Overview

The following priorities top the Austrian foreign policy agenda:

Within the European Union Austria is committed to strengthening the EU’s role as a successful international player and therefore supports all steps directed at deepening the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), promoting external relations and developing the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

Regional Priorities include:

• intensifying neighbourhood policies
• the Western Balkans, where Austria supports the implementation of the countries’ European perspective in line with the individual progress made,
• the New Neighbours of the enlarged European Union,
• the Strategic Partnership with the Russian Federation and
• supporting all initiatives aimed at creating peace, stability and wealth in the Mediterranean region and in the neighbouring countries of the Near and Middle East.

Thematic Priorities include:

• trans-Atlantic relations based on the common values and economic ties,
• strengthening the authority and the structures of the United Nations,
• making full use of the instruments provided by the OSCE and the Council of Europe,
• respect for international law, particularly with a view to universal respect for human rights and the rights of minorities,
• non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the strengthening of the relevant organisations and control regimes (IAEA, OPCW, CTBTO; HCOC) as well as the ban of land mines and cluster munitions and the containment of small and light weapons
• combating international terrorism, and
• the Dialogue among Civilisations.