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Austrian Efforts to Support Ukrainian Refugees
Austria is assuring support for Ukrainian refugees. Austria takes care legally, financially and in humanitarian terms that Ukrainian refugees feel welcome in Austria. Read more about Austria's efforts to support Ukrainian refugees in Austria.
May 1, 2022
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Hungarian-Austrian Relations: National Council Presidents Köver and Sobotka Led Virtual Meeting
Hungarian National Council President László Kövér and his counterpart Wolfgang Sobotka recently held a virtual meeting to discuss current issues. The main topic, as in so many meetings these days, was the war in Ukraine and its impact on Europe. If you want to know what else was discussed, read on!
April 29, 2022
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Impact of the Ukraine War: Sobotka Meets Swiss National Council President Irène Kälin
During a visit to Switzerland, the Swiss President of the National Council Irène Kälin received Austria's National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka to discuss the situation in the Ukraine war and its consequences. Both condemned the Russian actions and promised to help each other through this difficult situation. Read on if you want to learn more about the conversation.
April 26, 2022
Refugee Crisis in Poland: European Parliament Presidents Visit Refugee Reception Center in Poland
Poland receives nine European Parliament Presidents, among them also Austria's Federal Council President Christine Schwarz-Fuchs. Together they visited the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Dorohusk and the refugee reception center Lwowska as well as the Humanitarian Aid Centre Ptak near Warsaw.
April 21, 2022
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EU Subcommittee of the Austrian Parliament Discussed on Future EU Economic Policies
The EU Subcommittee of the Austrian Parliament discussed future EU economic policy. The topics of artificial intelligence, digitalization, EU trade policy, the update of the EU industrial strategy of 2020 and the modernization of competition law.
April 20, 2022
Report on Measures to Safeguard Jewish Life in Austria
As a basis for preventing and combating anti-Semitism by the state and civil society, Austria adopted the National Strategy against Anti-Semitism in January 2021. The EU Commission presented the first EU strategy against anti-Semitism in October of the previous year.
April 1, 2022
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Effects of the Ukraine War and Perspectives for the Western Balkans from an Austrian Perspective
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many European countries have been asking themselves security questions related to the immediate neighborhood of the European Union. For Austria, the main question is about its southern neighbors, the Western Balkans.
March 31, 2022
Access to Austrian Citizenship for Descendants of Nazi Victims Expanded
A new amendment to the law will now make it easier to obtain Austrian citizenship as a descendant of a victim of National Socialism. This has now been passed in parliament and is an important step towards the recognition of history.
March 29, 2022
Austria Kicks Off Detachment Process from 80 Percent Dependence on Russian Gas
In order to no longer be dependent on Russian gas imports, the Austrian federal government decided on a new stockpiling of natural gas. This is to provide for the case of an import stop from Russia. Despite the high level of approval, the proposal has nevertheless come in for criticism.
March 25, 2022
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Neutrality: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy May Now Be Able to Address the Austrian National Council After All
The ongoing debate on Austrian neutrality will maybe allow Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to speak to Austrian parliamentarians.
March 23, 2022
Putin's Aggression Against Ukraine as a Trigger for the Flare-up of the Austrian Neutrality Debate
Russia's fabricated pretext for war, Russian use of disinformation to distract and deflect responsibility and eventually Russia's invasion of Ukraine could become the turning point for Austria's security policy. Parliamentary groups discussed Austria's position in the field of tension between neutrality, NATO accession and the EU army.
March 23, 2022
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Austrian Parliamentary Delegation Visits India, which Maintains a Special Strategic Partnership with Russia
India received an Austrian delegation to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Among other things, the delegation discussed the conflict in Ukraine and the hesitant attitude of the Indian government, which has so far not openly opposed the Kremlin.
March 17, 2022
French Ambassador to Austria: Positions on Migration, EU-Balkan Enlargement and Nuclear Energy Incompatible
Ambassador Gilles Pécout presented France's Presidency program to the EU Committee of the Austrian Federal Council (Bundesrat). Pécout also mentioned challenges of the French Council Presidency, especially in points where Austria has a different position. The tensions between France and Austria regarding the different positions on nuclear energy, migration and EU enlargement are respected but currently remain unresolved.
February 3, 2022
#WeRemember: Heads of Austrian, German, and Israeli Parliaments Meet Ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day
German Bundestag President Bärbel Bas and Israeli Knesset President Mickey Levy recently met with Austrian National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka in Berlin to discuss the fight against anti-Semitism and the #WeRemember campaign. Read about their meeting and this important campaign ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
January 26, 2022
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Austria's Position on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high as Russia still has thousands of troops stationed on the Ukrainian border. Read Austria's position on the issue.
January 22, 2022
International Organizations Continue to Favor Austria as Their Seat
The hosting of international organizations is of great importance for Austrian foreign policy, secures 19,000 jobs and has a gross value added effect of € 1.35 billion per year.
December 13, 2021
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Inaugural Statement of Austria's New Chancellor: "We Want to Reconcile with History"
Newly appointed Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer delivered his inaugural statement to the National Council. Read what the new chancellor said are some of the key issues his government will focus on.
December 10, 2021
Who Is the New Austrian Minister of Finance Dr. Magnus Brunner?
The new Austrian Minister of Finance, Dr. Magnus Brunner, has assumed his new position after being sworn in by President Van der Bellen. Learn more about Dr. Brunner and his career prior to becoming finance minister.
December 8, 2021
Strategic Partnership with United Arab Emirates in the Pipeline
On a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Austrian National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka expressed support for a strategic partnership between the two countries. Read about this new partnership that is currently in the works.
October 28, 2021
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Smart Borders: Austrian Green Light for Implementation of EU-wide Entry/Exit System
Austria has passed a law to help implement the EU-wide entry/exit system (EES) as stipulated in the EU's "Smart Borders Package." Read more about the new law and what it means for border controls and law enforcement cooperation in the EU.
October 25, 2021
Austria Opposes Further Expansion of Hungarian Nuclear Power Plant Paks II
All five Austrian parliamentary parties are opposed to the expansion of the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary due to serious safety concerns. The Environment Committee in parliament has unanimously called on the government to take all possible actions to oppose its construction. Read why Austria considers the power plant's expansion dangerous.
October 25, 2021
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Austria's Strategy for the Upcoming European Council Meeting
Ahead of the European Council meeting in Brussels, Austrian Chancellor Schallenberg, EU Minister Edtstadler, and members of parliament laid out Austria's strategy for the meeting. Read their stances on the key issues they plan to raise in Brussels.
October 22, 2021
The Virtual Open Day at the Austrian Parliament
The Austrian Parliament Open Day will take place virtually on the upcoming Austrian National Day. Read about the event, how to participate in it, and what National Council President Sobotka said about it.
October 21, 2021
Call for Solidarity for China Sanctioned States Including Taiwan
A motion for a resolution was filed in the Austrian Parliament calling for the Austrian government to support countries, such as Taiwan, sanctioned by China for supporting democracy, human rights, and other global values. Read about the motion and the reasoning behind it.
October 21, 2021
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Colonial Legacy: Restitution of Cultural Assets as Part of Austria's New Africa Strategy
The Austrian Foreign Ministry under Michael Linhart is developing a new Africa strategy for Austria. A motion for a resolution has been filed in parliament that requests that the foreign ministry includes restitution of cultural artifacts and assets as part of this strategy. Read more about the motion.
October 20, 2021
Strengthening Economic and Political Relations between Australia and Austria
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian Parliament is discussing a state treaty with Australia, which aims to create better framework conditions for a strengthened partnership and the further expansion of trade and investment flows.
October 15, 2021
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Austria Presents Financial Budget for 2022
Austrian Finance Minister Gernot Blümel presented Austria's draft financial budget for 2022 to the Austrian Parliament in the form of the annual budget speech. The plan includes tax reforms, budget increases for various ministries, estimates regarding the COViD-19 crisis, and more. Read some of the specific provisions in the budget outlined by the finance minister.
October 14, 2021
Auschwitz-Birkenau: Austrian Delegation to Visit Largest Mass Murder Site in Human History
At the invitation of the Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Piotr M.A. Cywiński and Austrian National Council President Sobotka, an Austrian delegation including President Van der Bellen and Foreign Minister Schallenberg will attend the opening of the new Austrian national exhibition "Distance - Austria and Auschwitz" in the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum at the former Nazi concentration camp. Read more about the important new exhibition, who will be attending the opening, and the schedule for the rest of the president's trip to Poland.
October 4, 2021
What Is the Legal Status Quo of the Afghan Embassy in Vienna?
The last de facto ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Austria, Ambassador Manizha Bakhtari, no longer represents an existing government, but wants to remain Afghanistan's ambassador in Vienna after the Taliban's violent takeover of Kabul. She justifies this by saying that the illegitimate Taliban government cannot recall her and that Austria must first recognize the Taliban in order to legitimize her recall. Some members of the Austrian Parliament have now submitted an inquiry to Alexander Schallenberg, through which the status quo is to be determined.
September 24, 2021
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Ibiza Affair Committee Concludes in National Council: How Corrupt are Austrian Politicians?
How corruptible is Austrian politics? This question was explored by the deputies in the National Council session when discussing the recently published final report of the Ibiza-Affair Investigation Committee. Although the report was unanimously acknowledged, the parties were far apart in their conclusions.
September 23, 2021
Austria Now Has Its Own Space Strategy
The Austrian Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) recently presented Austria’s space strategy. In the BMK's report to the National Council entitled "Austrian Space Strategy 2030+," Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler explained that sustainability will be central to the Austrian space strategy. Read about the space strategy and its six overarching goals.
September 6, 2021
Number of Anti-Semitism Incidents in Austria Doubled
The Anti-Semitism Reporting Office of the Jewish Community Vienna (IKG) presented its semi-annual report for the first half of 2021. The report showed that the number of incidents had doubled from the same period of the previous year. It attributed the increase mainly to Israel-related anti-Semitism and anti-Semitism surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 3, 2021
Permanent Observer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to the International Organizations in Vienna Presents her Credentials
The new Permanent Observer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to the International Organizations in Vienna, Dr. Brigitte Brenner, presented her credentials to the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Dennis Thatchaichawalit. Learn more about her background.
June 30, 2021
EU Accession: "Without Stability in the Western Balkans, There can be no Stability in Europe"
During his visit to Hungary, Austria's National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka emphasized the importance of the Western Balkans for the European Union. He tried to convince the Hungarian meeting partners to support the EU accession process of Albania and North Macedonia.
June 7, 2021
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Austrian Parliament Prepares for World Conference
At the physical conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the Austria Center Vienna in September, dozens of international Speakers of Parliament will discuss the creation of effective multilateralism. A conference website was now launched.
June 1, 2021
Covid-19 in Austria: Austrian Green Passport Soon Reality
The long awaited "Green Passport" is coming closer and closer. Austria's parliament has passed the necessary legal basis for the future proof of whether someone has been vaccinated, tested or has recovered.
May 27, 2021
Italy Opens Border for Austria
Italy has opened its border for Austria and many other EU countries. Only a few days before Austria eases its entry regulations, the Italian government has decided to set the stage for inner-European travel.
May 18, 2021
Covid-19 in Austria: Equal Treatment of Vaccinated, Tested and Recovered
The Austrian parliament has approved the equal treatment of Covid-19 vaccinated, tested and recovered. Find out what exactly this means for the opening steps on May 19 and what other measures were approved by the parliament.
May 7, 2021
Romanian Parliament Speaker Met Sobotka
Romanian Parliament Speaker Ludovic Orban met with Austria's National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka to discuss matters concerning the Covid-19 pandemic, interparliamentary relations and bilateral relations between the two countries. Furthermore, both politicians found great agreement on the need to fight anti-Semitism and antiziganism.
April 27, 2021
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Batet Lamaña and Sobotka Discuss Spanish-Austrian Relations
The President of the Spanish Chamber of Deputies Meritxell Batet Lamaña and her Austrian counterpart, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka held a virtual exchange on Covid-19, the fight against terrorism and anti-Semitism as well as numerous foreign policy issues.
April 20, 2021
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Parliament Presidium Meets Austrian Counterpart
The Presidium of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina met virtually with Austria's President of the National Council to discuss the accession process of Western Balkan states to the EU, current developments in the Covid-19 pandemic and other issues. Sobotka made clear that Bosnia and Herzegovina has Austria's full support during the accession process.
April 19, 2021
International Romani Day: Austria Raises Awareness
On the occasion of the 50-year anniversary of the first meeting of the Romani Union, Austria's Parliament under the lead of National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka held a virtual event, which commemorated antiziganist acts in the past and highlighted the importance of inclusion and safeguarding the Romani population.
April 12, 2021
British Speaker of House of Commons Meets Sobotka
The Speaker of the House of Commons in the British Parliament, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, met virtually with his Austrian counterpart, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka, to discuss the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic as well as other issues. The two politicians exchanged views and ideas on parliamentary security and the fight against anti-Semitism.
March 3, 2021
Austria's Fight Against Corruption is "Generally Unsatisfactory"
The Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) concludes that Austria's fight against corruption among members of parliament, judges and prosecutors is "generally unsatisfactory", since only two of 19 recommendations from 2017 have been implemented up to date.
March 2, 2021
Tyrol: The Scare of the South African COVID-19 Mutation
Actually there is a strong occurrence of the threatening South African COVID-19 mutation in Tyrol. Strict controls on tests when leaving Tyrol and administrative fines of up to 1,450 euros are intended to limit the spread of this corona mutation after the new "COVID-19 virus variant regulation" comes into force on February 12, 2021.
February 10, 2021
Finnish Speaker of Parliament Met Sobotka
Anu Vehviläinen, the Finnish Speaker of Parliament since June 2020, and Wolfgang Sobotka, Austria's National Council President, met for the first time and discussed current issues, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, security of parliaments, the IPU World Conference and the accession negotiations with the Western Balkans.
February 9, 2021
President of European Parliament and Sobotka Exchanged Views
David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, and Wolfgang Sobotka, Austria's National Council President, met virtually to discuss the current situation regarding the Covid-19 vaccines. The agenda of the meeting also comprised discussions about an EU-wide Holocaust commemoration and the future of the EU.
February 1, 2021
Speaker of Serbian Parliament Meets Sobotka
Serbia's Speaker of Parliament, Ivica Dačić, and Austria's National Council President, Wolfgang Sobotka, met virtually to discuss current issues. The agenda of the meeting comprised the counties' approaches with regard to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the work of parliaments in times of the pandemic and the migration movements in the Western Balkans.
January 28, 2021
Speaker of Israeli Parliament Met Sobotka
Israel's Speaker of Parliament, Yariv Levin, and Austria's National Council President, Wolfgang Sobotka, met virtually to discuss current issues. The agenda of the meeting comprised the fight against Covid-19 in all its facets, the work of parliaments in times of the pandemic and security issues in the parliamentary operations.
January 22, 2021
Speaker of Swedish Parliament Met Sobotka
The Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Andreas Norlén met virtually with his Austrian counterpart, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka. The main topics of the meeting comprised the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, parliamentary security and foreign relation issues.
January 12, 2021
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