GovWire

Chancellor Nehammer, Karl. its so wonderful to be here in Austria, especially after our very warm meeting we had together last year where, as you say, we built a very strong friendship and a partnership.

And it has been good to continue that dialogue with you this morning.

And Austria is an important partner and an important friend for the United Kingdom.

Last year we signed new bilateral agreements

to build that partnership, to strengthen our security and to tackle illegal migration.

We grew our bilateral trade to 10 billion last year.

And today weve taken steps to deepen that relationship even further.

Now as Karl mentioned we see eye-to-eye on many of the big challenges before us.

And were committed to addressing them together.

Were unwavering in our support for Ukraine.

Austria has rightly called out Russia for breaking international law

expelled Russian diplomats

and given vital humanitarian support to the Ukrainian people.

And now, weve discussed what more we can do together on the economic front to ensure that Russias war machine is not supported.

Now weve also discussed, as you heard, the Middle East

where weve been working closely together already to urgently get the aid in and get the hostages out.

We touched on our concerns in the Western Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina

and the work that both our nations are doing to preserve stability in the region.

And again, I very much welcome Austrias leadership in this area and Im grateful to all the engagement that Karl has put into that part of our continent.

And of course, in conclusion, we discussed illegal migration.

This has become truly one of the defining issues of our time.

We face criminal gangs that are growing in strength across our European continent and beyond, and theyre exacting a terrible human toll.

People are losing their lives as they are exploited by these criminal gangs.

And it is of course a threat to our stability, to the rule of law and rightly our citizens are demanding that their leaders, their politicians, tackle it.

And thats what both Karl and I are doing.

And I really do want to congratulate Karl on his leadership here because hes been right on this issue for a long time, and has led the charge in Europe, in making sure this is a topic that gets the attention that it deserves.

In our joint statement today we have committed to deepening our cooperation to end this vile trade.

And what both of us have agreed is that business as usual wont solve this problem.

We have to think creatively

We have to pursue new ideas, solutions, and deterrents removals to safe third countries like the UKs pioneering Rwanda scheme.

And as Karl said, its increasingly clear that many other countries now agree that that is the approach that is required: bold, novel, looking at safe country partnerships.

Karl was right on that a while ago and Im delighted that now 15 European countries together have joined in supporting that position.

So we will keep increasing our shared ambition and urgency, bringing others along with us on the journey as we have

including when we meet at the European Political Community, which I am proud to be hosting in Blenheim Palace in July.

That will be a moment to take further action on all of the issues weve been discussing today.

And Ill close on this last point.

As you know, there is an interesting echo of history here.

Because Blenheim Palace is named after the Battle of Blenheim in 1704

when Britain and Austria came together under the Grand Alliance to protect Vienna.

Now, the circumstances are somewhat different today

but it is a reminder that our relationship, our friendship, our partnership, has deep roots.

And todays discussions show that it also has a very bright future.

Karl, thank you very much.