Bilateral relations Czech Republic – Liechtenstein

Historical ties between Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic

Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic, the Princely House of Liechtenstein and the Czech lands, have been closely linked historically for almost 800 years. These close ties between Liechtenstein and Czechoslovakia experienced a sudden interruption during the turmoil of the 20th century. To this day, it has not been possible to find a political solution to the unresolved issues stemming from that time.

Establishment of diplomatic relations

On 8 September 2009, after an interruption of more than 70 years, diplomatic relations between the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic were resumed. On 11 April 2011, a non-resident embassy of Liechtenstein in the Czech Republic was opened with its seat in Vienna. H.S.H. Maria-Pia Kothbauer was accredited as the first ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Czech Republic. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bern was accredited as the non-resident Embassy of the Czech Republic in Liechtenstein.

Expansion of bilateral cooperation

When diplomatic relations were established, an independent Commission of Historians with equal representation was set up, which is co-chaired by Arthur Brunhart on the Liechtenstein side and Prof. Tomáš Knoz of Masaryk University in Brno on the Czech side. The Commission of Historians was commissioned to review the common history. The mandate of the commission was recently extended until 2024.

In 2014, the Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, Jan Kohout, and the Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein, Aurelia Frick, signed a Joint Declaration on Bilateral Relations between the two countries. In the declaration, the two foreign ministers praised the work of the Commission of Historians to date and committed themselves to intensifying cooperation at ministerial level and in european and multilateral forums. In the same year, the two states signed an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion with regard to taxes on income and capital.

In 2018, Dr. Thomas Zwiefelhofer was appointed Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Liechtenstein. In February 2023, the Honorary Consulate was upgraded to a Honorary Consulate General. In 2019, the Principality of Liechtenstein opened a Honorary Consulate in Brno. Mgr. Daniel Herman was appointed as Honorary Consul.

Diverse political, cultural and economic relations

The Czech Republic is Liechtenstein's main priority country under the EEA Financial Mechanism. Under the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein provide a total of EUR 88.3 Mio. to the Czech Republic. Of this amount, almost EUR 200’000 could be used exclusively to strengthen bilateral relations between Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic.

The two countries have a broad network of cultural cooperation. Cooperation between Liechtenstein and Czech theatres, orchestras and cultural festivals has produced numerous successful projects in the recent past.

The Czech Republic and Liechtenstein maintain intensive economic relations. Liechtenstein companies employ more than 400 people in the Czech Republic. In 2022, the Czech Republic exported goods worth CHF 20 million to Liechtenstein, while Liechtenstein exported goods worth CHF 7 million to the Czech Republic.