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City of Vienna Warns of Nuclear Renaissance and Small Modular Reactors in Europe
In a recent statement, Vienna City Councillor for Climate Action Jürgen Czernohorszky, who is also Chairman of the Cities for Nuclear Free Europe (CNFE) initiative, is critical of Sweden's nuclear power plans, the situation, and the development of Small Modular Reactors in Europe.
March 4, 2024
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen Met the Departing Czech President Milos Zeman
Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen made an Official visit to the Czech head of state, who is leaving office after two terms.
March 5, 2023
City of Vienna: Europe's Nuclear Energy Sector is Heavily Dependent on Russia
The European Union's recently adopted tenth package of sanctions against Russia continues to leave one area completely untouched - nuclear energy. A new study by the Cities for Nuclear Free Europe network, where Vienna is also involved, aims to prove interconnections between the European and Russian nuclear sectors.
March 5, 2023
More than 40 Incidents at Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants since the Beginning of the War
Since the war in Ukraine began a year ago, the country's nuclear power plants have been affected by more than 40 incidents. Nuclear security in Ukraine is still at a worrying risk. This is according to a report published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
February 24, 2023
IAEA Chief Grossi and Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg Visit Brussels
Austria recorded a small but significant diplomatic success at Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg's visit to the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. Already in the run-up to the meeting, the EU foreign ministers met Rafael Grossi, Director General of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the initiative of Foreign Minister Schallenberg.
January 23, 2023
Russian Permanent Representative to UN in Vienna Says Soon Agreement with IAEA on Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
At Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control, there have again been several powerful explosions, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. An agreement on a protection zone is being fiercely discussed but has yet to be reached. The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation and Moscow expect significant progress in this direction.
December 22, 2022
International Atomic Energy Agency and its 66th General Conference
Many issues were discussed at the 66th General Conference of the IAEA, held in Vienna. The theme of "Global Cooperation in the Nuclear Field" focused not only on nuclear security, the future of nuclear technologies, and the role of the IAEA but also on global nuclear security issues, such as Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programs as well as recent Russian nuclear threats.
October 1, 2022
"Presidency at a Decisive Stage": Czech Republic Receives Austrian Federal Chancellor
Discussions on the Ukraine crisis, the EU's enlargement of the Western Balkans or the benefits of nuclear power in the energy transition led Austria's Federal Chancellor to the Czech Republic, where he met Petr Fiala, the Czech Prime Minister. The Czech Republic is one of Austria's closest trading partners in Central and Eastern Europe. Read on to find out how the Chancellor's visit went.
May 19, 2022
IAEA’s First International Conference on Nuclear Law
The IAEA currently hosts the world's top experts on nuclear law to examine the current nuclear law framework in the changing landscape of technology, opportunities, and challenges. Read more about the importance of the First International Conference on Nuclear Law.
April 26, 2022
Ukraine Nuclear Power Plants Still Under Control of Russian Forces But Safety Systems Fully Functional IAEA Says
Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants Zaporizhzhya and Chernobyl are still under Russian control, but regulator said, that the Ukrainian staff continued to operate the plants. In the case of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, staff have not been able to rotate for more than three weeks.
March 18, 2022
Nuclear Safety and Security in Ukraine: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Largely Out of Danger Again
According to the Vienna-based Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been reconnected to Ukraine's national power grid and no longer relies on emergency diesel generators. However, the nuclear plant and its employees have been in Russian control since it was captured by Russian units and continue to be cut off from the outside world.
March 16, 2022
Schallenberg in Brussels Condemns Playing with Nuclear Fire
At a special meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Foreign Minister Schallenberg condemned the Russian shelling of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Read more about this special meeting and what was discussed there.
March 10, 2022
IAEA Board of Governors Emergency Meeting Condemns Unprovoked Attacks Against Ukraine
At an emergency meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, the Board condemned the unprovoked attacks against Ukraine and discussed the status of the nuclear safeguards in Ukraine. Read more about the Board's meeting and the current situation regarding Ukraine's nuclear power plants.
March 3, 2022
IAEA Warns of Nuclear Accidents During Ukraine Invasion
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), four nuclear facilities of the country have already been affected by the Russian attacks in Ukraine. Read what the incidents are and what the current status of the damage is.
March 1, 2022
Schallenberg Met Baerbock - Shared Responsibility Against the Aggression of the Kremlin
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met with Foreign Minister Schallenberg in Berlin to discuss the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as climate action and the Western Balkans. Read what the two foreign ministers said about these issues.
February 21, 2022
Iran Nuclear Talks: Negotiations in Vienna Continue
The 8th round of negotiations in the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will resume.
February 7, 2022
IAEA to Assess Safety of Japan Dumping Fukushima's Radioactive Cooling Water into Sea
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will go to Japan to conduct a review of the safety of the Japanese government's decision to dump radioactive cooling water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the ocean. Read about the review and who opposes Japan's decision.
February 7, 2022
Blinken Lifts Sanctions on Iran's Civilian Nuclear Program to Advance Vienna Negotiations
The U.S. has lifted sanctions reimposed by Trump on Iran's civilian nuclear program as part of negotiations in Vienna.
February 6, 2022
Austria Promises Legal Action After EU Commission's Nuclear Energy Decision
Austria has vowed to take legal action against the European Commission after it decided to include nuclear energy and natural gas as sustainable investments under the EU Taxonomy Regulation. Read what the Austrian president, chancellor, and climate minister said about this decision.
February 3, 2022
Nuclear Watchdog Steps Up Drive to Strengthen Global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is seeking to convince more countries to join in giving IAEA inspectors wider access to locations and information as part of a push to further bolster the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.
February 2, 2022
U.S. Ambassador Laura Holgate Presented Her Credentials to the United Nations Office at Vienna
Professional U.S. diplomat with expertise in nonproliferation, nuclear deterrence, nuclear security, disarmament, nuclear energy and other related areas becomes ambassador at a time when Europe is facing the greatest threat of war since World War II.
February 1, 2022
German and Austrian EU Ministers Supportive of Accession Process for Western Balkans
German EU Minister Anna Lührmann met with Austrian EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler in Vienna. Read what they said about EU accession for the Western Balkan states, compulsory vaccination, and more.
February 1, 2022
Vienna Nuclear Talks: Direct Contacts between Tehran and Washington Possible
Iranian leadership has suggested that Iran may be open to meeting directly with U.S. officials for negotiations to revive the Iran Nuclear Deal. Read about this significant stance change and what it means for the JCPOA.
January 27, 2022
Meet the Reappointed U.S. Ambassador to the U.S. Mission in Vienna, Laura S.H. Holgate
Laura Susan Hayes Holgate, an American diplomat who was already accredited as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations International Organizations in Vienna and to the IAEA for six months between 2016 and 2017, is back under President Joe Biden.
January 16, 2022
Iran Nuclear Talks: Israel Will Not Feel Bound by the Agreement
In his first appearance before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made it clear that he will not consider himself bound by any outcome of the Vienna nuclear talks with Iran. As recently as late December, he still signaled interest in reaching an agreement and possibly changing Israel's position on the Iran negotiations.
January 13, 2022
Resumption of the Vienna Nuclear Talks with Iran and Two New Ladies
Negotiations on reviving the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers are already continuing in Vienna. Two new representatives from Germany and the United Kingdom joined the talks at the start of the current round of negotiations. Find out who they are.
January 11, 2022
IAEA: This Is the Agenda for 2022
What's ahead for the VIC - Vienna International Centre based IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency and the global nuclear agenda in 2022? Here is a preview of the most important offline and online meetings.
January 11, 2022
IAEA’s Grossi Tours the UAE and Egypt
Director General Grossi visited the UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi's Western Al Dhafra region and met with H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In Egypt he discussed COP27, climate change and cancer care with President Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil El-Sisi.
December 18, 2021
Nehammer on First Trip to Brussels as Chancellor: "I'm an Ardent European"
Chancellor Nehammer made his first trip to Brussels for the European Council and the EU Eastern Partnership Summit. There he met with the other heads of state and government of the EU member states, as well as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Read what Nehammer discussed on the trip.
December 16, 2021
Iran and IAEA Reach Agreement on Replacing Surveillance Cameras at Karaj Facility
After a hiatus of several months, Iran has agreed to allow the IAEA to resume monitoring a nuclear technology facility (centrifuge production site) in Iran's fourth-largest city of Karaj. In June, the facility had been the target of an act of sabotage allegedly involving Israel.
December 15, 2021
Portrait: Who Is Robert Malley, the Old and New U.S. Lead Negotiator of the Iran Nuclear Talks?
In 2021, Robert Malley was appointed U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, which means he is once again the lead negotiator for the U.S. in the Iran nuclear talks. Read about Mr. Malley's career and his efforts to limit Iran's nuclear activities.
December 15, 2021
Blinken Thanks Austria for Hosting Iran Nuclear Deal Talks
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Austria for hosting the Iran nuclear deal talks on his first call with his Austrian counterpart, Foreign Minister Linhart. Read about this and what else Blinken and Linhart talked about on their first call.
December 1, 2021
IAEA Director General Presents Latest Report on Verification and Monitoring in Iran
In Tehran Mr. Grossi met with Mohammad Eslami, the Vice President of Iran and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
November 25, 2021
Grossi to the IAEA Board of Governors "Extensive Negotiations to Address Iran’s Outstanding Safeguards Issues Proved Inconclusive"
When addressing the board of governors in Vienna, Grossi said, that getting to know the new Iranian officials was a positive element and this will certainly help.
November 24, 2021
What's on the Agenda for the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, November 24-26, 2021?
The IAEA Board of Governors will convene its regular November meeting virtually, starting at 10:30 CET on Wednesday, 24 November. Board discussions are expected to include verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015).
November 23, 2021
Iran Nuclear Talks to Resume November 29 in Vienna
The Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) talks between China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Tehran on reviving the Iran nuclear deal will convene in a physical format on 29 November 2021 in Vienna, the EU says.
November 5, 2021
Schallenberg at UN Climate Conference: "We can only overcome a global crisis together"
Chancellor Schallenberg recently spoke at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. The Austrian chancellor stressed the need for international cooperation to fight climate change. Read some of Austria's climate goals, what steps it is taking to achieve these, and what the chancellor said still needs to be done.
November 2, 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
Results of the 65th Annual IAEA General Conference
Strengthening the IAEA’s technical cooperation activities, the effectiveness and efficiency of safeguards, and its work related to nuclear and radiation safety, nuclear science, technology and applications, were some of the resolutions adopted this week by Member States as the 65th annual IAEA General Conference concluded on Friday.
September 24, 2021
IAEA’s 65th Annual General Conference
IAEA’s 65th annual General Conference (GC) takes place from 20 to 24 September 2021 in Vienna. The meeting draws high level representatives from the IAEA’s 173 Member States.
September 17, 2021
Kazakhstan Commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the Closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Weapons Test Site
The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Vienna is calling for the promotion of its anti-nuclear initiatives and to commemorate the long-term consequences of the legacy of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Weapons Test Site in eastern Ksakhstan.
September 1, 2021
President of Kazakhstan Receives CTBTO Executive Secretary Robert Floyd
At a press conference organized by the Kazakh Foreign Ministry in Nur-Sultan, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Robert Floyd, said on August 27 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site that the dismantling of the nuclear arsenal inherited by Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union has proved to be a visionary, wise and noble decision.
August 27, 2021
Nuclear Concerns: Austria Expresses Reservations About Slovenian Nuclear Plant
Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar and the Slovenian State Secretary for Infrastructure Blaž Košorok met with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Styrian Governor Hermann Schützenhöfer in Ljubljana. Among other issues, the group discussed Austria's concerns with the nuclear energy industry and, more specifically, Austria's concerns with Slovenia's nuclear power plant in Krško.
August 24, 2021 · Updated: August 24, 2021; 12:22
IAEA Urges Iran to Resolve Issues Related to Four Undeclared Locations
Technical discussions between the IAEA and Iran have not yielded the expected results, and the lack of progress in clarifying the Agency’s questions concerning the correctness and completeness of Iran’s safeguards declarations seriously affects the ability of the IAEA to provide assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme, according to Rafael Mariano Grossi.
June 8, 2021
IAEA: This Is the Agenda for the 2nd Half of 2021
What's ahead for the Vienna International Centre (VIC) based IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and the global nuclear agenda in the second half 2021? Here is a preview of the most important offline and online meetings.
May 24, 2021
Czech Republic and Austria Ready for Bilateral "Green Passport"
The newly appointed Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg met in Prague. Both politicians agreed on the need of a timely solution for inner-European travel and took the first steps towards a bilateral "Green Passport".
May 7, 2021
Slovakian Prime Minister Meets Kurz and Van der Bellen
The newly appointed Prime Minister of Slovakia Eduard Heger has travelled to Vienna to meet with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and President Van der Bellen. On the agenda of the working meetings were the Covid-19 pandemic, border management and nuclear energy. Read below to find out more about possible bilateral agreements with regard to the "Green Passport".
May 6, 2021
IAEA: Interim Solution Found in Nuclear Dispute with Iran
Director General Grossi Grossi traveled to Iran over the weekend to search for a way out of the recently escalated nuclear dispute. The counterparts agreed that Iran continues for up to 3 months to implement fully and without limitation its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA as before. Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg also welcomes the fact that controls on Iran's nuclear program will continue for the time being.
February 22, 2021
Schallenberg Delighted About Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is delighted about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entering into force. 90 days after ratification by the 50th signatory country, the Treaty entered into force on January 22, 2021. Schallenberg emphasizes the importance of destroying nuclear weapons "before they destroy us."
January 27, 2021
Iran Allows Vienna-based IAEA Access to Controversial Nuclear Facilities
Vienna-based IAEA is allowed to inspect two nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. After an ongoing dispute between the IAEA and the Iran, a joint statement settles the dispute.
August 27, 2020
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