Austria Today

History, Facts and FiguresAustrian – American

Relations

Located in the Heart of Located in the Heart of EuropeEuropePopulation: 8,199,783 (2007) GDP growth: 3.2% (2007)Area: 32,382 sq miles GDP: € 31,400 (2007)Land boundaries: 1,682 miles Inflation: 2.3 % (2007)98% of Austria‘s population is German speaking

Sharing Borders with Neighboring Sharing Borders with Neighboring CountriesCountries

509 miles

291 miles

64 miles

220 miles

205 miles

267 miles

104 miles

22 miles

Germany

Czech Republic

ItalyHungary

Switzerland

Liechtenstein

Slovenia

Slovakia

1,682 milesTotal (8) countries

The history of AustriaThe history of Austria ….goes back many centuries. The name ….goes back many centuries. The name “Austria” was mentioned for the first time “Austria” was mentioned for the first time in a record in 996 A.D.in a record in 996 A.D.

First mention of “Ostarrichi”

Stamp commemorating Austria’s 1000th

birthday

Habsburg MonarchyHabsburg Monarchy

Austro-Hungarian Empire under Franz Joseph I in 1914

The Congress of Vienna, 1815 – peace conference upon conclusion of

the Napoleonic Wars

Under the  rule of the Habsburgs, Austria witnessed its greatest expansion, and formed close dynastical alliances with many of Europe's royal houses, enabling Vienna to shape and determine Europe's history for centuries.

World War IWorld War I (1914-1918)(1914-1918)

After the end of World War I, Europe's geographical land-scape changed significantly. The Austro-Hungarian Empire ceased to exist, leaving behind the formation of new countries. The German-speaking parts of Austria formed the successor state, the Republic of Austria.

Austria 1919/20

World War IIWorld War II (1939-1945)(1939-1945)

Following the experiences of two devastating world wars involving millions of victims of armed conflict, persecution, genocide and the Holocaust, the foundation for a new world order and world peace was created in the form of the United Nations Organization in 1945.

World War II

United Nations, New York

The Marshall Plan: U.S. Financial Assistance The Marshall Plan: U.S. Financial Assistance for European Reconstructionfor European Reconstruction

Under the Marshall Plan, the U.S. provided significant financial assistance for European reconstruction (5% of the U.S. federal budget flowed into the European Recovery Program, whereby Austria received a total amount of one billion dollars in aid over several years).

1945-1955: 1945-1955: Austria was Austria was divided into four divided into four zones of post-war zones of post-war administrationadministration

UK

F

US

USSR

Austrian State Treaty Austrian State Treaty 19551955

Declaration of the State Treaty, May 15, 1955, Upper Belvedere

Palace

With the signing of the Austrian State Treaty, Austria was guaranteed independence by the Allied Powers – the U.S., Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union.

Austria declared at the same time its continued neutrality.

The Cold War: Austria as a Hub Between East & WestThe Cold War: Austria as a Hub Between East & West

In the years following Austria, being a neutral country centrally located between the East and the West blocs, hosted a number of historic summit meetings and high-level international conferences.

John F. Kennedy with Nikita Khrushchev, June 1961: Vienna

Austria: An Active Member of Austria: An Active Member of the UNthe UNSince joining the United Nations in 1955, the newly independent Austria took part in numerous UN peace keeping missions in the world.In 1980 the UN headquarters building in Vienna was inaugurated, housing several UN Organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Austria’s participation in UN missions

United Nations Headquarters in Vienna

Humanitarian Aid and Asylum

In the past fifty-some years Austria has offered generous aid and asylum to refugees, some of whom have found a new home in Austria, or new homes in other parts of the world via Austria.- Hungarian Revolution in 1956- Prague Spring 1968- Emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel via Austria- Conflict in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s

Hungarian refugees in 1956

Austrian humanitarian initiative

for the Balkans

A Member of the European A Member of the European UnionUnion

• In 1995 Austria joined the European Union.• In 2002 the EURO was introduced as the common European currency.• While assuming the Presidency of the European Union in 1998 and 2006, Austria chaired numerous summit, ministerial and expert meetings on a broad range of issues and was significantly involved with the development of the European Union and its policies.

European flag

The EURO

The European Parliament in

Brussels

More than 300 international companieshave their CEE headquarters in Austria

The fall of the Iron Curtain provided new opportunities for Europe and Austria. With traditionally close ties to its neighboring countries Austria is an evermore important trading partner and investor in the emerging economies of Central and Eastern Europe.

A Gateway to Central and Eastern EuropeA Gateway to Central and Eastern Europe

Political Political SystemSystem

Austria’s head of state:Federal President

Federal ChancellorDr. Alfred Gusenbauer

Dr. Heinz Fischer

Austria is a Federal Republic

The Parliament in Vienna

Austria’s head of government:

Tourism – Optimal AmenitiesTourism – Optimal Amenities

The World Economic Forum in Davos ranked Austria as the 2nd most attractive tourist country in the world.

- Accessibility through air and ground transportation- High environmental and safety standards- Excellent infrastructure- Diverse scenery and cultural attractions…make Austria a wonderful and exciting

destination for tourists.

Culture Today

Austria‘s cultural heritage and treasures are well known and admired all over the world:

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra-Celebrating Vienna New Year‘s Concert-Considered one of the finest in the world

Vienna Boys’ Choir

A choir of boy sopranos and altos based in Vienna

Vienna Opera BallVienna Opera Ball

Salzburg FestivalSalzburg Festival

Spanish Riding SchoolSpanish Riding School

Prominent festival of music and drama

Oldest and last Riding School in the world

Annual Austrian society event which takes place in the Vienna State Opera

SportsSports

The Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain (3,798 m) 12,461 ft

The most popular sport is alpine skiing

Similar sports as ski-jumping or snowboarding are also very popular

Skiing in Austria

Hermann Maier: 2 Olympic gold medals (both in 1998)

Franz Klammer: 2 Olympic gold medals (1974 and 1976)

SportsSports

2008 UEFA European Football Championship takes place in Austria and Switzerland

1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck

Most popular team sport is soccer

Austrian Cuisine

Apfelstrudel

Sachertorte

…famous for its pastriesCoffee in Vienna Café Central

Vienna Coffeehouses

Austrian Wine

Wiener Schnitzel

Austrian Scientists

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Founder of the psychoanalytic school of psychology. Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951) Automotive engineer, designed the original Volkswagen Beetle.Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1883-1950) Economist, developed the theory of business cycles and development.

Many Austrian scientists and Nobel Prize winners have won recognition far beyond the borders  of  their native country

VW BeetleBusiness Cycle

Austrian Art and Music: From the Classical to the Modern Era

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)Wolfgang A. Mozart (1756-1791)Franz Schubert (1797-1828)Johann Strauss (1804-1849)Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Arnold Schönberg (1874-1951)

Works of art byOtto Wagner (1841-1918)Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1980)Egon Schiele (1890-1918)

Austria and the United States

U.S.: Austria‘s Third Biggest U.S.: Austria‘s Third Biggest Trading PartnerTrading Partner

- Exports 2006: 6.2 billion EUR (+15.5%)- Imports 2006: 3.2 billion EUR (+11.3%)- Increased export of all major types of goods

Automotive / Energy Drinks / Pharmaceuticals / Machinery / Seamless Pipes / Sheet Metal / etc.- U.S. is 3rd most important trade partner after Germany and Italy

Red Bull Automotive parts, industrial goods

Austrian wineand food

EU-U.S. Transatlantic EU-U.S. Transatlantic PartnershipPartnershipThe Transatlantic Dialogue between the E U and the U.S. established in 1995 provides regular summit and ministerial meetings as well as meetings of experts on a broad range of economic and political issues. The U.S. is the EU’s most important trading partner: • EU-U.S. trade exchange amounts to over $1billion per day• Approx. 14 million jobs are closely linked to transatlantic economic cooperation and trade.• The EU is the biggest investor in the U.S.

EU-US Summit Meeting in Vienna, Austrian Chancellor Schüssel and U.S. President Bush (2006)

Austrian Centers in the U.S.Austrian Centers in the U.S.

Close cooperation between universities in the U.S. and sister institutions in Vienna and Innsbruck have resulted in successful student exchange programs and summer schools. The Centers for Austrian Studies at the University of Minnesota and the University of New Orleans have strongly promoted this vibrant exchange.

Austrians in the U.S.Austrians in the U.S.

Governor and former actorArnold Schwarzenegger

Throughout the United States you will find Americans of Austrian descent. Among those Austrians living in the United States today, several play a prominent role in the areas of culture, science, as well as in politics and sports.

Celebrity chefWolfgang Puck

Wolfgang Puck: Photo courtesy Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences

Ice hockey playerThomas Vanek

Sound of MusicSound of Music

Most Americans are familiar with the beautiful melodies of the musical featuring the story of the Trapp family. The musical and movie have won several awards and the musical has been performed over 1,500 times on Broadway.

Schloß Leopoldskron, Salzburg – site of the famous movie

Trapp Family Lodge, Vermont

… see you in Austria!