Austria–Canada relations
Encyclopedia
Austria–Canada relations refer to Interstate relations between Austria
and Canada
Relations between Canada and Austria are growing, helped by the active international cooperation of both countries, their healthy trade and investment relations and increasing people-to-people ties, particularly through cultural and youth exchanges. Austria’s membership in the European Union
and its strong ties to the Central and South-Eastern European region make Austria a valuable interlocutor for Canada on a wide range of political, economic, trade, environmental and security issues with that region.
Austria is also interested in our immigration and integration policy model, and there is considerable scope for bilateral discussion in this area. For example, in May 2007, senior officials from Austrian federal and municipal departments travelled to Ottawa
, Montreal
and Toronto
, as part of a study tour focused on Canadian policies, practices and experiences with welcoming newcomers. Last year, the Vienna
School Board sent a delegation to Toronto and Vancouver
area school boards, to observe Canadian policies on language training and the integration of visible minorities into our education system.
Canada and Austria share many common interests and similar perspectives on global issues and challenges. They cooperate in multilateral fora, and have been partners in promoting UN
reform, arms control and disarmament initiatives, human rights, peacekeeping, and the Human Security Network. Austria’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2009/2010 could provide another avenue for advancing our common multilateral interests.
The Canadian Embassy in Vienna is the 2007/2008 NATO Contact Point Embassy (CPE) for Austria, which is a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Programme. Essentially CPE’s are allied embassies that serve as channels between NATO and partner countries by disseminating information and explaining NATO policies to the local government and population through a wide array of activities.
Austria is a top destination for Canadian artists, performers and our cultural industries. Canadian dance enjoys a great reputation and performances by Canada’s best choreographers and troupes regularly sell out. Academic ties are close and growing; Austria boasts three Canadian Studies Centres at the Universities of Vienna, Innsbruck
and Graz
, and there are exchange programmes between Canadian and Austrian universities, as well as work-study opportunities geared for youth.
Foreign Minister MacKay met Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik in February 2006. The last meeting of the Canadian Prime Minister and the Austrian Chancellor took place in 2003.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Relations between Canada and Austria are growing, helped by the active international cooperation of both countries, their healthy trade and investment relations and increasing people-to-people ties, particularly through cultural and youth exchanges. Austria’s membership in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and its strong ties to the Central and South-Eastern European region make Austria a valuable interlocutor for Canada on a wide range of political, economic, trade, environmental and security issues with that region.
Austria is also interested in our immigration and integration policy model, and there is considerable scope for bilateral discussion in this area. For example, in May 2007, senior officials from Austrian federal and municipal departments travelled to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, as part of a study tour focused on Canadian policies, practices and experiences with welcoming newcomers. Last year, the Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
School Board sent a delegation to Toronto and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
area school boards, to observe Canadian policies on language training and the integration of visible minorities into our education system.
Canada and Austria share many common interests and similar perspectives on global issues and challenges. They cooperate in multilateral fora, and have been partners in promoting UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
reform, arms control and disarmament initiatives, human rights, peacekeeping, and the Human Security Network. Austria’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2009/2010 could provide another avenue for advancing our common multilateral interests.
The Canadian Embassy in Vienna is the 2007/2008 NATO Contact Point Embassy (CPE) for Austria, which is a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Programme. Essentially CPE’s are allied embassies that serve as channels between NATO and partner countries by disseminating information and explaining NATO policies to the local government and population through a wide array of activities.
Austria is a top destination for Canadian artists, performers and our cultural industries. Canadian dance enjoys a great reputation and performances by Canada’s best choreographers and troupes regularly sell out. Academic ties are close and growing; Austria boasts three Canadian Studies Centres at the Universities of Vienna, Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
and Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
, and there are exchange programmes between Canadian and Austrian universities, as well as work-study opportunities geared for youth.
Foreign Minister MacKay met Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik in February 2006. The last meeting of the Canadian Prime Minister and the Austrian Chancellor took place in 2003.
External links
See also
- Foreign relations of AustriaForeign relations of AustriaThe 1955 Austrian State Treaty ended the four-power occupation and recognized Austria as an independent and sovereign state. In October 1955, the Federal Assembly passed a constitutional law in which "Austria declares of her own free will her perpetual neutrality." The second section of this law...
- Foreign relations of CanadaForeign relations of CanadaThe foreign relations of Canada are Canada's relations with other governments and peoples. Canada's most important relationship, being the largest trading relationship in the world, is with the United States...