North Africa & Middle East

Israel

There has been a lively exchange between the Knesset and the Austrian Parliament for a number of years.

This led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022, thereby deepening further parliamentary cooperation and underlining Austria's special relationship with Israel.

The Memorandum on Parliamentary Cooperation includes the following topics:

Innovation, digital transformation, new technologies and transparency, especially in the legislative process and at sittings
Security strategy and structural security as well as ICT and cyber security
Offers for visitors and the public
Democracy-education programmes
Sustainability, accessibility, and inclusion
Other areas of mutual interest

As part of the Memorandum, both Parliaments promote dialogue through delegation visits, study visits, seminars, and administrative exchanges. This parliamentary exchange contributes to a better understanding between the two societies.

In 2024, the exchange was further intensified by a visit from a delegation of Knesset officials. The thematic focus areas were very diverse:

The renovation of the Austrian Parliament
Technical innovations in parliamentary operations, the legislative process, e-law
Activities of the two Parliaments in the area of democracy education and opening up the Building, including a visitor center (Knesset Museum and the fight against antisemitism)
Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity

Morocco

On the occasion of the 240th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Austria, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Austrian and Moroccan Parliaments on parliamentary cooperation was signed in Rabat on March 20, 2023.

Parliamentary diplomacy should further strengthen the relationship between the two Parliaments and improve interparliamentary cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels as well as in international organizations.