Newsletter: Vienna International News

Austria's Economy Is Far Behind EU Average

According to the latest numbers issued by the EU's statistics office Eurostat, the gross domestic product of the EU fell by 0.6 percent in Q4 2020 compared to the third quarter of the same year. Austria, however, has performed the worst out of all EU member states and saw a GDP decline of 4.3 percent.

Corona Short-Time Work in Austria Is Extended

Austria's Labor Minister Martin Kocher has announced a new phase for the so-called Corona Short-Time Work in Austria valid from April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021. The conditions of the new phase are similar to the current regulations. The aim for after June is to gradually phase-out the short-time work where possible.

Swedish and Austrian Integration Minister Discuss Political Islam

The Swedish Minister of Justice and Integration Morgan Johansson and his Austrian counterpart Susanne Raab met virutally to discuss the topics of extremism and political Islam. After the terror attack in Vienna in November 2020, Austria's Integration Minister has met several responsible minister from other countries in order to exchange views on possible counter-measures.

Robin Dunnigan Interim Head of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna

Following the election defeat and handover of office from Donald Trump to Joe Biden, and the directly related recall of U.S. Ambassador Traina from the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, the latter's Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Robin Lisa Dunnigan, has assumed interim leadership of the U.S. Embassy in Austria as "Chargé d'Affaires ad interim".