Austrian vote result 'good omen against populism in Europe':

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today said that the far-right defeat in Austria's presidential election was "a good omen" for Europe.

"If the first results are confirmed this will be a good omen against populism in Europe," Steinmeier who is to become Germany's next president, at a news conference with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias, in Athens.

Austria's Norbert Hofer conceded defeat today in his bid to become Europe's first far-right president, as projections showed he was lagging behind in a bitterly fought election re-run.

Greens-backed independent Alexander Van der Bellen swept 53.3 per cent of the votes against 46.7 per cent for his rival from the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPOe), according to public television projections.