Since Ukraine gained official candidate status in June 2022, the Austrian Parliament has been actively involved in capacity-building projects with the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. The Parliament plays a key role in the process of rapprochement with the EU.
As part of the RADA program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), two study visits of the Verkhovna Rada took place in Vienna in 2023. The first visit focused on the establishment of a Research Service and EU approximation. During the second visit, the delegation looked at the Youth Parliament and other democracy education measures such as the Democracy Workshops.
In addition, three-day practical trainings are offered for experts from the Research Service of the Ukrainian Parliament.
INTER PARES is an EU project to strengthen parliaments in third countries. Since spring 2024, the Austrian Parliament has been participating in a partnership with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine together with 15 other parliaments of EU member states. Austria supports the establishment of a budget service and the strengthening of research and analysis capacities. It is also involved in activities relating to EU integration, control mechanisms, and strengthening parliamentary administration.
In the context of Moldova being granted EU candidate status, the Austrian Parliament is carrying out various capacity-building cooperation projects with the Moldovan Parliamentary Administration.
To support the Republic of Moldova and its Parliament on the path to EU membership, the Austrian Parliament is currently participating in a consortium led by the Greek Parliament together with the Parliaments of Italy (Chamber of Deputies), Romania (both Chambers) and Hungary in the project "Strengthening the Capacities of the Moldovan Parliament and its Role in the EU Accession Process".
Focal points of the project:
The 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and the Republic of Moldova (1992-2022) was an opportunity to deepen the exchange at a bilateral level. Focus was on dialogue on the topic of "gender budgeting" along with its importance and role in the budget process.
In October 2022, UN Women and the Austrian Embassy in Chișinău, together with the Moldovan Parliament, organized a two-day seminar for Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff.
The exchange continued as part of two delegation visits to the Moldovan Parliament. While the first study visit focused on the digitalization of the legislative process, the administration of a Parliament building, EU integration and the EU database, the second visit took place primarily with Members of the Budget Committee and the Budget Office in Vienna.
In spring 2022, Armenian Parliamentarians, the President of the Armenian Court of Audit, and the Secretary General of the National Assembly visited the Austrian Parliament. The Armenian delegation learned about the mechanisms of budget preparation and control. This cooperation with the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia took place as part of the "Modern Parliament for Modern Armenia" project, which is connected to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).