The European Football Championship (EURO 08) in Switzerland and Austria casts its shadow on Liechtenstein. The Principality is not participating with its national team, but it is situated between the two host countries, Switzerland and Austria: an unparalleled state of affairs in the history of the European Football Championships.

From the onset, Switzerland and Austria included Liechtenstein, which is in part a transit country for the EURO 08 when the football fans move from one host city to another, in the preparations involving traffic and security. Exactly 150 days prior to the starting whistle for the first EURO 08 game on 7 June, the coordinators for Switzerland and Austria held a meeting in Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein has consciously been included in the preparations, explained Heinz Palme, Coordinator for the Austrian government at the press conference in the Vaduz government building. Benedikt Weibel, Coordinator for Switzerland, also commented positively on the coordination of traffic and security issues between the three countries.

Last autumn, Minister of Sports and Deputy Prime Minister Klaus Tschütscher investigated the possibility of Liechtenstein being involved on the sidelines of the EURO 08. In response to a question in Parliament, Tschütscher said: “For Liechtenstein this event respresents a historic opportunity. Liechtenstein will witness the EURO 08 in a multitude of ways and will be able to follow it from a privileged position, whether, for example, through meeting members of the media and football fans in Liechtenstein or through other forms of football enthusiasm spilling over into our country. “

Government appointed a project group in the spring of 2007 to explore the possibilities of including Liechtenstein in the fringe events for the EURO 08. Liechtenstein’s show of interest, according to Minister of Sports Klaus Tschütscher following soundings in Switzerland and Austria, met with a positive response: “It was apparent that on the one hand friendly support was expressed on all levels, and on the other hand it was happily acknowledged, that Liechtenstein recognized the significance of the event and expressed its active interest in the EURO 08 at an early date.” The Government itself does not want to appear as a host, but rather sees itself as a coordination point for sports clubs and organizations planning activities surrounding the European Football Championship. Mister of Sports Tschütscher is convinced that a certain “three-country dimension” will be added through the inclusion of Liechtenstein in the EURO 08 in the form of a country pavilion presenting the Principality of Liechtenstein in both Vienna and Basel. In Vaduz, a Fan Mile including public viewing will be created. One month prior to the EURO from 2 to 7 May during the Special Olympics, Liechtenstein will host various group matches for the European Championship for mentally disabled footballers.

A top priority both prior to and during the EURO 08 is security. Minister Rita Kieber-Beck participated in a meeting of the Ministers of Home Affairs for Germany, Austria and Switzerland last year in Weimar. Switzerland and Austria signed an agreement at this meeting providing for a simplified entry procedure during the EURO 08: Football fans from countries requiring visas need only request a visa for one country if they plan to visit football games in both countries. The simplified procedure with the Swiss visa also applies to Liechtenstein.

Last fall, Minister of Home Affairs Martin Meyer met with Federal Councillor Samuel Schmid in Bern and with Interior Minister Günther Platter in Vienna to discuss security issues revolving around the EURO 08. It was arranged with Switzerland that Liechtenstein would provide police presence as needed. With Austria a similar agreement was reached, according to Minister of Home Affairs Martin Meyer: “Liechtenstein is ready in any case to dispatch security personnel for the period of the EURO 08 upon request from the responsible Austrian security authorities with the purpose of supporting the security authorities in Austria in their efforts.”