COOPERATION AT THE UNITED NATIONSCOOPERATION AT THE UNITED NATIONSAustria has been a member of the UN since December 14, 1955 and has since played an active role in solving the wide range of problems facing the organization. It has been a member of numerous commissions and committees, such as the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, whose chairman since 1961 has been an Austrian diplomat, the Sea Bed Committee, the Human Rights Commission, the board of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development and the Industrial Development Board of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
In 1963, 1976, 1984 and 1991 Austria was elected a member of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN's main economic body, for a three-year term at a time. Twice it was chosen to serve on the Security Council: in 1972 for the 1973/74 term, and in 1990 the 1991/92 term. Austria was also elected to the governing board of the United Nations Environmental Program (1990-1993), the governing board of the UN Development Program (1992/93) and the UN Human Rights Commission (1991-1996).
Austria has always lent its active support to UN efforts to
maintain world peace. Since 1960 Austria has contributed to many
UN peacekeeping missions with more than 37,000 soldiers. At the
end of 1997 Austria's total troops were the third-largest of all
the national contingents involved in UN peacekeeping operations.
Austria joined the European Union on January 1, 1995 along with Sweden and Finland. Prior to that the Austrians confirmed that they believed in the idea of European integration: In the referendum on EU membership held in June 1997 a clear majority of 67 % voted in favor of Austria's joining the EU.
Through its EU membership Austria became part of a common market, thus becoming more attractive to countries both inside and outside of the Union due to its location between Eastern and Western Europe. These factors have opened up new possibilities for both consumers and producers.
The economic effects should not by any means overshadow the political importance of the European integration process. Today the European Union plays a crucial role in the stability of the whole continent. In the past few years it has become the main focus for all European countries. With its continuation of the integration process it is setting the direction of the whole of Europe. More and more decisions concerning Europe's future are made within the EU institutions. Austria now participates in this "direction-setting" and this is one of the strongest arguments in favor of its EU membership. EU membership allows Austria to bring its specific concerns to bear on EU policy, to have an equal voice in the decision-making process that will shape the future of both Europe and Austria. Franz Fischler, the former Austrian Minister of Agriculture, has been put in charge of agricultural matters in the new European Commission.
Austria has become one of the eleven original EU member countires
which decided to introduce the euro, the common currency.
From July 1 to December 30, 1998 Austria held the Presidency of the European Union, the first of the new member countries to do so.
Austria's European Union Presidency in the United States (Booklet published by the Austrian Press & Information Service, Washington DC)
Links
EUROPA (European Union)
European Commission in the
United States
European Commission in
Austria
Websites of recent EU Presidencies:
The Finnish Presidency
The German
Presidency
The
Austrian Presidency
The British Presidency
EU member states in the United States:
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
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France
Ireland
Italy
Germany
Greece
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
United
Kingdom
Council of the
European Union
European Parliament
European Court of
Justice
European Court of Auditors
European Committee of the Regions
European Environment Agency
European Institute
European Investment Bank
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European
Ombudsman
Citizens Europe
Institutions of the
European Union
European Training
Foundation
CEDEFOP (European Centre for the
Development of Vocational Training)
CORDIS (EU Research Programs)
EMEA (European Agency
for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products)
EUDOR (European Union Documentary
Repository)
OHIM (Office for Harmonization in
the Internal Market; Trade Marks and Designs)
TIESNET (Transatlantic
Information Exchange Service)
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