Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed Liechtenstein’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler, to Vienna today. It was her first visit to Austria since her appointment in March 2021.
The meeting was a further demonstration of outstanding diplomatic relations between Austria and Liechtenstein. Foreign Minister Schallenberg singled out the way the two countries have cooperated during the coronavirus pandemic, and in particular the way they have worked seamlessly together to manage their shared border, for particular praise. He said this cooperation would continue once the EU’s “Green Pass” vaccination certificate was introduced, and noted that:
We are pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement on the EU’s digital Covid certificate that includes our neighbours in Liechtenstein. The agreement gives us a promising solution that should allow us to resume normal life safely on both sides of the border.
Austria and Liechtenstein are in constant dialogue. In addition to regular bilateral meetings, they also take part in various multilateral fora, including meetings of the five German-speaking Foreign Ministers, meetings of German-speaking heads of state, and the International Conference on Lake Constance (Internationale Bodenseekonferenz).
I really appreciate the excellent relationship we have at a regional level. Liechtenstein’s active participation in the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region, including in the initiatives launched by Tyrol to encourage young people to get involved, is a very positive development as far as regional cooperation is concerned,
Foreign Minister Schallenberg stressed.
The strong bilateral relationship between Austria and Liechtenstein is also reflected at a multilateral level, where the two countries have been pursuing similar foreign policy objectives for many years. Both are committed to supporting human rights, women’s rights and the rule of law, as well as effective multilateral diplomacy. With these aims in mind, Liechtenstein is also supporting Austria’s candidacy for a seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2027-2028. As Foreign Minister Schallenberg commented:
Liechtenstein is a reliable partner which, as a state in the heart of Europe, shares many of our views on foreign policy issues.
Liechtenstein and Austria enjoy particularly close links and work together in a variety of areas, including transport, healthcare, education and sport. Their populations are also closely intertwined, with around 8,400 Austrians commuting to Liechtenstein every day.
