Foreign Minister Schallenberg opened the annual conference for administrative leaders of the Austrian representation authorities with a look back at the last year and a half, which was strongly influenced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Above all, I would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’. The past year and a half demanded a great deal from all of us. We faced a situation that – it must be said – initially caught us off guard. We had to accomplish enormous things, both abroad and here at the ministry – for instance the largest repatriation campaign in the history of the Second Republic. When I look back today, I am proud of how we, as ‘Team Foreign Ministry’, mastered these challenges together,
summarised Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
The conference, held from 29th September to 1st October, is an opportunity for all Foreign Ministry staff currently stationed at Austria’s missions all over the world to discuss practical questions and share their experiences. Changes in European and Austrian migration and immigration policy have been an important topic, as well as an updated digital passport and consular affairs. Current developments in coronavirus crisis management were addressed too.
Last year we helped our citizens abroad by offering them consular aid and making sure they could get home safely. Now it is time to look forward,
said Foreign Minister Schallenberg, highlighting the importance of consular support for Austrians abroad.
A positive innovation during the last year was the Foreign Ministry’s “Auslandsservice-App” (foreign service app).
With our new, free ‘Auslandsservice’ app, we can reach Austrians abroad faster and more easily in case of a crisis or an emergency. The service also provides a useful first point of contact,
explained the Foreign Minister.
Given the increased focus on service in foreign affairs offices, Foreign Minister Schallenberg concluded by announcing a recently resolved recruitment campaign:
Before the end of the year, we will conduct admission tests for every usage group, and we hope to receive many applications for this exciting and important profession.
