Kurz waves his goodbyes to Merkel on state visit

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met with German counterpart Angela Merkel on Tuesday for the last time before she leaves office. On the agenda was bilateral relations, the Afghan crisis and the green transition.

The two noted the good bilateral relations between the two countries, with Kurz stressing the “close political, economic and human connection” between the two.

Regarding Afghanistan, the two agreed on the need to help on the ground.

Merkel said the German position is to help as many people in their home countries as possible, while Kurz highlighted that both countries had ramped up humanitarian aid for Afghanistan and the region. Kurz reiterated Austria’s unwillingness to admit Afghan refugees, as Merkel said it was too early to discuss the resettlement programmes concerning them.

The two heads of government also broached the climate issue and discussed the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package, with Kurz stating that there is a “common interest” of both countries to harmonise competitiveness with the goals of a green transition.

But despite the harmony the two displayed during Merkel’s state visit, Austria and Germany have disagreed on several key topics in recent years, especially on migration. Kurz was one of Merkel’s fiercest critics of her open-door politics during the 2015 refugee crisis and has since become one of Europe’s hardliners on migration issues.