The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) carried out its first comprehensive assessment visit to Austria, on behalf of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), from 10 to 13 November 2025. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate Austria’s progress in implementing key counter-terrorism measures pursuant to Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant resolutions.
The delegation was led by Mr. Ahmed Seif El-Dawla, Chief of CTED’s Section for Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and comprised of CTED experts as well as specialists from the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
During the visit, the delegation held in-depth and constructive technical discussions with officials and representatives from various Austrian ministries and departments. The talks covered a broad range of issues, including counter-terrorism legislation, international cooperation in criminal matters, the financing of terrorism, national counter-terrorism strategies, and efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism.
The visit also included on-site assessments at Vienna International Airport and the Hirtenberg correctional facility in Lower Austria. Separate meetings were held with representatives of civil society organizations, ensuring an inclusive and comprehensive dialogue. In line with relevant Security Council resolutions, discussions also addressed the human rights and gender dimensions of Austria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Country assessment visits remain a vital mechanism for the Counter-Terrorism Committee to engage with Member States and support the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism and related international standards.