A medium-sized1 EU country takes on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during a busy period in Europe. In addition to Brexit, migration and asylum policy are at the forefront, along with tense long-term EU budget negotiations. Although people in this country are famously modest, everyone knows that they have run two successful presidencies before – in 1998 and 2006 – and everyone is confident that the Presidency will be professional and effective.
The country is, of course, Austria.
Here at the British Embassy we are looking forward to the Austrian Presidency. I have just returned from a visit to London to discuss what Austria has planned, including its priority of “A Europe that protects: based on the reinforcement of the principle of subsidiarity”. We are anticipating many visitors from London, including both officials and political figures. We look forward to working with our Austrian friends and colleagues over the months ahead as they host over 300 events here in Austria.
Here at the Embassy we have strengthened our (already strong) team for the period of the Austrian Presidency. You can contact Presidency Liaison Officers Karen and Jakob in our beefed-up team on the following e-mail: ukemb.atpres18@fco.gov.uk
1Austria is the 15th largest of the 28 EU member states by population; 14th in area; and 10th by GDP.