EU European Union

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Bujar Osmani Will Visit Brussels

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani will visit Brussels to meet with EU and NATO Officials.

January 30, 2023

EU Extends Sanctions Against Russia

The European Union is extending its economic sanctions against the Russian Federation for the aggression in Ukraine. The sanctions will be extended for a half year now.

January 29, 2023

EU Grants Austria Subsidies Which Amounts 100 Mio. Euros.

The European Commission will grant Austria 100 million Euros as a measure for the reduction of power consumption approved under the framework for state aid in crises.

January 19, 2023

Serbia's Complicated Relationship with Russia

Serbia's relatively close relationship with Russia, while based on a somewhat haggard history, has been rather positive in recent years. Since Russia's attack, but also before, this relationship has been crumbling more and more. There are several reasons for this, some of which are currently intensifying.

January 19, 2023

Vienna Establishes "External Reporting Office for EU Infringements"

An External Reporting Office for EU Legal Violations, which was set up in Vienna at the beginning of 2023 following the requirements of the EU Whistleblowing Directive, is to make it possible to report violations of EU law. Marion Winkler took over the management of the External Reporting Office with an appointment decree.

January 10, 2023

Czech Foreign Minister States That Austria's Schengen-No Was Unexpected

Czech Presidency Europe was briefly troubled by Austria's No to Schengen enlargement regarding Bulgaria and Romania. For Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, Austria's "no" vote regarding Romania's and Bulgaria's Schengen accession came "suddenly".

January 4, 2023

EU Delegation in Vienna Organized Charity Gala "#EU4UKRAINE

The EU Delegation to the International Organizations in Vienna organized for the third time the EU Multilateral Christmas Charity Gala. The Kalush Orchestra, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) winner from Ukraine, also came to MuTh for the EU Multilateral Christmas Charity Gala in favor of Ukraine and performed together with the Janoska Ensemble, the Chorus Juventus of the Vienna Boys Choir.

December 18, 2022

Austrian President Van der Bellen Visited Slovenia

Re-elected Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen traveled to Slovenia for an official visit with his counterpart Borut Pahor. Besides discussions around the common issues in Slovenian, Austrian and European politics, this visit was also a farewell meeting between "personal friends", as Pahor is leaving office.

December 14, 2022

Symbolic Act of Handover in St. Stephen's Cathedral on the Occasion of the Swedish EU Presidency

Sweden's next year's Presidency of the Council of the European Union was acclaimed by the Swedish Embassy with a unique event at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. On the occasion of the traditional Swedish Festival of Lights, St. Stephen's Cathedral hosted a concert featuring a Lucia procession to symbolize the transfer of the EU presidency.

December 13, 2022

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani Visits Vienna

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani came to Vienna for a meeting with Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The visit of Tajani asked for the opportunity to consolidate cooperation and talks with Vienna on the main bilateral issues (especially in the fields of economy, energy and infrastructure), European and international, starting with the migration issue.

December 13, 2022

Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode Accuses Austria of Lying

Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode wrote a letter to Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, strongly criticizing him for Austria's rejection of his country's Schengen accession.

December 12, 2022

Annual Meeting for Intercultural and Religious Dialogue of the European People's Party in Vienna

The annual meeting of the Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue of the European People's Party (EPP) parliamentary group in the European Parliament took place this weekend in Vienna. Without religions and their contribution to the formation of values, a future for Europe is unimaginable, according to the EPP.

December 11, 2022

Sweden Received Austria's Minister for Europe Edtstadler

Austria's Minister for Europe Karoline Edtstadler traveled to the Swedish capital Stockholm on a working visit and met with her Swedish counterpart Jessika Roswall for talks on the country's EU presidency next year. The Austrian minister also met with Nobel Prize winner in physics Anton Zeilinger to kick off "Nobel Week".

December 6, 2022

OPEC Plus Sticks to Production Strategy

The OPEC+ oil alliance is sticking to its current production strategy for the time being. EU sanctions against Russia's oil revenues will apply from tomorrow. The OPEC+ countries have nevertheless confirmed their previous oil production targets. However, an expert committee wants to review the production strategy every two months.

December 4, 2022

Austria Condemns Hunger as a Weapon

Austria condemns Russia's tactic of using world hunger as a weapon. Austria pledges € 3.8 million to the initiative "Grain from Ukraine" for the delivery of Ukrainian grain to needy people in Ethiopia and Sudan.

November 28, 2022

Anniversary of 160 Years of Romanian Diplomacy and 15 Years since Romania's Accession to the EU

On the occasion of the Romanian National Day, H.E. Emil Hurezeanu, Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Austria, together with H.E. Stelian Stoian, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Romania to the International Organizations based in Vienna, hosted the reception. The reception on the occasion of the National Day of Romania took place in the premises of the Vienna Stock Exchange Halls.

November 27, 2022

European Erasmus Program Promotes Mass Sports in Austria

Grassroots sport will be the sport priority in the EU's Erasmus+ program in 2023 and will be allocated budget funds accordingly. The focus will be on European knowledge transfer to strengthen fairness, values and cohesion in sports.

November 23, 2022

EU Criticizes Austria's Energy Measures as "Not Goal-Oriented"

In the opinion of the EU Commission, Austria's aid measures against high energy prices are "not goal-oriented" enough. The EU authority said today that the federal government had quickly adopted energy policy measures.

November 22, 2022

Austrian-Hungarian Cooperation on the EU External Border

AUTCON, the Austrian police contingent in the border region of Hungary with Serbia, supports the Hungarian police with 70 police officers in the fight against cross-border crime. Read more about the Austrian-Hungarian Cooperation on the EU External Border!

November 15, 2022

European Theatre Night 2022 in Austria

For the 12th time this year, in parallel with other European countries, the "European Theater Night" will be held again in Austria on Saturday, November 19. After two years of corona-related restrictions, the event will be continued again this year with more than 50 program points in Austria.

November 14, 2022

Western Balkans Youth Summit 2022 Held in Vienna

Young people in the Western Balkans should be given a perspective, which is why the Western Balkans Youth Summit was held in Vienna at the Austrian Federal Chancellery. For the Austrian hosts, it is clear that the European Union is not complete without the Western Balkans.

November 13, 2022

Austria's Connection to Pegasus Spyware

Governments of EU member states have used spyware against their citizens for political purposes, according to a draft report by the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry (PEGA) published today in Brussels. European Union member states are widely using the controversial Pegasus spy software. Corresponding indications exist for Poland, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus and Spain, it said. There are also links to Austria.

November 10, 2022

Austria and European Security: Extended Mandate for EU Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The UN Security Council has renewed the mandate of the EU-led stabilization mission EUFOR Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Austria currently provides 167 soldiers and Major General Anton Wessely an Austrian is in command of the EUFOR force in Bosnia. In recent months, however, Moscow has expressed reservations about the EU mission.

November 9, 2022

What is the Alps-Adriatic Economic Network?

Since 2007, the Network of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Crafts, Agriculture and Economy of the New Alpe Adria (NAAN) has been working to deepen economic relations. It now comprises - with the new addition of Bolzano - ten chambers from Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, with one million member businesses, NAAN is making rapid progress toward becoming an EU Alps-Adriatic macroregion. Read more to find out about the project.

November 7, 2022

Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce and EU-Mercosur Agreement

The Association Agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, includes provisions on political dialogue, cooperation and trade. For the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce, the agreement is a fair trade deal that increases exports and jobs, and high social and environmental standards remain untouched. The EU would be the first region to conclude an agreement with Mercosur.

November 4, 2022

Austria at Western Balkans Conference in Berlin

Austrian Federal Minister Susanne Raab represented Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the Western Balkans Conference in Berlin, as the Austrian Foreign Minister had to cancel his participation due to a positive Corona test. Minister Raab declared at the Western Balkans Conference "that we as the EU must finally get going when it comes to the integration of the six states of the Western Balkans."

November 4, 2022

Delegation of Iranian Nuclear Negotiators Will Arrive in Vienna

An Iranian delegation will travel to Vienna in the coming days to try to resolve differences with the International Atomic Energy Agency. This was stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

November 3, 2022

Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto Visits Vienna

Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto is visiting Vienna and met with various dignitaries in Vienna. Bilateral talks with Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Secretary-General of the OSCE Helga Maria Schmid and IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi focused on European security, energy security and the Russian war in Ukraine.

November 1, 2022

Horizon Europe Awards Synergy Grants to Four Austrian Researchers

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the research groups that will be awarded the prestigious Synergy Grant in the first call for proposals in the new Horizon Europe research framework program. Among them are four groups in which scientists from Austrian research institutions are involved with their teams and will collaborate with top researchers from other countries in the coming years.

October 25, 2022

Western Balkans Summit in Berlin: "Need Unity in Tackling Illegal Migration"

Austria has been trying to curb illegal migration and smuggling of migrants for a long time. At this year's so-called "Berlin Process", the situation in the Wet Balkans was discussed, especially with regard to the issue of migration, where Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was also present.

October 21, 2022

Diplomats as Economic Bridge Builders: Austrian Companies Present Themselves to the Diplomatic Corps

International investors and cross-border business relations were what Tyrolean and Vorarlberg company representatives hoped for at the recently held "Business Location Austria" event. This brought together representatives from business, tourism and entrepreneurship with diplomats accredited in Austria to network with each other.

October 21, 2022

Weekly Briefing: Former Austrian Chancellor Kurz Incriminated

The Find out more about this week's developments. Former ÖBAG head Thomas Schmid incriminates former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz before public prosecutors for corruption. Austria forges new partnerships with other states against illegal migration. Read about the latest developments in diplomacy in Vienna and Austria.

October 20, 2022

Austria and Greece Cooperate Against Illegal Migration and Announced "Closing ranks in the joint fight against trafficking mafia"

Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Greece's Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi announced the joint fight against the "trafficking mafia" at a working meeting in Vienna's Herrengasse. The protection of the EU's external border against illegal migration is a top priority.

October 18, 2022

The Events of the French Embassy in the Course of the "European Sustainability Week"

The French Embassy in Vienna organised a series of events in October as part of the "European Sustainability Week". This brought together French and Austrian personalities and drew attention to the requirements of the oleological transition.

October 13, 2022

Austria Calls for Common European Gas Price Cap at EU Summit in Prague

At the first meeting of the "European Political Community", the informal summit of EU heads of state and government in Prague, Austria attracted particular attention by wanting to define a common EU gas price cap. For Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer it was clear in Prague that there would be "no embargo via the back door" when it comes to Russian gas.

October 11, 2022

Foreign Minister of Kosovo Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz Visits Vienna

The Foreign Minister of Kosovo Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz was on a working visit to Vienna. The Kosovar Foreign Minister met with Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. The talks focused on the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Western Balkans, the advancement of EU visa liberalization for Kosovo and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

October 11, 2022

Foreign Companies Provide Every 5th Job in Austria

A new statistic examines the question of how many jobs in Austria depend on foreign companies and what share these companies have in the Austrian economy. Read on if you want to know more!

October 8, 2022

WKO Calls for Coordinated Action to Combat Energy Crisis Ahead of EU Summit

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) recently called for a joint Europe-wide approach to combating the energy crisis. In doing so, it criticised the EU with its cautious attitude and national solo efforts.

October 8, 2022

Austria's Minister for Europe Edtstadler met Olena Zelenska in Warsaw

Austria's Minister for Europe Karoline Edtstadler participated in the Warsaw Security Forum. In Warsaw, the Minister met with Olena Zelenska and the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister. The minister announced the preparations for a trip to Kyiv with EU counterparts and said the war should not be perceived primarily from a "male perspective".

October 5, 2022

EU Capitals Make Important Contribution to EU Climate Targets

The 11th Annual Dialogue of EU Capitals with the European Commission took place recently. A representative of the City of Vienna was also present. Read on to find out what goals and issues the EU capitals are currently facing.

September 30, 2022

Weekly Briefing: 66th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency

The Find out more about this week's developments. Diplomacy is working at full speed and is already preparing exciting glimpses of the fall. The IAEA is holding its 66th General Conference and there are new economic developments in Austria. Read about the latest developments in diplomacy in Vienna and Austria.

September 29, 2022

Austria's Economy Demands Help with Energy Crisis

Many companies in Austria are currently struggling with the high energy prices. Now the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and the Federation of Austrian Industries are calling for political intervention to prevent company closures.

September 27, 2022

Schools in Austria on the Path to Become European Parliament Ambassador Schools

With a full-day kick-off event with European Parliament members Hannes Heide and Thomas Waitz at the House of the European Union in Vienna, teachers from 20 schools, started the Ambassador Schools Program of the European Parliament for the school year 2022/23.

September 26, 2022

European Cooperation with Austria's Educational Institutions

During an Erasmus+ networking meeting, the new European digital hub "European School Education Platform" was presented at a gala event. Furthermore, the European Innovative Teaching Awards (EITA) were awarded to three Austrian schools.

September 25, 2022

Reopening of the Bilateral Icelandic Embassy in Vienna

As a part of the reopening of the bilateral Icelandic Embassy in Vienna, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met with his Icelandic counterpart Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir. Aside from bilateral issues, Iceland's upcoming presidency of the Council of Europe and the security situation in Europe were also discussed.

September 19, 2022

State of the EU 2022 Speech: Austria Wants to Usher in a Modern EU Future

The State of the EU address by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed many acute issues, including the war in Ukraine and its international repercussions. Austria's Minister for Europe responded.

September 15, 2022

Lufthansa and OMV Cooperate Over Sustainable Aviation Fuel

OMV, the international integrated oil, gas and chemical company headquartered in Vienna, and Lufthansa Group are expanding a partnership on sustainable aviation fuels. Germany's Lufthansa plans to stock up on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from OMV in the future.

September 13, 2022

Political Consultations between Turkey and Austria, OSCE and European Forum Alpbach

Turkey and Austria held bilateral political consultations in Vienna. The focus was on aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as an exchange of views on Turkiye's EU accession process.

September 4, 2022

Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg at the Informal EU Foreign Ministers Meeting in Prague

Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg took part in the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Prague. The talks once again focused on the Russian war against Ukraine and its global repercussions. Among other things, a general ban on Russian citizens entering the European Union was discussed, which Austria is critical of.

August 31, 2022

Austrian Chancellor Nehammer Calls for EU-27 to Stand Together for European Electricity Price Cap

Given the sharp rise in energy prices, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer is calling for a European electricity price cap to "finally" put a stop to "this madness that is currently taking place on the energy markets. According to Nehammer. this is only possible through a European solution.

August 29, 2022
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