Europe has paused this noon. All over the continent this Wednesday, people were observing a minute’s silence for the victims of the coronavirus pandemic. “I want to thank all who joined us for this European moment of remembrance and solidarity,” said Dario Nardella, President of Eurocities and Mayor of the Italian city of Florence. One … Continue reading A moment of remembrance and solidarity
Vienna has dedicated a section of its website to public services, and shares a dedicated video produced by the Austrian Association of Public Companies. Public and municipal companies continue to ensure security of supply in municipalities and keep the cities running. In times of crisis it is particularly important that the broad range of services … Continue reading Vienna – For public services
Cities want to play an active role in Europe’s recovery after the corona pandemic. Mayors of major European cities have offered a ‘new pact between the EU and city leadership’ to overcome the impacts of the crisis. In meetings with the European Commission’s Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and Commissioners Paolo Gentiloni and Johannes Hahn … Continue reading Recovery – Mayors call for a new pact between the EU and cities
Vienna is investing €17 million to help out the more than 16,000 young people currently without a job. The package includes intra-company vocational training, qualification passports, assistance for catching up the missed time and offers to enter into professions in health, care and IT, dedicated to the young generation.
The City of Vienna has announced to build 7 new municipal housing sites with 1,000 apartments in the coming years. “The effects of the pandemic are a particularly clear reminder of the importance of social housing policy for the well-being of the Viennese population”, as Mayor Michael Ludwig stated. Following the long and successful Viennese … Continue reading Vienna – 1000 new municipal apartments
Vienna has drawn up a “Guide for the Cultural Industries” in cooperation with medical experts and cultural practitioners. The rules foreseen in the guidelines could already apply in June. However, in order for them to be implemented and for theatres or concert halls to be able to restart, a federal ordinance or amendment to the … Continue reading Vienna – Guidelines for safe reopening of the cultural sector
Vienna has taken an approach of cautious exit and inclusive recovery as the country is slowly going back to ‘normal’. The updated overview highlights measures with regard to a smooth and safe running of city services, from childcare and schools to health and social services, support for the local economy and unemployed citizens and much … Continue reading Vienna – Overview of measures for safe and inclusive recovery
When restaurant in Vienna opened on 15 May, the Vienna city government decided to support Viennese gastronomy with vouchers of €25 and €50 for food and non-alcoholic beverages for every household. In total, Vienna provided €40 million for this campaign. The campaign runs from June to September. 950,000 Viennese households will receive a voucher by … Continue reading Vienna – Gastro vouchers
The city social affairs department ensured its services to its 133,000 users during the crisis by extending the duration of expiring social benefits. People could easily extend their benefits from the security of their homes as Vienna put in place an automatic procedure and postponed controls. This allowed everyone in need to get their social … Continue reading Vienna – Extensions for social benefits
“Our Europe stands for togetherness and solidarity across borders, also and especially in times of global crisis” – that’s the message of European city leaders for Europe Day on 9 May 2020. In a joint video message, mayors of 14 European cities call for solidarity and emphasise the role of cities which are working together … Continue reading A Special Europe Day – Cities sing together in solidarity
Vienna has prepared to open its 38 public indoor and outdoor pools by the end of May after the corona lockdown. Pools will be open for a limited number of customers and with a management system that only allows a certain number of people to swim at the same time. Saunas remain closed. “There is … Continue reading Vienna – Public pools to open again
Vienna has compiled a summary of measures the city has taken in the coronavirus crisis. They include the areas health and social care, public services, help for the economy, housing and homelessness, arts and culture, communication and citizen engagement as well as a part on ‘life after the crisis’. You can download the document here.
Employees of the facility management department of the City of Vienna decided to sew 2,500 masks in order to protect their colleagues. 50 female room attendants decided to take matters into their own hands and to produce masks to equip all their colleagues with reusable (and washable at 60 degrees) cotton masks. Luckily, a remaining … Continue reading Vienna – Sewing masks
The Wien Museum is inviting people to send photos of objects that portray the changes in their private and professional life due to this crisis. The pictures will form the collective memory of Vienna’s inhabitants about this moment in history and will be preserved for future generations. In the future, a selection of the objects … Continue reading Vienna – Historical corona collection
Evictions are prohibited in the private rental market in Vienna in the corona crisis. Anyone who has difficulty paying the rent between April and June due to the impact of the corona restrictions can repay the arrears until December. Eviction executions are postponed for three months on request of the tenant, to get time to … Continue reading Vienna – Protection for tenants
Amsterdam Read all posts featuring the measures of Amsterdam Download the city overview Antwerp Read all posts featuring the measures of Antwerp Athens Read all posts featuring the measures of Athens Download the city overview Baden-Württemberg Read all posts featuring the measures of Baden-Württemberg Bamberg Read all posts featuring the measures of Bamberg Barcelona Read … Continue reading City overviews of measures
The city has set up a new company named ‘Stolz auf Wien’ (Proud of Vienna) that will temporarily invest in local companies, which are at risk due to the crisis. The municipality, the Economic Chamber of Vienna, as well as private partners have contributed to collect 50 million euros that the company will be able … Continue reading Vienna – Aid package for companies
A political argument between the City of Vienna and the Austrian national government has eventually come to a good end after nearly four weeks. While all parks owned by the city remained open and accessible after the beginning of the coronacrisis, public parks owned by the national government were closed. After a wave of citizens … Continue reading Vienna – Parks open again after Easter
53 employees of Wien Energie, Vienna´s public energy company, are temporarily relocated to power station sites to ensure that people have access to light, heating and hot water during the corona crisis. The colleagues volunteered to live separated from their families at one of the isolation stations at the waste incineration plants Spittelau, Flötzersteig and … Continue reading Vienna – Living at the power station
Vienna has compiled a summary of measures the city has taken in the coronavirus crisis. They include the areas health and social care, public services, help for the economy, housing and homelessness, arts and culture, communication and citizen engagement as well as a part on ‘life after the crisis’. You can download the document here
A simple explanation of the coronavirus and how to protect yourself and others – the city of Vienna has produced an animated video especially for kids. It’s in German, you can use YouTube’s settings to get subtitles in other languages.
The municipality of Vienna, alongside Vienna Chamber of Commerce, is setting aside €35 million to allow a much quicker municipal response to changing business situations than normal legislation would allow. The largest portion of these funds will be used to help prop up companies of 10 employees or less when they suffer a decline in … Continue reading Vienna – A new fund to help small and medium sized businesses
Wiener Wohnen, the public housing authority, has called for residents of municipal buildings to be disciplined and considerate of current government measures. Non-compliance with certain measures, such as the closure of playgrounds, can be punishable by the police. Read more here (in German).
