Schallenberg met the head of government and finance minister of the principality, Daniel Risch, in Vaduz on Thursday. It was a short visit as part of a federal state day in Vorarlberg. A meeting with Hereditary Prince Alois was not planned because he is not in the country, said a spokeswoman.
The discussion focused on current issues such as the Covid 19 pandemic, the UN climate conference in Glasgow and regional cooperation. “It is very important to me to maintain and further deepen the good relations with Austria,” said Risch, according to a broadcast from the government in Vaduz. “The current Covid-19 pandemic has made it clear once again how important the close friendly relations with our neighboring countries are.”
Schallenberg also emphasized the importance of such meetings: “I am pleased to be able to be a guest in Vaduz so soon after taking office. Our trusting and sustainable cooperation has proven to be essential, especially during the pandemic. Because in the last 1.5 years has clearly shown that the neighborhood is of enormous importance, especially in times of crisis. We would like to further deepen the excellent relations between Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein and, in particular, strengthen our economic cooperation. “
The discussion also covered the relationship between Switzerland and the EU and regional cooperation. A joint press conference did not take place.
Praise from both sides
Like Liechtenstein, Switzerland is not a member of the EU, and the government in Bern canceled negotiations on a framework agreement in May. Austria and Liechtenstein are closely linked through their joint membership in the European Economic Area and more than 40 bilateral agreements.
Risch, in office since March, was on an inaugural visit to Vienna in April. Both sides praised the friendly neighborhood. “The constructive and close cooperation”, for example in border management, is “especially important for the roughly 8,000 Austrian commuters”, emphasized the then Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP).
A cross-border railway infrastructure project between Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria, which would have been of great importance for the 8,500 commuters from Vorarlberg, has since failed due to resistance from the Liechtenstein population. In a referendum, the majority spoke out against the double-track expansion between Tisis and Nendeln, which would have enabled an S-Bahn connection every half hour between Feldkirch and Buchs. Obviously, it was particularly bad when it came to financing. A large number of those who cross the border from Vorarlberg work in the manufacturing industry, for example at the toolmaker Hilti.
The 160 square kilometer affluent principality in the center of the European Alpine arc, between Switzerland and Austria, is the fourth smallest state in Europe and the sixth smallest in the world with around 38,500 inhabitants. A third of the residents are foreigners, mainly Swiss, Austrians, Germans and Italians. Prince Hans-Adam II transferred the government business to his son, Hereditary Prince Alois, in 2004.
Source From: Nachrichten
