Greece

Weekly Briefing: Bilateral Diplomacy in Vienna

The Find out more about this week's developments. Diplomacy is back from the summer break in Vienna. The bilateral relations in Vienna produced some meetings, demonstrating that diplomacy is always present in Vienna. Read about the latest developments in diplomacy in Vienna and Austria.

September 15, 2022

Greece and Austria Plan Closer Cooperation in Tourism

During a meeting between Vassilis Kikilias, Greece's Tourism Minister, and Susanne Kraus-Winkler, Austria's State Secretary for Tourism, the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in tourism affairs.

September 13, 2022

Forest Fires in Bordeaux: European Community Supports French Fire Brigade

Devastating forest fires keep France at bay. After it seemed impossible to cope with the disaster on its own, the European Community was asked to help. Many states helped, including Austria.

August 17, 2022

Human Rights in Russia: Third Appeal to the OSCE Moscow Mechanism Since the Outbreak of War in Ukraine

The OSCE Moscow Mechanism was recently requested by 38 states, including Austria, to appoint an OSCE expert to review the human rights situation in Russia. Since the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, the Moscow Mechanism has already been contacted three times.

July 29, 2022

Austria Supports Joint Statement for Ukraine's Case Against Russia Before the International Court of Justice

The European Union, Austria, and over 40 other nations have issued a statement supporting Ukraine's case before the International Court of Justice against Russia. In order to hold Russia accountable for its violations of international law, the Joint Statement has been released.

July 15, 2022

How China's Global Infrastructure Strategy Undermines European Integration in the Western Balkans and Beyond

The accession of the Western Balkans countries into the European Union continues to be a topic of debate amongst the EU Member States. Read how China's global infrastructure strategy may be undermining these countries' aspirations for EU membership.

May 19, 2022

War in Ukraine: Athens Seeks Talks in Vienna

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Vienna to discuss the intensifying war between Russia and Ukraine. Read about his meetings with various officials and watch the joint press conference with Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

March 10, 2022

Austria's Initiatives to Strengthen EU External Border Management

Austria is co-organizing a conference in Lithuania to discuss EU external border protection. Interior Minister Karner, who will represent Austria at the meeting, first stopped in Hungary to talk about the issue with his Hungarian counterpart Sándor Pintér. Read more about Austria's efforts to strengthen EU external border management.

January 20, 2022

List of National Days of the Home Countries of All Foreign Missions and Delegations in Vienna, Austria

The Vindobona table below is an updated list of National Days of all nations, which belong to at least one of following categories: Foreign Missions and Delegations in Vienna, Austria; Diplomatic Corps and other representations in Austria; International Organizations in Vienna and Permanent Missions; Missions and Delegations to the OSCE.

February 11, 2015 · Updated: December 11, 2021; 08:12

Meet the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy in Vienna, Ms. Nerys Jones

The Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy in Vienna is Ms. Nerys Jones. Learn more about her extensive career in the foreign service and what she does for the embassy.

December 3, 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

Forum Alpbach: Reaffirming the Importance of the Conference on the Future of Europe

The EU ministers from five member states signed the "Alpbach Declaration on the Future of Europe" at the European Forum Alpbach. The five ministers were Judit Varga from Hungary, Thomas Byrne from Ireland, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis from Greece, Juan González-Barba from Spain, and Karoline Edtstadler from Austria. The declaration highlights the necessity for cooperation and dialogue to ensure that the EU has a successful future.

September 7, 2021

Afghanistan: Austria Discusses Aid with Neighboring States Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan

To discuss cooperation and support on the situation in Afghanistan, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Interior Minister Karl Nehammer initiated a joint video conference with Afghanistan's Central Asian neighbors, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as three European countries, Germany, Denmark, and Greece. The focus of the conversation with Afghanistan’s neighboring countries was on security, migration, and humanitarian aid.

August 31, 2021

Covid-19 in Austria: These Are the Updated Entry Rules

Due to today's amendment of the Austrian "COVID-19 Entry Regulation 2021", we bring you an update on the regulations for entering Austria.

July 20, 2021

Greek Foreign Minister Meets Edtstadler in Vienna

The Greek Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis and Austria's Minister for European Affairs Karoline Edtstadler met in Vienna to discuss the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Both ministers agreed that a uniform EU-wide vaccination certificate would be the key to mobility and travel within the European Union.

February 11, 2021

City of Vienna Supports Aid for Moria

The City of Vienna has agreed on supporting the refugees in Moria and Lesvos with financial aid. EUR 300,000 will be distributed among three non-governmental organizations, which will then provide immediate assistance for those, who currently live under extreme conditions in the refugee camps.

December 16, 2020

Canadian Foreign Minister Visits Austria

The Canadian Foreign Minister Champagne visited Austria to conduct meetings with UN Organizations as well as with Chancellor Kurz and Foreign Minister Schallenberg. The topics on the agenda were the CETA agreement, the Covid-19 pandemic and current foreign trouble spots.

October 15, 2020

Joint Statement by Greece and Austria

Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Austrian Chancellor Kurz have issued a joint statement that deals with European refugee policy and the ongoing dispute with Turkey over the natural gas deposit in the Mediterranean.

September 9, 2020

Mandatory Quarantine for Austrians in UK & Norway

The United Kingdom and Norway introduced a travel warning for Austria which leads to a mandatory quarantine for people coming from Austria. Both countries are thus reacting on the highly increasing numbers of infections in Austria.

August 21, 2020

New Timetable for European Capitals of Culture

The Covid-19 pandemic also affects the timetable for the European Capitals of Culture. Postponements and extensions are made in order to guarantee proper planning for the selected cities. In 2024, Austria should be hosting another Capital of Culture in Bad Ischl.

August 19, 2020

Opening of Borders between Austria and Italy from 16 June

As of next Tuesday, complete freedom of movement will once again apply at the Austrian-Italian border. The decision will be officially announced on Wednesday.

June 9, 2020

Crisis Between Athens and Ankara: Greek Prime Minister in Vienna

Thousands of refugees still hope to enter the EU from Turkey. Athens is therefore strengthening its border management, seeking support from the EU and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travelled to Vienna.

March 11, 2020

EC Renews Talks with North Macedonia and Albania

The process of rapprochement between the two Western Balkan countries and the EU European Union, supported by Austria, now seems to be gaining momentum again after the EU Commission today reiterated its recommendation to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia.

March 2, 2020

Austria Supports Start of Accession Negotiations with North Macedonia

Karoline Edtstadler calls for a speedy start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and assures Austria's full support.

February 28, 2020

Ambassador Kumlin Granit Takes Over from Ambassador Al-Hadid as New Chairperson of IAEA Board of Governors

The IAEA Board of Governors elected by acclamation Ambassador Mikaela Kumlin Granit of Sweden as the Chairperson of the IAEA’s Board of Governors for 2019–2020.

September 24, 2019

Vienna Welcomes New Ambassadors from the Holy See, Greece, Iraq, Thailand, Ecuador and Paraguay

On June 14, 2019, Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen welcomed the six newly accredited Ambassadors of the Holy See, Greece, Iraq, Thailand, Ecuador and Paraguay to Austria to the Presidential Chancellery of the Vienna Imperial Palace for the presentation of their letters of accreditation.

June 21, 2019 · Updated: July 18, 2019; 11:00

Meet the New Ambassador of Greece to Austria: H.E. Ms. Catherine Koika

The new Ambassador of Greece to Austria, H.E. Ms. Catherine Koika presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

June 20, 2019

Prime Minister of the Newly Named Republic of North Macedonia at the Vienna Opera Ball

Only a few days after the historic renaming of the Republic of Macedonia into the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, visited Vienna at the invitation of Federal Chancellor Kurz and together they visited the Vienna Opera Ball.

March 1, 2019 · Updated: March 4, 2019; 12:33

Lasting Rivals - Byzantium & the West

Schallaburg Castle in Lower Austria is recalling a fascinating story from the past that was long forgotten but still shapes Europe today. It is the story of Byzantium and the West.

June 4, 2018

The Western Balkans Conference Which Led to Row Over Worsening Refugee Crisis

Convened on the initiative of Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz and Austrian Minister of the Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the Western Balkans conference “Managing Migration Together” was held at the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Vienna. 18 foreign and interior ministers from the Western Balkans attended the conference. The participants included the foreign and interior ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

February 26, 2016

Greece Recalls Ambassador to Vienna in Row over Worsening Migrant Issue

By decision of Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, Greece’s Ambassador to Vienna, H. E. Mrs. Chryssoula Aliferi, is being called to Athens for consultations aimed at "safeguarding the relations" between the states and peoples of Greece and Austria.

February 25, 2016

RBI: Grexit Still an Option

RBI analysts conclude in their latest risk analysis, that today’s summit agreement should not be taken as end to the risk of Grexit yet. If the agreement fails to clear the necessary parliamentary hurdles, the ECB could soon withdraw its support for Greek banks, forcing Greece out of the Euro. Even after a successful conclusion of negotiations the risk of Grexit could soon resurface: If the willingness of the Greek government to implement reforms declines again after the current pressure is reduced, todays crisis summit would be followed be new ones, whenever a new aid tranche has to be paid out.

July 13, 2015

Analysis: Austrian Economy Falls Behind Eurozone Average

The latest "Attractiveness Survey" from consultancy Ernst & Young Global Limited shows, that espite strong fundamentals, Austria’s economy lost some ground on the Eurozone average in 2014, with growth of just 0.4% compared with 0.9% for the Eurozone as a whole. This comparative weakness will also continue in 2015, with Austria’s GDP growth estimated at 1.1%, against 1.5% in the Eurozone. This is despite a boost from lower energy prices, quantitative easing from the European Central Bank (ECB) and a weaker euro.

June 1, 2015

Government Debt Increased to 82.6% of GDP in Austria and to 92.7% in Euro Area

At the end of the second quarter of 2014, the government debt to GDP ratio in the euro area (EA18) stood at 92.7%, compared with 91.9% at the end of the first quarter of 2014. Austria's government debt rose to 82.6 percent of GDP in Q2 2014 from 81.3 percent in Q1.

October 23, 2014

CEE-Initiative: Strengthening Investment Fund Business in Central- and Eastern Europe (CEE)

The Hungarian association BAMOSZ and the Austrian association VÖIG initiated a closer collaboration and tighter co-operation between fund associations in CEE, the so-called „CEE Initiative“. The member associations of the „CEE Initiative“ are (in alphabetical order): Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

June 16, 2014

Austria: Western Balkans Representatives are Meeting in Vienna

The Western Balkans Conference and the Central European Initiative (CEI) Ministerial Meeting are currently discussing questions regarding the EU enlargement, the role of the EU as a peace project and the economic situation in the Western Balkans.

June 3, 2014

German Retailer Metro Faces Massive Losses in CEE

Sales in CEE declined 14.8 percent last year for German retail and wholesale enterprise Metro Group.

May 9, 2014

“Bank Rescue is a Crime”

Martin Ehrenhauser, leading candidate of the Austrian electorial alliance “Europa Anders”, which is running for the EU elections, has voiced harsh criticism about the saving of financial institutes.

April 14, 2014

Vucic: “Not Afraid of Social Riots”

The future Prime Minister of Serbia underlined the necessity of reforms.

April 10, 2014

Serbia: New Government to Hold EU Accession Talks Regularly

The next government of Serbia will hold sessions with regard to the EU accesssion on a regular basis, as announced by Miscevic, chief EU negotiator of Serbia.

April 3, 2014

Bulgarians Pessimistic about Own Future

More than 90 percent of Bulgarian citizens deem the country to be in an economically bad situation.

February 20, 2014

Austria: Debt Rate Rises Unstoppably

In the third quarter last year the Austrian public debt rate increased significantly compared to the previous quarter.

January 22, 2014

$ 1.0trn Capital Shortfall in European Banking Sector?

According to U.S. economists, the stress tests carried out by the European Central Bank are too soft.

January 16, 2014

Croatia: Real Estate Market Crisis Goes On

After the collapse of the Croat real estate market in 2009/10, the price decrease still holds on.

December 30, 2013

Austrian Public Debt Reaches New High

The total size of public debt was never before so high. In the next years, the public debt ratio will come close to 80% of GDP.

December 30, 2013

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Liebscher Against Haircut

Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group’s supervisory board, is strictly against a debt cut at the nationalized bank. He expects a decision about a bad bank only in the first quarter next year.

December 10, 2013

Albania: Governor Calls For Measures for Balanced Financial System

Financial institutes in Albania are struggling with a weak demand in credits as the country has been affected by the economic and financial crisis.

November 20, 2013

Half of Austrians Consider the Country Stuck in Recession

According to an online survey, the Austrians are confident and not concerned by the most recent recession in the Eurozone. With a total of 87 index points consumer’s confidence remained stable in the third quarter of 2013.

November 12, 2013

Albania: Domestic Banks Struggling to Keep Up

According to a report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Albanian financial sector is dominated by foreign banks. Domestic banks are struggling to keep up with the internationally operating competition.

November 8, 2013

Greek Banks Want to Leave Western Balkans

According to “Kathimerini”, the exit of Greek banks froms the Western Balkan region is a difficult undertaking.

October 29, 2013