ATHENS – Climate Change and Civil Protection Minister Christos Stylianides visited Vienna on Thursday, in the context of the excellent cooperation between Greece and Austria in issues of civil protection, both on a bilateral and a European Civil Protection Mechanism and rescEU level.

Stylianides met with the Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution at the Federal Chancellery, Karoline Edstadler and with Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. Their talks focused on issues regarding the strengthening of the two countries’ cooperation against the repercussions of climate change and in civil protection. They also put emphasis on the exchange of knowhow and on the education of the Greek firefighters on issues of alpine search and rescue.

Among others, they discussed geopolitical developments and EU challenges due to migration.

“We have very good cooperation with the Austrian government on issues regarding climate change, civil protection and emergency situations. It was a very fruitful visit and I am certain that very soon it will bring tangible results,” Stylianides said.

Additionally, Stylianides met with the Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, Andreas Reichhardt, with whom they discussed the crucial role of technology in addressing natural disasters and the exchange of knowhow, aiming at the upgrading of the Greek Ministry for the creation of a national data platform which will operate in the context of a modern Natural Disasters Management Centre that will be supported by scientists.

The visit is held following Karoline Edstadler and Stylianides’ meeting in Athens in 2021.