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Western European Expats in Vienna, Austria | Bilateral Relations
Austria and Western European countries - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, diplomacy and culture
Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria Warns Against “Hardening of the Heart” For the 4 Years of War in Ukraine
It is a sombre anniversary that the world is commemorating these days. For four years, Russia has been waging a large-scale war of aggression in Ukraine. What began as a “special military operation” has developed into a global turning point that is not only shifting borders but also shaking the foundations of the Christian faith in Eastern Europe. In a powerful statement, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Austria, Arsenios (Kardamakis), has now spoken out, finding clear words for what he calls an “ecclesiological paradox.”
Yesterday
Mafelile Christina Molala Takes Over as Lesotho's Ambassador in Berlin, Moscow, and Vienna
With an impressive track record in international economic development and a clear vision for the digital future, H.E. Mafelile Christina Molala has taken up her post as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho. From her official residence in Berlin, she now oversees diplomatic affairs for much of Central and Eastern Europe.
February 15, 2026
Austrian Chancellor Stocker Calls for European “Competitiveness Agenda” and Diplomatic Initiative Toward Moscow
From Antwerp to Bratislava: Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker is pushing for a radical reorientation of European economic and energy policy. The focus is on falling electricity prices, preserving industry, a clear line on the Ukraine issue, and keeping channels of communication open with Russia.
February 12, 2026
Swiss Mission for Peace: OSCE Leaders on Historic Visit to Moscow
In a diplomatic offensive to end the war in Ukraine, the acting OSCE Chairperson, Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis, and Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu traveled to Moscow. It was the first visit of its kind since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.
February 11, 2026
Austria's Export Economy: Getting Through the Crisis Year 2025 with a “Black Eye”
The Austrian export industry looks back on a turbulent year. As the latest figures from the OeNB export indicator for January 2026 show, nominal goods exports shrank by 0.7% in 2025 as a whole. In real terms—i.e., adjusted for price changes—the decline was slightly more pronounced at 1.4%. Nevertheless, economists are cautiously optimistic: given the global upheavals, the domestic economy has come through relatively unscathed.
February 10, 2026
Change of Rector at Vienna's IWM: Misha Glenny Returns to the BBC
The renowned Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is facing a significant change. As announced by the institute, the current rector, Misha Glenny, will step down from his position in 2026. A successor is already being sought through an international call for applications.
February 4, 2026
ams-Osram Sells Sensor Business to German Company Infineon for €570 Million
The semiconductor company ams-Osram is continuing its cost-cutting measures and divesting itself of a significant division. The buyer is German chip giant Infineon, which is primarily strengthening its location in Graz with this acquisition.
February 3, 2026
Signa Insolvency: Hotel Andaz Vienna Sold for 92 Million Euros – Reorientation from April
In the wake of the breakup of René Benko's Signa empire, another high-profile deal has emerged: the luxury hotel “Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere” is changing hands for €92 million. The sale is accompanied by a strategic realignment and a brand change.
February 2, 2026
A Diplomat for Times of Crisis: Estonia's Arti Hilpus Strengthens European Alliances
In a time of growing geopolitical tensions, Estonia is relying on experience. Arti Hilpus, one of the Baltic states' most prominent diplomats, has played a key role in recent months. Following his accreditation in Vienna in the fall of 2025, he has now formally taken up his duties in Switzerland. At the heart of his mission: European security and unwavering support for Ukraine.
February 1, 2026
Italy and the University of Vienna Organize Major Charity Concert “Sounds for Peace” at the Vienna Musikverein
When the powerful sounds of Giuseppe Verdi's “Messa da Requiem” fill the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein on January 30, 2026, there will be more than just musical excellence on the program. Under the title “Sounds for Peace,” the University of Vienna, together with the Italian diplomatic missions, invites you to an evening that uses music as a bridge for peace and as a tool against global hunger.
January 19, 2026
France-Austria: 2026, a G7 and Cultural Centenary Year
In his New Year's address for 2026, the French Ambassador to Austria, Matthieu Peyraud, outlined a year rich in symbolism and diplomatic challenges. Between France's presidency of the G7 and the centenary of French institutions in Vienna, bilateral relations are set to experience a historic moment.
January 19, 2026
Swiss Diplomacy Faces Tough Test This Year: Federal Councilor Cassis Opens OSCE Chairmanship Year 2026
Swiss Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis launched the official program of Switzerland's OSCE Chairmanship in Vienna. This is the third time Switzerland has taken the helm of the world's largest regional security organization, following 1996 and 2014. The goal is clearly defined: amid the war in Ukraine and diplomatic deadlock, Bern wants to ensure the OSCE's ability to act and create long-term prospects for peace.
January 19, 2026
Austria's OMV Loses to Gazprom in Russian Court of Appeal
The legal dispute between Austrian energy company OMV and Russian state-owned giant Gazprom is entering a new phase. An appeals court in St. Petersburg dismissed an appeal by OMV. This means that the ban imposed in Russia on continuing arbitration proceedings in Sweden remains in place, with penalties amounting to millions of dollars for violations.
January 14, 2026
After 25 Years Mercosur Agreement Reached: Austria Torn Between Export Euphoria and Farmers' Fears
After a quarter of a century of negotiations, the European Union has paved the way for the world's largest free trade agreement. While Austrian industry is calling it a “historic milestone,” the agricultural sector is bitterly disappointed.
January 12, 2026
Diplomacy in Times of Conflict: Switzerland Takes the Helm of the OSCE
At the start of a period of the deepest diplomatic freeze since the end of the Cold War, Switzerland officially took over the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) at the beginning of the year. For Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the mission is clear: “where diplomacy seems impossible, it becomes most important.”
January 8, 2026
Middle East Crisis on 70th Anniversary: Wave of Boycotts Shakes Eurovision 2026 in Vienna
What was supposed to be a glittering celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the Wiener Stadthalle is turning into the most serious diplomatic crisis in the history of the competition. While the slogan “United by Music” is emblazoned across the preparations for May 2026, the European broadcasting landscape is more deeply divided than ever before.
December 22, 2025
Christian Democracy: A Thing of the Past? Jan-Werner Müller to Give the Jan Patočka Memorial Lecture
The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) invites you to a high-profile lecture on the future of Christian democracy in Europe on December 11, 2025. Renowned political philosopher Prof. Dr. Jan-Werner Müller from Princeton University will give the 36th Jan Patočka Memorial Lecture under the provocative title “What Was Christian Democracy?”
November 30, 2025
German Bundeswehr Award High Crosses of Honor to Two Austrian Soldiers
A sign of the deep military ties between Germany and Austria: the German Bundeswehr has awarded two high-ranking members of the Austrian Armed Forces the Cross of Honor of the Bundeswehr at the German Embassy in Vienna. The award recognizes their outstanding services and the long-standing, trusting cooperation between the two armed forces.
November 30, 2025
Austria Finalizes Billion-Dollar Purchase: Twelve Italian Leonardo M-346-FA Jets to Replace Swedish Saab 105
Austria has completed the purchase of twelve Leonardo M-346-FA jets from Italy. This was announced by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (both ÖVP). The new weapon-capable subsonic jets close a capability gap that had existed since 2020 due to the decommissioning of the Saab 105.
November 30, 2025
Austria and Italy Together With UNODC Urge Global Alliance Against Organized Crime
The threats posed by transnational organized crime are more complex, interconnected, and dangerous than ever before. In light of these developments, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, together with Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), have called for renewed global solidarity.
November 26, 2025
EUSALP Annual Forum in Innsbruck Concludes With New Joint Action Plan
Cross-border cooperation in the Alpine region has reached a new milestone. At the General Assembly and Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) in Innsbruck, the new EUSALP Action Plan was adopted, setting out the strategy for the next ten years. At the same time, EUSALP, which brings together seven countries and 48 regions, celebrated its 10th anniversary and marked the end of the Austrian-Liechtenstein co-presidency in 2025.
November 26, 2025
Ryanair: Growth in Bratislava, Decline in Vienna
Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is pushing ahead with its expansion in Slovakia and has announced 70 percent growth for Bratislava Airport. At the same time, the company is sticking to its previously announced cuts in Vienna. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary justified the change of course with the high costs in Austria and sharply criticized the Austrian government at press conferences.
November 25, 2025
Austria's Defense Evolves: Neutrality, Threats, and the Future of the Military
The geopolitical situation in Europe is coming to a head, and Austria's traditional neutrality is more than ever at the center of a heated debate about the country's future defense capabilities. To better understand this area of tension, it is essential to examine the fundamentals, capabilities, and geopolitical role of the Austrian Armed Forces (ÖBH). This has already been discussed frequently in the media and paints a sobering picture.
November 13, 2025
STRABAG's Order Backlog Exceeds 30 Billion Mark for the First Time
The listed construction services technology group STRABAG SE reached a historic milestone in the first nine months of 2025: its order backlog rose by a remarkable 24 percent to a new record level of EUR 31.4 billion.
November 13, 2025
DSN Uncovers Hamas Weapons Cache in Vienna
The Directorate for State Security and Intelligence (DSN) has dealt a significant blow to a global terrorist organization with ties to Hamas as part of internationally coordinated investigations: a weapons cache was uncovered in Vienna. There is a strong suspicion that the weapons were intended for use in planned terrorist attacks in Europe against Israeli or Jewish institutions.
November 7, 2025
French Ambassador Peyraud Strengthens Relations in Salzburg and Klagenfurt
Ambassador Matthieu Peyraud of the Republic of France to Austria made two important visits to the provinces of Salzburg and Carinthia in the fall of 2025 to further deepen political, economic, and cultural ties between France and Austria. The focus of the visits was on the region's economic potential and on opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Carinthia and Salzburg with France. These efforts by France and Austria to strengthen their bilateral relations were also initiated by a French Senate delegation's visit to Vienna, and France's interest in the “Vienna model” of social housing is also growing.
November 4, 2025
UK Embassy in Vienna Celebrates Trafalgar Night with Dignitaries from the Austrian Ministry of Defence
The traditional Trafalgar Night Dinner at the British Embassy in Vienna was a special sign of the bond between Austria and Great Britain. The celebrations honored the legendary victory of the British Navy in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and its hero, Admiral Lord Nelson. Ambassador Lindsay Skoll and Defense Attaché Ewan Harris welcomed Austria's Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and senior representatives from the Austrian Ministry of Defense.
November 3, 2025
Tenth Anniversary of the ICMPD Migration Conference Calls for a “New International System”
The 10th Vienna Migration Conference (VMC), organized by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), took place on October 21 and 22, 2025, marking a decade of intensive dialogue on shaping international migration policy. Over 300 delegates from politics, the private sector, academia, think tanks, international organizations, and civil society gathered to discuss sustainable migration management, the recruitment of skilled workers, and the challenges of implementing EU reforms.
October 29, 2025
German President Steinmeier Opens New German Embassy in Vienna and Calls for “Reinventing Europe”
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier concluded his three-day state visit to Austria. The focus of the visit was the official opening of the new German Embassy building in Vienna, accompanied by an urgent appeal to Europeans to reinvent the continent in the face of emerging geopolitical challenges.
October 26, 2025
Former FPÖ Politician Jenewein Becomes Press Spokesman for the German AfD
The AfD faction in the Thuringian state parliament has made a prominent and controversial personnel decision. Former Austrian FPÖ National Council member Hans-Jörg Jenewein is taking over the position of press spokesman for the faction.
October 23, 2025
Meet Portugal's New Top Representative in Vienna, Jorge Manuel da Silva Lopes
The experienced diplomat and former ambassador to Croatia takes on the key role of Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna and Ambassador to Austria.
October 21, 2025
Novartis Opens Second Biotech Facility in Austria
The pharmaceutical company Novartis has commissioned its second state-of-the-art cell culture facility for the production of monoclonal antibodies in Kundl (Kufstein district). The opening of the facility, which has been invested in with a total of €500 million, along with its sister facility in Schaftenau (Kufstein district), which opened in June 2024, is seen as a strong signal for the Austrian life sciences sector. With this expansion, Novartis is creating around 100 new jobs in Kundl and strengthening its global production capacity.
October 21, 2025
Meet Simon Biedermann, Liechtenstein's New Ambassador in Vienna
The Principality of Liechtenstein has a new ambassador in Vienna. Diplomat Simon Biedermann has presented his credentials and now represents the Principality in Austria, Czechia, at the UN, and at the OSCE.
October 13, 2025
Vienna, a Hub for Espionage since the Cold War
For several historical and geographical reasons, Vienna has a long and distinguished history as a center of espionage. During the Cold War, Vienna gained particular significance as a hotspot for espionage, but even after the end of the Cold War, this status has continued and has even intensified in recent years.
September 26, 2025
Vienna's Belvedere: A Impressionist Collection of French Artists on Tour
One of the most important private collections of French Impressionism is now on display in Austria for the first time, following exhibitions in Lausanne and Cologne. From Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Lower Belvedere will present over 60 selected masterpieces from the Swiss Langmatt Museum, the former villa of industrialist couple Jenny and Sidney Brown. The exhibition, entitled “Cézanne, Monet, Renoir – French Impressionism from the Langmatt Museum,” offers a unique insight into the couple's passion for collecting.
September 24, 2025 · Sponsored Content
Meet Annika Ben David, the New Swedish Ambassador to Austria
Annika Ben David took up her new post as Swedish Ambassador to Austria and Slovakia. In addition to her role as ambassador, she is also Sweden's permanent representative to the international organizations in Vienna. With her extensive diplomatic experience, gained in various countries and with a clear focus on human rights, she brings impressive expertise to her new position.
September 23, 2025
Fugitive Wirecard Manager Marsalek Tracked Down in Moscow
After extensive international research, a consortium of journalists has tracked down fugitive Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek in Moscow. According to reports, the 45-year-old is living under a false identity and working for the Russian secret service, the FSB.
September 17, 2025
Taliban Representatives Support Austria in Deportations
A delegation from the Afghan Taliban regime has held talks with the Austrian Interior Ministry in Vienna to help identify Afghans who are scheduled for deportation. The cooperation, which the Interior Ministry describes as “necessary” for the deportation of criminals, has been sharply criticized by human rights organizations.
September 11, 2025
Negotiations on Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran Hints at Concessions
Iran has signaled its willingness to limit its nuclear program under strict supervision, but in return is demanding the lifting of international sanctions.
September 7, 2025
European Forum Alpbach 2025 Breaks records and Looks to the Future of Europe
This year's European Forum Alpbach (EFA) ended with a new record number of participants. Under the motto “Recharge Europe,” around 4,700 participants from 127 countries gathered to discuss the renewal of Europe and find solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. The event also marked the 80th anniversary of the forum, which has established itself as one of the leading conferences on the future of Europe.
September 1, 2025
Despite UN Sanctions Looming, Iran Refuses to Make Further Concessions
Iran does not intend to change its stance in the nuclear dispute with the international community, even in light of the imminent reintroduction of UN sanctions.
August 31, 2025
Lufthansa Centralizes Power: AUA Loses Authority, But Expects Positive Effects
The Lufthansa Group, which also includes Austrian Airlines (AUA), is planning a far-reaching restructuring of the group that will concentrate more power at its Frankfurt headquarters. Following the plan, the subsidiaries, including Swiss and Brussels Airlines, will relinquish responsibilities starting at the beginning of next year.
August 25, 2025
Kaufhaus Tyrol in Innsbruck Sold After Signa Bankruptcy
The sale of the Kaufhaus Tyrol department store in Innsbruck, once a prestigious project of Signa founder René Benko, is now officially complete. As part of the bankruptcy proceedings of Signa Prime Selection AG, the newly founded company KHT AcquiCo SARL has taken over the downtown department store.
August 6, 2025
Austria's Armed Forces Want Own Satellites for Greater Independence
The Austrian Armed Forces are finalizing their plans to venture into space. According to an announcement by the Ministry of Defense, the first Austrian satellites are scheduled to be launched in late 2026 or early 2027. The aim is to reduce dependence on other countries for important satellite services and to establish an independent infrastructure in space.
August 5, 2025
50 Years of the Helsinki Final Act: A Compass in Turbulent Times
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act with a series of high-profile events in Helsinki, featuring speeches by Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The historic pact, signed in 1975 amid the Cold War, is hailed by heads of state and government as a fundamental document for European security and cooperation. Despite serious challenges, particularly Russia's war against Ukraine, the continued relevance of the Helsinki principles was reaffirmed.
August 4, 2025
Politics and Culture in Focus: Salzburg Festival 2025 Opens with International Guests and Political Debates
The 105th Salzburg Festival opened with high-ranking state guests and political debates. The focus was on the opening speech by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, the keynote speech by award-winning journalist Anne Applebaum, and a state visit by Romanian President Nicușor-Daniel Dan.
August 4, 2025 · Sponsored Content
Nuclear Talks in the Shadow of Tensions: Iran and the E3 Struggle for Nuclear Agreement
Nuclear talks between Iran, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom took place in Istanbul, aimed at finding a solution to the controversial Iranian nuclear program. Although no concrete results have been announced yet, the talks are set to continue.
July 28, 2025
UN Drug Policy in Peril: U.S. Cuts and Global Tensions Could Spark Global Crisis
International drug policy and the organization that implements it, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), are in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. A dramatic shift in U.S. policy under Donald Trump's “might makes right” approach, drastic funding cuts, and the unexpected departure of Executive Director Ghada Waly have undermined the United Nations' long-standing consensus-building mechanisms, casting doubt on the future of global drug control.
July 22, 2025 · Updated: July 23, 2025; 14:20
Austria's Clear Stance on Gaza: Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger Defends Call for Ceasefire
Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) has reiterated her support for a joint statement by 28 countries calling for an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip, declaring it to be “clear government policy.”
July 23, 2025
Austria on Course for a Digital and Sustainable Era in Europe
The Austrian federal government has presented a positive mid-year review of its work for the first half of 2025. Chancellor Christian Stocker, Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler, and Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger presented the progress made in implementing the government program and reaffirmed the goal of making Austria future-proof, securing prosperity, strengthening competitiveness, and advocating for a strong Europe, as Chancellor Stocker reiterated during his trips to Italy and France.
July 21, 2025
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