22nd July 2019 Vienna, Austria
Brexit in Vienna: a busy July
These are busy times in London and Vienna. A new Prime Minister will take office in London shortly. The UK is due to leave the EU by 31 October at the latest. In Austria, a new Austrian interim government was sworn in on 3 June, with elections due on 29 September.
The UK has been working closely with the Austrian government over the past three years on important Brexit-related issues including: the rights of UK citizens in Austria; future arrangements for business, education, healthcare, security and environmental issues; and other aspects of our future relationship.
Ambassador @leighturnerfco today met Chancellor Bierlein to discuss a wide range of topics around the strong UK-Austria relationship 🇬🇧🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/QO01fvHF1Q
— UK in Austria (@UKinAustria) July 8, 2019
Many elements of that relationship, including on citizens’ rights, will be different depending on whether we have a negotiated exit from the EU, or a so-called no-deal Brexit. While the UK government believes that leaving with a deal remains the best way of securing a successful Brexit, the government also sees it as responsible and prudent to make preparations to minimise disruption in the event of a possible no deal. That, too, has required detailed discussions with our Austrian partners.
I have therefore been delighted to take the opportunity recently to meet members of the Austrian government to discuss Brexit, including citizens’ rights, and the bilateral relationship more widely. I have recently had the honour of meeting Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein; Vice Chancellor and Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice, Clemens Jabloner; Minister for Economy and Digitalisation, Elisabeth Udolf-Strobl; Minister for Education, Science and Research, Iris Rauskala; and the Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection, Brigitte Zarfl. In the next few days I hope also to meet the Minister of the Interior, Wolfgang Peschorn, and the Minister of Defence, Thomas Starlinger.
In all these meetings, I have expressed our gratitude for the good co-operation so far with the Austrian authorities on the practical aspects of preparing for Brexit; and have set out areas where we believe further work is necessary in the event of a no-deal Brexit, for example relating to protecting access to healthcare for UK citizens in Austria in the event of a no-deal. I am grateful for our Austrian hosts for their understanding; and for the broad and deep work which has already taken place. I and my team look forward to continuing this in the coming months and to continuing to represent British interests in Austria, not least the interests of British nationals living here.
What is happening for us ‘Austrophiles’ who love the country, have lived here very happily since taking early retirement 9 years ago but will be forced to leave suddenly on October 31st because we cannot afford approx 9,000 euro per annum health insurance.
Please can you answer this, is there any hope for us?
Thanks for your comment David. Access to healthcare in the event of a no-deal Brexit is a topic we continue to raise with the Government of Austria. Please do also speak to your current insurance provider, who may be able to provide more details.