Bilateral relations Switzerland–Austria
Relations between Switzerland and Austria are close and diverse, which is reflected mainly in the high number of diplomatic visits, in trade between the two nations and in the cultural sphere.
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
Switzerland and Austria have traditionally worked closely together in many areas, including services for their citizens living abroad, economic and financial matters, education, research and innovation, and culture. Visits take place frequently and at all levels. Both countries regularly hold talks with Liechtenstein and Germany in the interests of political coordination.
They also work together at the multilateral level, for example at the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe. Traditionally, the first visit abroad by a new federal president or foreign minister in either Switzerland or Austria is made to the other country.
Economic cooperation
Since 2015, trade in goods and services between the two countries has exceeded EUR 20 billion. Switzerland is Austria's fourth most important trading partner for exports and sixth most important for imports. Trade in services between the two countries is also becoming increasingly important and accounts for about a quarter of total bilateral trade. According to Austrian figures, Switzerland was Austria's most important sales market for services outside the EU. After Germany, Switzerland is the second most important target country for services from Austria. In terms of service imports from Austria, Switzerland ranks fourth.
Switzerland is also one of the biggest foreign investors in Austria. At the end of 2020, total investments by Swiss companies stood at EUR 12.6 billion. More than 65,000 people are currently employed by Swiss companies in Austria. Austrian direct investment in Switzerland has risen sharply since 2000 and at the end of 2020 amounted to EUR 10.4 billion.
The official contact point for all companies from Switzerland and Liechtenstein with export and trading activities in Austria is the Swiss Business Hub Austria.
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Austria is a key partner for Switzerland in this area. Cooperation between the two countries is diverse and particularly extensive in the fields of transport, energy, health and future technologies. The excellent networking and cooperation between researchers and institutions of the two countries takes place largely through cooperation in the multilateral context of the EU research framework programmes. To date, Austrian and Swiss researchers have collaborated on a total of 640 projects under Horizon 2020 (including the Euratom programme). This makes Austria one of Switzerland's top ten partner countries in this field. Since 2011 the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has also supported over 744 projects that included Austrian involvement, which puts Austria in 7th place in terms of number of projects by SNSF's 147 partner countries. With around 1,500 students, Austrians form the fifth largest group of foreign students in Switzerland; there are also around 500 Swiss nationals studying in Austria.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI
Cultural exchanges
Switzerland is actively engaged in promoting a diverse presence of Swiss artists in all parts of the Austrian cultural scene. The diplomatic representations and cultural institutes of both countries work closely together in that respect. An informal bilateral culture dialogue takes place at government level every two years. During these discussions, Switzerland and Austria agreed to increase cooperation in the organisation of cultural events in third countries. An example of this is the collaborative project between the FDFA/Pro Helvetia and the 61 Austrian libraries abroad, which was agreed in 2013 and has since been successfully implemented.
Swiss living in Austria
At the end of 2021, there were 17,757 Swiss nationals living in Austria.
History of bilateral relations
Switzerland officially recognised the Republic of Austria on 2 November 1945. Diplomatic representations were set up in the course of the following two years. Since the end of the Second World War Switzerland and Austria have enjoyed particularly close and friendly relations. In 1955, Austria became a neutral state like Switzerland. Austria is considered a privileged partner in the European context and acceded to the EU in 1995. It was the first EU member state to ratify the agreements under Bilaterals I and also supported Bilaterals II during its EU presidency in 2006.
