Appointments in Vienna – heads of government go hand in hand

Sanchez was received with military honors in front of the Federal Chancellery in the afternoon. Countless spectators therefore gathered at Ballhausplatz, including some opponents of the Spanish government who vociferously demanded Sanchez’s resignation.

Tour to the Presidency
For the Socialist Spanish Prime Minister, Austria is the first leg of a tour of European capitals before assuming the presidency of the EU Council at the beginning of July. Sanchez travels to Croatia on Thursday and is in Slovenia on Friday. He wants to present the priorities of the Spanish Presidency in all three countries.

Austria a “hard bone”
Madrid’s priorities so far have included promoting the EU’s strategic autonomy, closer rapprochement with Latin America and accelerating negotiations to finalize the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact. According to information from the Federal Chancellery, Nehammer also wants to explain his priorities to his Spanish counterpart, especially on the latter. Austria could become “a tough bone”, especially with the migration pact, the Spanish daily “La Vanguardia” said at the meeting on Thursday.

According to Spanish media reports, Sánchez will not visit all EU countries before taking over the Council presidency for scheduling reasons, but four or five similar trips are planned, each with stops in three capitals. The presidency of the EU Council is also important for Sánchez in terms of domestic politics, as parliamentary elections take place in December. The conservative People’s Party (PP) recently led the polls. Regional and local elections are also scheduled for May.

Guidance at the opera ball
The meeting between Nehammer and De Croo would also be about EU projects. Belgium will take over the rotating presidency of the Council for six months after Spain in January 2024. However, the reason for De Croo’s visit is different: the liberal Belgian prime minister accompanies Nehammer to the opera ball in the evening. No media appointment has been scheduled for De Croo’s visit.

The socialist Spanish head of government will also meet SPÖ leader Pamela Rendi-Wagner as part of his visit to Vienna on Thursday. In the run-up, Rendi again praised Sánchez’s left-wing government as a role model for anti-inflation measures, such as suspending VAT on basic foodstuffs and limiting energy prices and rents.