Austria Assumes Presidency of the European Union Council

On the occasion of the 2018 Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Ambassador Wolfgang Waldner hosted a reception and celebration at the Austrian Embassy on June 27, 2018.

Guests of honor included Wolfgang Sobotka, the First President of the Austrian National Council (i.e. the Speaker of the Austrian House of Representatives), A. Wess Mitchell, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, as well as the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, Ambassador David O'Sullivan.

from left: Wolfgang Sobotka (First President of the Austrian National Council), Ambassador David O'Sullivan (Delegation of the European Union to the U.S.), A. Wess Mitchell (U.S. Assistant Secretary of State), Ambassador Wolfgang Waldner

In his remarks on the priorities of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Wolfgang Sobotka laid out Austria's plan for "A Europe that protects", focusing on security and the fight against illegal migration, as well as stability in the European neighborhood, while securing prosperity and competitiveness through digitalization. #eu2018at

"The transatlantic relationship is old, deep and solid," said A. Wess Mitchell. "When the U.S. and Europe work together, they achieve great things. Where we disagree, we are committed to finding common position." In his remarks, the Assistant Secretary of State reminded the audience that the U.S. had a valued partner in Austria, concluding his well-wishes with "Ich wuensche Ihnen viel Erfolg" in accent-free German.

Ambassador David O’Sullivan weighed in on the transatlantic relationship.

The musical framework for the official part of the event was provided by Cobario, an award-winning world music trio from Vienna, Austria, before guests mingled over Austrian bubbly and wine.