The federal republic of Austria is a landlocked state of Central Europe. Area: 83,859 sq km (32,378 sq mi). Pop. (1994 est.): 8,027,000. Cap.: Vienna. Monetary unit: Austrian Schilling, with (Oct. 7, 1994) a free rate of 10.85 Schillings to U.S. $1 (17.25 Schillings = £1 sterling). President in 1994, Thomas Klestil; chancellor, Franz Vranitzky.
In a referendum in June 1994, Austrians voted two to one in favour of joining the European Union (EU). This was the most significant development in Austrian history since 1955, when the state treaty that ended the post-World War II Allied occupation and restored Austrian sovereignty was signed. Accession to the EU, to take effect on Jan. 1, 1995, signified no compromise of the country’s constitutionally mandated neutrality. As an EU member, Austria would not station foreign soldiers on its territory, take part in any war, or sign any military pact. The question of Austria’s later participation in a European defense pact remained open.
In March elections were held to the regional parliaments in Kärnten, Tirol, and Salzburg. Losses by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) led to the resignations of the party leaders in Kärnten and Tirol. The Christian-democratic Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) lost in Salzburg and Tirol. The right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), under the leadership of millionaire Jörg Haider, registered gains. The Greens advanced, but the Liberal Forum scored no breakthrough and did not win representation in any regional parliament. Kärnten saw weeklong "political theatre" that ended in an electoral standoff; the state governor’s job was retained by the chief of the ÖVP, the smallest faction in the Kärnten parliament.
A similar pattern emerged in the parliamentary elections in early October. The share of votes cast for the SPÖ fell from 42.8% in 1990 to 35.2% and that of the ÖVP dropped from 32% to 27.7%, while the FPÖ gained. (For tabulated results, see Political Parties, above.) For the first time, the two main parties lost their joint absolute majority in the parliament, which was required for the passage of laws, and would be forced to negotiate with the FPÖ. Several weeks after the elections, the partners in the shaky caretaker coalition still had not managed to sort out allocations of power and responsibility, notably on questions of who was to be in charge of Austria’s European Union policy and if and how the government’s economic-austerity program would be implemented.
Problems were caused anew by the influx of foreigners into Austria. By mid-1994 immigrants numbered 300,266, including some 150,000 from the former Yugoslavia and about 54,000 from Turkey. Besides these legal immigrants there were tens of thousands of "illegals," many of whom were prostitutes and criminals. Pressures on the housing market were immense (causing a housing shortfall of some 300,000 units), rents rose, and young people grew increasingly frustrated. The official policy established on the basis of the strict asylum law passed in 1992 was especially explosive. Assailed as too rigorous and inhumane, it was frequently cause for public criticism, even by the UN. The "invasion" of foreigners was unpopular, strengthened radicalism, and led in some cases to violence. A special unit of border defense troops to secure Austria’s eastern borders--which, beginning in 1995, would be those of the EU as well--was being established.
The economic recession of 1993 played out somewhat more mildly than had been feared, thanks to government countermeasures. A new upturn began in 1994, and a growth rate of 2.5% for the year (rising to 3% in 1995) was projected, with between 18,000 and 27,000 new job openings. Industrial production and exports led the way as Austria enhanced its role as a major conduit for trade and investment between the EU and the emerging economies of Eastern Europe. On the downside were the budget deficit (66.4 billion Schillings in 1992, 100 billion Schillings in 1993, and at least the same level in 1994) and the national debt (projected to reach 1.2 billion Schillings by the end of 1994), burdened with an annual interest of 70 billion-80 billion Schillings. In addition, net payments of some 20 billion Schillings into the EU would begin in 1995.
Environmentalists and citizens’ groups had long been concerned about the nuclear power plant at Temelin, Czech Republic, near the Austrian border. With the help of a $300 million ExImBank loan, the plant, which many feared was technologically unsound, was to be completed in 1995. Strong representations by Austrian politicians in the Czech Republic and the U.S. proved futile.