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Europe
Austria |
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Last reviewed: 12 December 2008 |
Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Austria joined the European Union in 1995. It is a member of the UN and hosts a number of UN agencies. It also hosts, in Vienna, the Secretariat of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Since 1955, Austria has been a neutral state. NATO membership is likely to remain off the agenda, with the concept of neutrality extremely popular among the electorate, but Austria will continue to participate in NATO led initiatives such as Partnership for Peace. Austria contributes to a large number of UN peacekeeping operations. Austria also contributes to a number of EU-led civilian missions in the former Yugoslavia and recently participated in the EU and UN humanitarian mission in Chad and the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (“EULEX”).
On 17 October 2008, Austria was elected as one of two new, non-permanent UN Security Council members for the ‘Western Europe and Others Group’ (WEOG). The other new member is Turkey. Austria took up its seat in January 2009, until the end of 2010.
Because of its geographical position and history, Austria has strong links with countries in Eastern and South Eastern Europe. Stability and prosperity in the western Balkans remains a key Austrian foreign policy goal. With that in mind, Austria supports the EU’s further expansion to the western Balkans, particularly Croatia. Widespread opposition remains across most of the Austrian political spectrum to Turkish EU membership.
Austria's EU Presidency
Austria held the rotating EU Presidency between 1 January and 30 June 2006 (the UK Presidency preceded the Austrian). They continued the enlargement process with Turkey and Croatia, took forward the economic reform agenda, reached agreement between Council and European Parliament on future financing, and achieved a deal on the important Services Directive. In external relations the European perspective for the neighbouring Balkans region was reaffirmed at the EU-western Balkans Foreign Ministers' meeting in March 2006
Relations with the UK
Bilateral relations with the UK are good and we maintain close working relationships at ministerial and official level on a wide range of EU policy, in particular economic reform, climate change and justice and home affairs. This was particularly so in the run-up to handing over the EU Presidency from the UK to Austria in 2005/06. Close ties also exist with Austria on key areas of foreign policy, including in promoting stability in south-east Europe.
Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Parliamentary Links
The Chairman of the British Austria All-Party Group is Sir Nicholas Winterton MP (Conservative). The Group's Secretary is Angus Robertson (SNP).
Cultural Relations with the UK
The British Council has been operating in Austria since 1946. The Vienna office acts as the regional centre for British Council operations in South East Europe. The main areas of activity are intercultural dialogue, creativity in education, arts and science, and economic reform in an expanding Europe.
The Austrian Cultural Forum promotes co-operation in the fields of culture, art, science and education.
The Anglo-Austrian Society is an educational charity, which aims to promote friendship and understanding between Austria and Great Britain through personal contact and cultural events.
Recent Bilateral Meetings
During the UK and Austrian Presidencies in 2005/2006 there were regular ministerial meetings between British and Austrian Ministers in the margins of formal and informal Councils.
Since the consecutive presidencies:
- Chair of the British Council Lord Kinnock called on President Fischer and Chancellor Gusenbauer on 16 and 17 January 2007.
- Minister of State Dr Kim Howells called on Foreign Minister Plassnik on 6 February 2007.
- Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports, Rt Hon James Purnell MP, called on Vienna City Councillor Mailarth-Pokorny during his visit to Austria on 28-30 September 2007.
- Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, the Rt Hon Baroness Hayman,participated in the Xth meeting of the Association of European Senates,17-19 April 2008 in Vienna.
- Austrian Social Affairs Minister Buchinger called on former UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State James Plaskitt on a study visit to the UK in December 2007 to research working tax credits.
- Home Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction Vernon Coaker participated in the UN Global Initiative to Fight Trafficking Conference on 13 February 2008.
- Austrian State secretary for Foreign Affairs, Hans Winkler, visited London in March 2008 and called on Minister for Europe Jim Murphy, Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch Brown and Minister for Development, Gareth Thomas.
- Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks visited Vienna from 26 to 29 September 2008.
