The Austrian Federal Chancellor Gernot Blümel, who is responsible for EU affairs, art, culture and the media, will meet the chairs of the committees for union affairs to discuss the main topics of the Austrian EU Council presidency. These include security and combating illegal immigration; preserving prosperity and ensuring competitiveness through digitalisation; and ensuring stability in the local region and strengthening EU ties with countries in the West Balkans and South Eastern Europe.
The chairs of the committees for union affairs will discuss the future of the EU with the first vice president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans (S&D, Netherlands), and the first vice president of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness (EVP, Ireland). Karoline Edtstadler, state secretary in the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, will also be speaking on the issue of EU’s responsibility in the world.
Following the meeting of the chairpersons of the committees for union affairs, Ms Keller-Sutter will have a personal meeting with the Austrian parliamentary presidents Mr Wolfgang Sobotka and Ms Inge Posch-Gruska. Their discussion will focus on the close and friendly relations between Austria and Switzerland, as reflected in the frequent visits between the two countries at all levels. For example, Mr Sobotka came to Switzerland on an official visit in early June. Both countries are among the most important trading partners of the other country.