the Austrian success rate the highest of all EU member states.

February 28, 2023

Romanian Delegation Searching for a Solution in Vienna

A Romanian delegation has arrived in Vienna to search for the solution for Austria’s Schengen Veto Block. Part of the delegation was also Romania’s ex Foreign Minister Titus Corlățean.

February 27, 2023

The Mayor of Vienna Welcomed the Mayor of Morocco’s Capital

The Mayor of the City of Vienna Michael Ludwig received his counterpart from Morocco Asmaa Rhlalou, who has been the Mayor of Rabat since 2021. Also today, Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner visited Morocco.

February 27, 2023

Representation of the European Commission in Vienna Organized Event “Solidarity and Justice for Ukraine”

The European Commission organized the event "Solidarity and Justice for Ukraine" at the House of the EU in Vienna on the anniversary of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It was attended by a large number of diplomatic, academic and political participants, who reaffirmed support for Ukraine at all levels and discussed ways to punish Russian atrocities.

February 27, 2023

Diplomats in Vienna Express Solidarity with Ukraine

The various and numerous embassies as well as foreign missions in Vienna expressed their solidarity with war-torn Ukraine on the anniversary of the Russian invasion. Especially the embassies that condemn Russia for the war, demand that Russia finally withdraws its troops from Ukraine.

February 27, 2023

Schallenberg Condemns Russia and Shows Support for Ukraine in OSCE Speech

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg held a speech at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sharply condemning Russia and reassuring the ongoing support for Ukraine.

February 26, 2023

8.000 People Were Demonstrating in Vienna on War Anniversary

As the first anniversary of the Russo-Ukraine War has marked, the Ukrainian diaspora in Austria has held large demonstrations in Vienna. They started their march from the Parliament and ended up in Karlsplatz.

February 26, 2023

Neutrality Debate in Austria's Parliament at Ukraine Session

On the occasion of the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was a lively debate in the Austrian parliament about the attitude towards the aggressor Russia and about neutrality. An open letter in Austria, in which signatories call for a responsible debate about the country's neutrality, also fueled the session in parliament.

February 24, 2023

More than 40 Incidents at Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants since the Beginning of the War

Since the war in Ukraine began a year ago, the country's nuclear power plants have been affected by more than 40 incidents. Nuclear security in Ukraine is still at a worrying risk. This is according to a report published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

February 24, 2023

Minister Edtstadler Wants to Maintain Unity in the European Union

Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler said that the European Union must maintain unity despite the economy and the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

February 24, 2023

Secretary General of the Austrian Foreign Ministry Shows Solidarity With Ukraine at UN General Assembly

Secretary General of the Austrian Foreign Ministry Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal held a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York promoting peace and condemning the violation of human rights.

February 23, 2023

Romania’s Foreign Minister Not Satisfied with Austria’s Schengen Veto

Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has expressed his dissatisfaction about Austria’s Schengen block in the Austrian newspaper “Die Presse”. He said that the Veto was “unjust, unexpected, and unannounced”.

February 22, 2023

Vienna Will Provide 200 Euros Once More

After it gave financial assistance to its citizens last year, the City of Vienna will provide the same of 200 Euros again this year. The citizens will receive the benefits of the Energy Bonus 23 in April.

February 22, 2023

FPÖ-Russia Relations After a Year of War in Ukraine

Traditionally close to the Kremlin, Austria's Freedom Party is currently part of a thriller in parliament. Its party finances and any contracts with the Russian party United Russia are still not largely known, even after a year of war in Ukraine.

February 22, 2023

Another Austrian Chancellor's Trip to Putin is no Taboo for Foreign Minister Schallenberg

After Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer made a trip to Vladimir Putin shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a renewed trip to the Russian ruler after a year of the war is again under discussion. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg does not rule out another trip to Moscow by Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

February 22, 2023

Austrian Citizen Sentenced to Seven and a Half Years Prison in Iran

An Austrian citizen was sentenced to seven and a half years in Iran for alleged espionage against the Iranian government. This was the third case of allegations of this kind against Austrian citizens.

February 21, 2023

Minister Edtstadler Defends Visa Exemptions for Russians

Austrian Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler has defended Austria’s decision to grant visas to the Russian Delegation amidst the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.

February 21, 2023

Journalists' Associations Against Exclusion of Media at OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

In response to plans by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that media representatives would not be permitted to attend the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) at the Hofburg in Vienna, the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) and the Association of Foreign Press in Vienna objected.

February 20, 2023

Who Were the Four Expelled Austrian Diplomats in Moscow?

The expulsion of the Austrian diplomats, who must leave Russia, will lead to a significant reduction in embassy staff. But what positions did the diplomats hold?

February 20, 2023

Chancellor Nehammer Discussed Migration Issues With the Spanish Prime Minister in Vienna

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Vienna. He mentioned the Spanish expertise in terms of external border control. On the same day, he also met with the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo.

February 20, 2023

Finnish Prime Minister Marin Visited Vienna

The Finnish head of government Sanna Marin visited Vienna for the first time for working talks and was received by Chancellor Karl Nehammer and President Alexander Van der Bellen. Finland and Austria share enough interests, but not the status of neutrality.

February 20, 2023

Minister Schallenberg Promoted Dialogue at Munich Security Conference

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg attended the 59th Munich Security Conference. He met with several counterparts and he emphasized the importance of communication in these difficult times.

February 19, 2023

30 Years of EU Single Market: Austria’s Advantages are Apparent

30 Years of the EU Single Market have had a positive influence on Austria’s economy. This is shown by the reports of the Ministry of Labor and Economy and the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO).

February 18, 2023

Raiffeisen Probed by U.S. Sanctions Authority

Raiffeisen Bank International, an Austrian lender that plays a critical role in the Russian economy, is under investigation by the US sanctions authority over its Russia-related business.

February 18, 2023

Ukraine Wants to Boycott OSCE-Meeting Because of Russian Delegation

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is not going through its best times. Especially Austria’s role in it. After many countries sent an open letter to Austria to disinvite the Russian delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly, countries are now boycotting the meeting.

February 16, 2023

Moscow Expels Four Austrian Diplomats from Russia

Russia has announced that it will expel four Austrian diplomats. In addition to the expulsion of the Austrian diplomats, the Austrian ambassador in Moscow, Werner Almhofer, was also cited to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This comes as a kind of retaliation after Vienna itself expelled four Russian diplomats a few weeks ago.

February 16, 2023