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North Africa & Middle East

The Austrian Parliament's cooperation in these regions focuses primarily on exchanges with the Israeli Knesset, but also with the Moroccan Parliament.

Israel

There has been a lively exchange between the Knesset and the Austrian Parliament for several 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

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

Parliamentary diplomacy is intended to further strengthen relations between the two Parliaments and to enhance inter-parliamentary cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels, as well as within international organisations.