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Michael Ludwig
Vienna Selected as European Capital of Democracy 2024/25
Vienna, the Austrian capital, will hold the prestigious title of "European Capital of Democracy" for one year from October 2024. This award follows a decision by a Europe-wide online vote, in which Vienna prevailed against cities such as Bratislava, Leipzig, Gdansk, and Izmir. The awarding of the title, which was previously held by Barcelona, was initiated by the non-profit organization European Capital of Democracy.
February 20, 2024
60 Years of the Documentation Archive of Austrian Resistance
The Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance (DÖW), an important institution in the reappraisal of Austria's Nazi past, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Founded in 1963 by former resistance fighters and victims of Nazi persecution as well as committed academics, the DÖW has played a central role in researching and communicating the history of resistance against the Nazi regime.
January 15, 2024
Vienna's Mayor Establishes "Council of Religions" to Foster Interfaith Dialogue and Peace
Vienna's Mayor, Michael Ludwig, convened a significant meeting at the cityhall, bringing together representatives from diverse religious groups in response to recent developments in the Middle East. These events underscore the vital role of religious tolerance and understanding in maintaining peaceful coexistence in society.
October 19, 2023
Vienna Wins the "EU Organic Award": "Wiener Gusto" Named Best Organic Brand
The city of Vienna once again has a reason to celebrate. At this year's European Union Organic Awards, the city's food brand "Wiener Gusto" was named "Best Organic City". This important "EU Organic Award" was presented by the European Commission in a festive ceremony in Brussels. As a representative of the City of Vienna, Climate City Councillor Jürgen Czernohorszky proudly accepted the award.
September 26, 2023
Meet the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Austria
The People's Republic of China has had a new ambassador in Austria for some time now. Meet Qi Mei, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Austria.
May 23, 2023
City of Vienna Supports Renovation of Heinz Nittel Road Safety Training Center in Jerusalem
In Jerusalem, the refurbished training center for road safety, named after former city councilor Heinz Nittel, was reopened. The training center for children was built in 1983 with donations from the City of Vienna and the Austrian-Israeli Society (OEIG) at the request of the then Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek, who grew up in Vienna.
March 29, 2023
Vienna City Marathon to Take Place with a High Number of Runners
The Vienna City Marathon will celebrate its 40th anniversary with more people than last year, according to the applications and Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig. Around 34.000 people have already applied and 36.000 – 40.000 people are expected to participate in the marathon.
March 20, 2023
City of Vienna Pushes for Rent Cap
The City of Vienna has called for an Austrian-wide rent price cap since it does not want to implement these regulations on its own. The rent price cap is heavily debated in Austria at this moment because the guideline value for rents might increase too much in April.
March 2, 2023
Mask Mandate Ends in Viennese Public Transport
What was announced at the beginning of this month now is a reality. Starting in March, Vienna will end its mask mandates. The city has been particularly strict with Covid covid regulations as it is the last state to end the mandates in public transport.
February 28, 2023
The Mayor of Vienna Welcomed the Mayor of Morocco’s Capital
The Mayor of the City of Vienna Michael Ludwig received his counterpart from Morocco Asmaa Rhlalou, who has been the Mayor of Rabat since 2021. Also today, Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner visited Morocco.
February 27, 2023
Wikimedia Austria Awards Prize for Free Knowledge 2023 at Viennese Ball of Science
The Austrian Prize for Free Knowledge honors people and organizations that communicate knowledge under a free license. The award ceremony took place at the Vienna Ball of Science in the presence of Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler, Mayor Michael Ludwig and City Councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler.
January 30, 2023
Vienna Sends More Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine
The City of Vienna is continuing to assist Ukrainians during these tough times. This week, three trucks of relief supplies were loaded and sent to Ukraine, which contained hospital beds, medical devices, etc.
January 22, 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
Austria Commemorates Victims of Vienna Terror Attack on Two Year Anniversary
In memory of the terrorist attack on November 2, 2020, a wreath-laying ceremony was held today at Desider-Friedmann-Platz in Vienna. It is now two years since the terrorist rampage in Vienna's city center killed four people and injured 23 others, some seriously.
November 2, 2022
Ankara and Vienna Sign Cooperation Agreement
The capitals of Austria and Turkey, Vienna and Ankara, will intensify their cooperation in the future. Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig received the Mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, in the City Hall. Both mayors signed a cooperation agreement to this effect in Vienna City Hall.
October 19, 2022
City of Vienna Establishes Energy Crisis Unit
The City of Vienna established an advisory committee on energy supply, which will work as a crisis unit on energy supply issues. Together with the crisis unit that has existed since the Covid pandemic, it is to accompany the preparations for the winter and make proposals for measures to secure energy supplies.
October 17, 2022
Crisis Around Viennese Energy Supply Company "Wien Energie"
Austria's largest energy supplier urgently needs money to hedge forward transactions. Otherwise, the company would have to realize huge losses.
August 30, 2022
Weekly Briefing: New Economic Developments
The Find out more about this week's developments. The war in Ukraine is also making itself increasingly felt in the Austrian economy. In Vienna, there are new developments in the day-to-day business of diplomacy. Read about the latest developments in diplomacy in Vienna and Austria.
August 18, 2022
Vienna Increases Fees for Public Services
The City of Vienna increases the fees for water, sewage, waste disposal as well as the prices of parking tickets. The adjustment of tariffs for municipal services is made in Vienna based on the applicable valorization law.
August 18, 2022
Weekly Briefing: Vienna Iran Nuclear Talks Back on Track
The Find out more about this week's developments. Negotiations with Iran to save the nuclear agreement have resumed in Vienna. The Ukrainian ambassador, Vasyl Khymynets, recently criticized the Austrian police. Read about the latest developments in diplomacy in Vienna and Austria.
August 4, 2022
Vienna Mayor Ludwig Accepted Prize for Sustainable and Smart Urban Development in Singapore
The Republic of Singapore awarded the "Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2020" to the City of Vienna. Mayor Michael Ludwig accepted the internationally renowned award, during the World Cities Summit 2022 in Singapore.
August 2, 2022
Commemoration of the Genocides of Sinti and Roma
In Europe, the Nazis slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Sinti and Roma people. Prominent Austrian politicians, like Alexander Van der Bellen and Michael Ludwig, attended the commemoration of the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. The OSCE also declared the importance of this day and commemorated the victims.
August 2, 2022
End of Mandatory Quarantine in Austria
The coronavirus quarantine ends in August. This was confirmed by Health Minister Johannes Rauch. Accordingly, anyone who does not feel ill can leave the house even after a positive CoV test but is subject to traffic restrictions.
July 26, 2022
No More Compulsory Vaccination and New Regulations in Vienna: What You Need to Know
Austria's National Council announced at the end of this week that compulsory vaccination would be abolished. Contrary to this announcement, Vienna is tightening its mandatory masking in the health sector. In recent weeks, the number of cases has been increasing, which is why this step was necessary.
July 8, 2022
Concert in Vienna City Hall Launches Czech Council Presidency
A concert was held at Vienna City Hall to honor the Czech Republic and its incoming EU Presidency. This year, the Czech Republic will hold the EU Presidency for only the second time, having previously held it in 2009. Mayor Michael Ludwig and Chargé d'Affaires Jakub Novak welcomed guests in the arcade courtyard of Vienna City Hall.
July 8, 2022
World-Renowned Psychoanalyst Receives Austrian Citizenship
Erika Freeman, a world-renowned Austro-American psychologist and psychotherapist, was granted Austrian citizenship last week after she was forced to flee her native Vienna to the US at the age of 12 to avoid deportation by the Nazis. She is one of 14,903 survivors and descendants of victims of the Nazi regime who have been granted Austrian citizenship since 2019.
July 4, 2022
Dutch Royal Couple Visits Austria
The Dutch royal couple, His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, and Her Majesty Máxima, Queen of the Netherlands traveled to Vienna for a state visit. The three-day visit is mainly about strengthening bilateral relations between Austria and the Netherlands and the effects of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine on Europe.
June 27, 2022
Vienna Once Again the World's Most Livable City
Vienna is once again the world's most liveable city. In a ranking by the "Economist", Vienna has once again taken the top spot for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and is very pleased. The city came out on top in a field of 140 cities around the world.
June 24, 2022
Weekly Briefing: Diplomacy and Newest Developments in Vienna and Austria
Read about the newest developments in Diplomacy in Vienna and Austria. Further, Austria is strengthening its efforts to fight global and local grievances. Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg visited Serbia and Kosovo. The Find out more about this week's developments.
June 19, 2022
Vienna Receives Award as Austria's Most Transparent Municipality
In a report by the Transparency International Austria organization, Vienna was named the most transparent city in Austria. With an impressive result of over 87%, Vienna was able to defend its first place for the third time in a row and achieved the best result ever. Particularly decisive for this good performance is Vienna's city administration, which provides relevant information for the population on its websites in a proactive, easy-to-find manner and to a high degree.
June 7, 2022
Ljubljana and Vienna Strive for More Intensive Cooperation
Ljubljana and Vienna will continue to cooperate intensively over the next 4 years. The cooperation of the two cities serves, among other things, to help each other with know-how and to advance the common goals.
April 22, 2022
Melitopol Mayor Previously Kidnapped by Russians in Vienna
The mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, who was kidnapped two weeks ago, accepted an invitation to the Vienna City Hall. The topic of conversation was aid for the Ukrainian civilian population.
April 1, 2022
Vienna International Airport Hub With Newly Designed Terminal 2
The long-awaited Terminal 2 has finally reopened. After 2 years of renovation, it is finally available for passengers again. This is urgently necessary, because after the many years of the Corona pandemic, the airport management expects a significant increase in tourist numbers and accordingly more traffic at the airport Vienna-Schwechat.
March 30, 2022
Ukraine Invasion: Austria Also Possesses a "Willkommenskultur"
Austria is already preparing to receive Ukrainian refugees fleeing the violent Russian invasion of Ukraine. The people of Austria have a chance to once again display their "Wilkommenskultur" ("welcoming culture") and welcome those fleeing the brutal conflict into their country with open arms. Read what Vienna is currently doing to help welcome the refugees.
March 2, 2022
Russo-Ukrainian War: Enhancement of Austria's Humanitarian and Logistical Assistance to Ukraine
The conclusion of the meeting of the Austrian National Security Council on the current situation in Ukraine is to prepare Austria in the best possible way for any consequences of the nuclear threat.
February 28, 2022
Ukraine Assistance: Vienna Sends Trucks with Medical Supplies to Kiev and Odessa
Responding to the Russian invasion, the Vienna City Government has sent about 15 tons of medical or relief material to Ukraine.
February 24, 2022
Vienna's Mayor Ludwig: "Pandemic has not yet been mastered"
Mayor Ludwig announced that Vienna will keep some of the COVID-19 measures in place despite the federal government lifting many of them. Read which measures still apply in Vienna and what the mayor and health experts said about it.
February 21, 2022
Vienna Also Relaxes Corona Measures, But Stays With 2-G Rule in Gastronomy
The city of Vienna has announced that it will relax the current Corona measures largely in line with the nationwide easing. Only one point is to be deviated from.
February 3, 2022
Forward-looking Agreement for Strengthening Vienna as a Business Location
A joint program of the City of Vienna and the Vienna Chamber of Commerce (WKW) is intended to strengthen and further develop the business location, but also to secure prosperity and quality of life for the city. The ten priority areas include strengthening the location, supporting SMEs and start-ups, climate protection, infrastructure, skilled workers and tourism.
January 25, 2022
Latest Covid Rules in Vienna: It's Getting Even More Complicated - Full Opening Not Until Dec. 20
Overly cautious mayor Michael Ludwig hesitates with the full opening. Starting Monday, December 13, culture, trade and body-related service providers may open for vaccinated. However, the gastronomy and hotel industry may only open from December 20, 2021. For unvaccinated, the lockdown continues to apply.
December 7, 2021
Covid in Austria: Lockdown From Monday, Immediate Tightening of Measures in Vienna
Chancellor Schallenberg and Health Minister Mückstein have announced a nationwide lockdown for Austria beginning Monday. As of February 1, 2022, vaccination will be mandatory in Austria. Additionally, Vienna has announced a tightening of COVID-19 measures effective immediately. Read about the upcoming lockdown and the new measures in Vienna.
November 19, 2021
Japanese Life Sciences Corporation Invests More Than 100 Million Euros in Vienna
The Japanese life sciences company Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is investing more than 100 million euros in a new building in Seestadt, Vienna. Read about the massive investment and see a picture of what it is supposed to look like upon completion.
November 18, 2021
The Christmas Season Has Come to Vienna: The 2021 Christ Child and Heart Tree
Two popular Viennese Christmas traditions converged when Mayor Ludwig introduced the 2021 Christkindl (Christ Child) in front of the Viennese Heart tree in Vienna's City Hall Park. Read more about this year's Christkindl.
November 17, 2021
November Pogroms: Remembrance Event of the Turkish-Jewish Synagogue in Zirkusgasse
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig, representatives from the religious communities in Vienna, and others took part in a remembrance event for the November pogroms at the location of one of the synagogues that was burned down in 1938. Read more about the solemn event and what Mayor Ludwig said.
November 10, 2021
COVID-19 in Vienna: 2G Rule in Gastronomy and Vaccination Street for 5 to 12-Year-olds
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig announced that Vienna is planning to implement stricter COVID-19 measures due to the increase in cases and hospitalizations. Read about the new measures and Vienna's plans to offer vaccinations for 5 to 12-year-olds.
November 5, 2021
Austria Commemorates Victims of Vienna Terror Attack on One Year Anniversary
One year after the deadly terrorist attack in Vienna, Austria commemorated the victims and their families with two memorial services. President Van der Bellen, Chancellor Schallenberg, and Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig offered condolences and spoke out against terrorism and hatred.
November 3, 2021
COVID-19 in Austria: Booster Vaccinations Now Available to Everyone in Vienna After Six Months
Mayor Michael Ludwig has announced that the City of Vienna is now offering COVID-19 booster vaccinations to everyone in Vienna six months after they received their second dose. Read about the specifics of Vienna's booster vaccination campaign and where and when to get a third shot.
November 2, 2021
Jean-Claude Juncker Honored with the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold in Vienna
Jean-Claude Juncker, the former European Commission President and head of government of Luxembourg, was presented with an award for services to the City of Vienna by Mayor Ludwig. Read what Mr. Juncker, Mayor Ludwig, and former Austrian President Heinz Fischer said at the ceremony.
October 22, 2021
Corona Measures - The Viennese Way
The City of Vienna intends to continue on the "Viennese Way of Safety" with a general FFP2 mask requirement and 2G rules for late-night bars and clubs. According to Mayor Ludwig, the low infection figures prove the effectiveness.
October 22, 2021
Opening of the Memorial Exhibition "80 Years of Deportations Vienna-Riga"
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig recently opened a new memorial exhibition entitled "80 Years of Deportations Vienna-Riga" at Vienna's central train station. The exhibition is intended to remind the public about the horrors of the Shoah and to commemorate the victims. Learn more about the new exhibition.
October 19, 2021
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