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Home , Bruno Pittermann, Franz Jonas, Heinz Fischer, Johann Koplenig, Julius Curtius, Karl Buresch

1245

XVII . CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF AUSTRIAN FOREIGN AND EUROPE POLICY 1914/18-2009

June 28, 1914: Kingdom of , this document no longer The heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, the has any effect. nephew of Franz Joseph, who wanted to organ- October 21, 1918: ise the Habsburg empire on a federal basis and Even during the war, the members of the recognise all peoples equally, was murdered in Reichsrat elected in 1911 in the German- Sarajevo with his wife. speaking territories of the monarchy consti- July 28, 1914: tuted themselves in as the Provisional After an Austrian ultimatum not fulfilled by National Assembly in order to found their own Serbia, -Hungary declares war on Ser- state “Deutschösterreich”. bia. As a result, a dynamic of alliance systems October 30, 1918: develops, followed by mobilizations and decla- Decision of the Provisional National Assem- rations of war between the Central Powers and bly to implement a provisional constitution for the Entente. “Deutschösterreich” November 21, 1916: November 3, 1918: Emperor Franz Joseph I dies after 68 years of Armistice between Austria-Hungary and the regency. His great-nephew succeeds him as Allies. Charles I on the throne. November 11, 1918: 1917: Charles I, on the condition that the choice of the Emperor Charles tries in vain to reach a form of state was left to the people, renounced peace agreement with the Entente through his “every share in the affairs of state” but not the brother-in-law Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma. throne. October 13, 1918: November 12, 1918: Abdication of Charles as King of Hungary. Proclamation of the Republic of “Deutschöster- October 16, 1918: reich” by a delegation of the National Assembly With “An meine getreuen österreichischen on the parliamentary ramp with correspond- Völker” Karl propagates the transformation ing law on the form of state and government. of the empire into a federal state. In order to In front of Pallas Athena a Soviet Republic comply with the will of the USA and President “ Socialist Republic of Austria” is proclaimed. Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen-point programme, January 18, 1919: the emperor issues a manifesto of peoples which Convening of the peace conference in Paris by transforms the into a federal the Entente Powers USA, Great Britain, state. Since the German-speaking Bohemia are and . It was attended by 27 states, all of not prepared to live in a Czechoslovak crown which had declared war on and for country and the manifesto does not apply to the the most part on Austria. 1246 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

February 16, 1919: July 7, 1920: First democratic election in the Republic of Establishment of a proportional government. ‟Deutschösterreich”. The Social Democrats The coalition government under attain a relative majority and form a coali- fails on the question of creating a new army. tion with the christian socials. Karl Renner is becomes the new chancellor. The Chancellor of State. strong man in the background is the christian social . March 21, 1919: Proclamation of a Soviet Council Republic in October 1, 1920: Hungary under Béla Kun. Resolution of the Constitution of the Feder- al State of Austria. Hans Kelsen, Professor March 24, 1919: of Constitutional and Administrative Law in Emperor Karl leaves the Republic at the border Vienna, is in charge of its preparation. crossing at Feldkirch. October 10, 1920: April 3, 1919: The majority (59%) of the population of South- The constituent National Assembly passes the ern votes in a referendum in favor of law on the expulsion of the Habsburg-Lothrin- remaining with Austria. gen dynasty and the takeover of the assets of the -Lothringen in order to April 5, 1921: prevent any tendencies towards restoration. Charles I makes a futile second attempt at restoration in Hungary. June 6, 1919: The Entente Powers decide in Paris on the ref- April 24, 1921: erendum in Carinthia. Since the republic is forbidden from joining Germany by the victorious powers, individual June 15, 1919: federal states try to decide this for themselves. Mass march of the Austrian communists for a In there is a referendum for the annex- soviet republic. ation to Germany with the slogan “Heim ins June 28, 1919: Reich” with 98.5%. Signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty by the May 29, 1921: German Reich. A referendum in Salzburg even brings 99% for August 1, 1919: the “”. The soviet republic in Hungary resigns. Miklós June 1, 1921: Horthy acts as “imperial administrator” Resignation of the Federal Government (“Reichsverweser”). Mayr following the announcement of another September 10, 1919: referendum for the Anschluss in , alarm- Signing of the Peace Treaty of St. Germain by ing the victorious powers. Austria: recognition of the new states of , December 16, 1921: Yugoslavia and , which emerged Treaty of Lana between the Republic of Aus- on the territory of the Austro- Hungarian monar- tria and the Czechoslovak Republic, signed chy. New border demarcation between the new by Chancellor Schober and Foreign republics Austria, Hungary, Italy and . Edvard Beneš, with the obligation to respect No concrete reparation obligation but general the Treaties of Saint Germain and the reciprocal lien (Generalpfandrecht) for the victorious pow- guarantee of their territories. Austria receives a ers on Austrian state property. Prohibition of loan of 500 million Czechoslovak crowns. The Austria’s Anschluss to Germany, prohibition of Greater Germans in Austria experience this as general conscription, professional army with a “betrayal” of the Sudeten Germans. maximum of 30,000 men. The new name of the state now has to be “Republic of Austria”. XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1247

December 29, 1921: 1925: In the old town hall in Wipplingerstraße/ Vienna Treaty of Locarno between Germany and the the “National Socialist Association for German victorious powers, which defines the western Austria” holds a protest meeting against the borders of the German Reich and the Rhineland Treaty of Lana: The chairman of the associa- as a demilitarized zone. tion Walter Riehl and “the representative of the 1925: National Socialist Party from Munich” Adolf The crown currency is replaced by the shilling Hitler speak. and the hard currency policy (“Alpine dollar”) April 10, 1922: is continued. The currency is restored, but the Genoa Conference for the reconstruction of economy is down. Europe. The takes part in this con- October 24, 1929: ference. Austria receives loan commitments. Stock market crash in New York with During his negotiations in Genoa, Chancellor consequences of mass unemployment in Schober is overthrown and replaced by chris- Austria (around 600,000) and Germany (around tian social Ignaz Seipel. The Genoa Conference 6 Million). fails because of the Treaty of Rapallo. 1929/1930: April 16, 1922: First as Chancellor, now as Foreign Minister, In the Rapallo Treaty between Germany and achieves at Con- the Soviet Union, mutual renunciation of ference, in which it was a question of finally reparations takes place. settling the war debts of the nations defeat- October 4, 1922: ed in the First World War, to persuade the A League of Nations loan of 650 million gold Allied powers to renounce the general lien crowns is granted to restore the shattered state (Generalpfandrecht). budget, combined with the partial waiver of the March 3, 1931: general lien (Generalpfandrecht) to secure the Secret agreements are reached between the Geneva loan. Above all, Austria undertakes German Foreign Minister Julius Curtius and not to seek affiliation with Germany and ac- his Austrian counterpart Johannes Schober on cepts the control of the League of Nations. The a customs union with Germany. France and the stabilization of the currency required drastic Czech Republik veto the agreement. sacrifices, and at least 100,000 civil servants are to be dismissed. The loan is granted by Great May 8, 1931: Britain, France, Italy and Czechoslovakia. The The government learns of the imminent four states undertook to respect Austria’s spe- collapse of the . The League of cial international status. Austria again had to Nations demands the abandonment of the cus- commit itself to its independence under the toms union project with the German Reich for Treaty of Saint-Germain. The German Reich its help. Federal Chancellor resigns. was subject to a 20-year ban on joining. Federal President Wilhelm Miklas commis- sions Seipel to form a government, inviting the October 27-29, 1922: social democrats to form a “concentration gov- March on Rome by the fascists under the ernment”, which they reject. was leadership of Benito Mussolini. then commissioned to form the government, November 14, 1922: which formed a coalition government with The Austrian central bank is created. After a christian socials, greater germans and the Land few months, the currency stabilized. After two Federation (Landbund). The customs union years, the national budget was in balance. Un- project failed. The government grants guaran- employment rose rapidly, even at a time when tees for the rescue of the Creditanstalt. Europe was otherwise experiencing a boom. 1248 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

September 5, 1931: March 1, 1933: At the request of the League of Nations Warning strike of the Austrian railway work- Council, the Permanent International Court of ers. All railway stations are occupied by the Justice shall issue a legal opinion concerning gendarmerie and the army. the organisation of customs between Germany March 4, 1933: and Austria, in which it examined the compat- Social Democrats call for a Nationalrat meet- ibility of membership of a customs union with ing. A dispute over procedural issues, among Austria’s obligation of independence (Article other things, results in the resignation of all 88 of the State Treaty of Saint-Germain, First presidents of the Nationalrat. There is no one Geneva Protocol 1922). By a narrow major- left who can formally close the session. ity (8:7), the Court ruled that, although the German- Austrian Customs Union project did March 5, 1933: not infringe Article 88 of the State Treaty of The German Reichtag elections brought Hitler Saint-Germain, it infringed the First Geneva 43.9% of the votes. He had passed a law of em- Protocol of 1922. powerment (“Ermächtigungsgesetz”). The first concentration camps are established and politi- May 20, 1932: cal opponents are imprisoned. 12,000 National New government under Engelbert Dollfuss. Socialists celebrate Hitler’s victory in the hall July 15, 1932: of the Nordwestbahnhof in Vienna. The Lausanne Protocol provides for a second March 7, 1933: League of Nations loan of 300 million Schil- Three days after the chaotic break-up of the lings, granted by Great Britain, France, Italy Nationalrat, Dollfuss turns to “The Austrian and Belgium, which once again stipulates a People”: the Nationalrat is paralyzed and una- 20-year ban on joining the German Reich. The ble to act. However, the legitimate government Federal Council (Bundesrat) raises an objec- was in office and not affected by the parliamen- tion. The Austrian Parliament (Nationalrat) tary crisis. He bans all marches and meetings, passes an insistence resolution. censors the press, and puts the armed forces on October 1, 1932: standby. On the basis of the “War Economic Enabling March 15, 1933: Act” („Kriegswirtschaftliches Ermächtigungs- The third President of the Nationalrat, Sepp gesetz“) of 1917, a further ordinance is issued to Straffner, convenes a parliamentary session, reorganise the Credit Anstalt. which is followed only by the social demo- January 8, 1933: crats and the greater germans, 60 of whom Waggons with weapons from fascist Italy to have come. After 10 minutes the parliament the Hungarian Horthy government and the is evacuated by 200 detectives. The police home defence are discovered in the Styrian and army march on the ring. The so-called Hirtenberg. “self-elimination”(“Selbstausschaltung”) of the parliament becomes reality. January 30, 1933: Hitler is appointed Reich Chancellor by Reich March 25, 1933: President , who forms a The 1000 Mark barrier (“Tausend Mark-Sperre”) coalition government of German Nationals and imposed by Hitler means that every German the NSDAP. Although he had received only one citizen who crosses the border into Austria has third of the votes, he overruled democratic laws to pay 1000 Reichsmark, which has negative with the help of the Reichstag. economic consequences for Austria. National Socialist terrorism intensified: fights with home guards (Heimwehren) and social democrats, ex- plosions, attacks on jewish businesses, assassi- nations of celebrities are on the agenda. XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1249

June 19, 1933: April 27, 1934: The Dollfuss government declares the nation- Convening of Parliament to continue the sitting al socialist groups in Austria dissolved and the of March 3, 1933. Socialist members are not invit- party illegal. Dollfuss finds back support at ed. Their party is dissolved. Emergency decrees Mussolini, whom he visits during his vacation are confirmed. A constitutional law is passed. in Riccione. May 5, 1934: September 11, 1933: Dollfuss reads the new constitution personal- The 250th anniversary of the liberation of ly: “In the name of God the Almighty, from Vienna from the Turks is celebrated. At a rally, whom all justice emanates, the Austrian peo- Dollfuss sketches the outlines of the new cor- ple receive this constitution for their christian porative state. german Federal State on the basis of estates”. February 12, 1934: July 25, 1934: Civil war in Austria, based on a search for National Socialist putschists storm the RAVAG weapons by the police in the social democratic broadcasting house in Johannesgasse and party “Hotel Schiff” in Linz, fights between the announce the resignation of the Dollfuss Schutzbund, the Heimwehren and the executive government on the radio. They occupy the forces spread in Austria. The government im- chancellery. Dollfuss is shot. He dies as a result poses the martial law and declares the Social of the injuries. takes over Democratic Party dissolved. Mayor the government. The putschists in the chancel- and the social democratic leadership of Vienna lery surrender. In Styria, Carinthia, and Upper are arrested. The call for a general strike is Austria there are heavy fights. The coup is hardly followed. defeated. 8 putschists are executed. Februar 13, 1934: August 21, 1934: Schutzbund units – above all in Vienna and Schuschnigg travels to Mussolini and asks for Styria – take the offensive. In Floridsdorf political support. (Schlingerhof, Arbeiterheim, FAC-Hof, Feuer- January 1, 1935: wache, Gaswerk) and Heiligenstadt (Karl- First Reich Conference of the Revolutionary Marx-Hof) and in Styria (, Kapfenberg, Socialists of Austria in Brno: 60 functionaries Bruck an der Mur) fights are fierce. meet there. On their return home, some 30 were February 15, 1934: arrested and charged with treason, including The fighting is over. About 10,000 social dem- and . ocrats have been arrested and 9 executed. The January 21, 1935: Vienna City Council and the Vienna State The French and Italian chiefs of staff agree to Parliament are dissolved. be- take military action in the event of a threat to comes mayor of Vienna. Social democrats go Austrian independence. into exile or underground and call themselves “Revolutionary Socialists”. March 16, 1935: Hitler reintroduces compulsory military service March 17, 1934: in Germany, which means a breach of the Mussolini invites Dollfuss and the Hungari- Versailles Peace Treaty. The heads of govern- an Prime Minister Gyula Gömbös to Rome. ment of Great Britain, France and Italy meet The existing friendship treaties with Italy and in Stresa in Northern Italy for the last summit Hungary are extended to include the “Roman conference of the former victorious powers to Protocols”. discuss the impact of the introduction of univer- sal conscription in Germany. They open the way for limited armament for Austria, Hungary and . This is known as the “Stresa Front”. 1250 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

July 13, 1935: Czechoslovakia and Austria – if this is achieved Schuschnigg searches for allies and finds them peacefully. among the monarchists. He wants to open the February 12, 1938: way for the return of the Habsburgs and the On the advice of Franz von Papen, the German exceptional law against the House of Habsburg envoy to Austria, Hitler invites Schuschnigg is softened. to the Berghof and puts him under pressure: October 2, 1935: the Austrian National Socialist Arthur Seyß- Following Mussolini’s military campaign in Inquart, Hitler’s confidant, must be appointed Abyssinia, Austria votes in favor of Italy in the Minister of the Interior and National Socialists League of Nations with Hungary and must be allowed to engage in free activities. against sanctions imposed by the other 52 mem- February 16, 1938: ber states. Italy withdraws from the League of Austrian social democrats decide to stand up Nations like Germany and Japan did before. for Austria’s independence. A closer connection of Austria to the Small Entente (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Roma- March 3, 1938: nia) fails because of Schuschnigg’s Habsburg Only now does Schuschnigg receive a delega- friendliness. tion of workers’ representatives. He promises to enter into negotiations with them. March 1936: Schuschnigg visits Mussolini in Rome, who March 4, 1938: recommends to seek an understanding with Wilhelm Keppler, Görings economic consult- Hitler. ant, presents Schuschnigg with further claims. March 30, 1936: March 9, 1938: Introduction of the “general federal service ob- Schuschnigg announces a referendum for ligation” (compulsory military service) (“allge- March 13, 1938 during a speech in Innsbruck. meine Bundesdienstpflicht”) in Austria. Hitler feares a positive result for an independ- ent Austria. July 11, 1936: An agreement and a joint declaration between March 10, 1938: Germany and Austria aim to “restore normal Hitler gives the order to prepare for the military and friendly relations”. The secret “Gentle- invasion. In , mobilization takes place. men’s Agreement” establishes a close rela- March 11, 1938: tionship with German foreign policy. National Hitler issues an ultimatum: Immediate renunci- Socialist ministers can move into the Austrian ation of the referendum. Schuschnigg consults Federal Government. with Federal President Miklas and decides to July 23, 1936: dismiss the referendum. Göring is not satisfied Federal President Wilhelm Miklas issues a and demands the resignation of the government. political amnesty which sets Austrian National Seyß-Inquart is to become Chancellor. As the Socialists free. first official act, he should demand the deploy- ment of German troops to Austria. Miklas November 19, 1937: accepts Schuschniggs resignation, but refuses The British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax to make Seyß-Inquart the new chancellor. At visits Hitler at the Berghof near Berchtesgaden 19.47 Schuschnigg delivers his farewell speech as an envoy of the British Prime Minister Lord on the radio: “The Federal President instructs Chamberlain. He stated that London would me to tell the Austrian people that we are giving show understanding if Hitler wanted to revise way to violence”. Schuschnigg also said that certain provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. he was not prepared to “shed German blood”. Something could be done about the acquis of In the evening thousands of people gather on Central Europe, he names three areas: Gdansk, the and before midnight Miklas XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1251

Seyß-Inquart appoints him Chancellor. Po- 1943: grom-like terror against representatives of the Archduke Otto von Habsburg, with the support previous regime and against Jews begins. of Richard N. Coudenhove-Kalgergi in New York, is campaigning for the postponement or March 12, 1938: omission of the bombing of Austria. Churchill’s In the early morning the invasion of Austria by plan to form a Danube Confederation increases German troops begins. Himmler arrives at the the chances of restoration. Aspern airfield at 5 a.m. with a list of people to be assigned immediately. A wave of arrests sets October 18-30, 1943: in, which leads to the deaths of prominent politi- Conference of the Foreign Ministers of the cians, higher civil servants, leaders, USA, the Soviet Union and Great Britain social democrats, communists and, above all, in Moscow; establishment of a “European many Jews. Hitler is greeted jubilantly in Linz. Advisory Commission” based in London. Mussolini approves the invasion. The Western October 30- November 1, 1943: powers protest, but do nothing else. German The Moscow Declaration of the Foreign lawyers draw up a federal constitutional law on Ministers of Great Britain, the Soviet Union the basis of the enabling law on the reunifica- and the (”Moscow Declaration“) tion of Austria with the German Reich. Austria on Austria is announced on the occasion of the disappears as a country from the map of Europe conclusion of the Foreign Ministers’ Confer- and becomes part of the “Greater German” or ence in Moscow: the ‟Anschluss” is regarded “Greater ” as “Ostmark”. as ‟null and void”, the liberation of the coun- March 13, 1938: try and the restoration of Austria’s independ- Seyß-Inquart submits the law to the Council of ence are propagated as goals by the anti-Hitler Ministers, which approves it. However, the sig- coalition, but at the same time Austria’s [sic!] nature of Federal President Miklas is missing. responsibility for participation in Hitler’s war He refuses and hands over his office to Arthur is pointed out, resulting in its own contribution Seyß-Inquart. to liberation; resolution passed on October 30, public announcement on November 1, 1943. March 15, 1938: Hitler gives his speech in front of 250,000 November 16, 1943: people on Heldenplatz and announces the Declaration of the French Committee of “ entry of my homeland into the German Reich”. National Liberation in Algiers on the independ- ence of Austria. April 10, 1938: A pseudo referendum vote on the “Anschluss” December 18, 1944: of Austria to Hitler’s Germany brings a result of Formation of a Provisional Austrian National 99% for the “Anschluss”. Committee (POEN). November 9, 1938: February 4-11, 1945: Progrom against Jews through systematic The conference of the ‟Big Three” (Winston S. humiliation, murder, expulsion and destruc- Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Josef W. tion, especially in Vienna. Stalin) of Yalta on the Crimea takes place. 1938-1945: April 27, 1945: An Austrian government in exile did not come A provisional state government under State into being due to unbridgeable contrasts from Chancellor Karl Renner is constituted in the time of the Austrian Civil War (1934). Vienna. A proclamation is made of the ex- ecutive boards of the political parties about April 14, 1939: the restoration of the Republic of Austria and ”Ostmarkgesetz“ with the division of Austria the establishment of a provisional state gov- into seven Reichsgaue (imperial districts). ernment under Renner; socialists (including 1252 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

Adolf Schärf), christian democrats (Leopold September 11- October 2, 1945: Kunschak) and Communists (Johann Koplenig) Foreign Ministers Conference of the Four belong to the government. Powers in London on the German question, France demands the cession of the Ruhr area May 1, 1945: and the Rhineland from Germany; a return The provisional Austrian State Government of South Tyrol to Austria is excluded and the passes a constitutional law on the renewed entry Brenner border is regarded as unchangea- into force of the Austrian Federal Constitution ble, only “minor rectifications” are permitted of October 1, 1920 in the version December 7, ( September 14, 1945). However, this is only a 1929. provisional decision subject to the final decision May 8-9, 1945: at a peace conference. Unconditional surrender of the German October 20, 1945: Wehrmacht in Reims and Berlin-Karlshorst. Recognition of the provisional government of July 17-August 2, 1945: Renner by all four occupying powers and exten- Potsdam Three-Power Conference: Harry S. sion of its competence to the whole of Austria. Truman (USA), Josef W. Stalin (USSR) and April 12, 1946: Winston Churchill respectively Clement Attlee The formally still existing League of Nations (Great Britain) adopt the Potsdam resolutions invites Austria to participate as an observer with common guidelines for Germany: Decen- in the current meeting; secret memorandum tralization, decartelization, demilitarization by (without naming) concerning and denazification, reparation withdrawals in the “Bolzano solution” of the South Tyrolean each zone, leaving Germany as an “economic question to William Mack (UK): South Tyrol unit” with central administrative offices, trans- including Bozen, but without the industrial fer of the German population from the East- zone, shall come to Austria. ern territories in a “humane way” to the West; renunciation of Austrian reparations, but claim April 22, 1946: of the occupying powers to “German proper- South Tyrol rally in Innsbruck for reunification ty” (abroad) as spoils of war; there is no precise with the southern part of the country: 155,000 definition of what is meant by “German proper- South Tyrolean signatures were collected, but ty”, which consequently entails numerous com- ignored by the victorious powers. plications for Austria. April 30, 1946: August 9, 1945: Memorandum of the Austrian Federal Declaration of the Four Occupying Powers Government on the South Tyrolean Question to on the Future of Austria: Division into Four the UN at the Beginning of the Paris Confer- Occupying Zones; Vienna is divided into Four ence of Foreign Ministers. Zones and the first district is declared as the May 1, 1946: common administrative territory (international Foreign Minister Karl Gruber informs the press sector) of all four occupying powers. about a memorandum which has been sent to all August 25- September 10, 1945: governments belonging to the UN; the Foreign First “European Forum Alpbach” (“Austrian Ministers confirm: South Tyrol remains with College”) in Tyrol. Italy; the plebiscite demanded by Austria is rejected, but the possibility of ‟minor rectifi- September 11, 1945: cations” is hinted at; a general strike in Tyrol Allied Council for Austria meets for the first takes place on May 2. time: Recognition of the principles of the Moscow Declaration and of the three political May 30, 1946: parties (ÖVP, SPÖ, KPÖ). Gruber’s speech in the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Paris Conference; demand for XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1253 the Pustertal as a “minor border rectification”; cannot solve the ethnic problem of this region if legal reservation regarding self-determination it does not also refer to Trentino. for South Tyrol is introduced, whereby Gruber September 5, 1946: emphasizes that Austria “intends in any case” Signing of an agreement between Alcide De to “raise the issue of a referendum in South Gasperi and Karl Gruber at the Paris Peace Tyrol before a competent international body Conference, which as a Paris agreement in at a later date”; the decision of the Allies that Annex IV becomes part of the Italian peace Austria would not receive South Tyrol (Septem- treaty and is intended to safeguard the rights ber 14, 1945) is again confirmed. of South Tyroleans; Article 85 of the peace June 24, 1946: treaty postulates that annexes are integral The Council of Foreign Ministers rejects parts of the treaty: With this agreement, which the Pustertal solution as a “minor border goes down in history as the “Paris Treaty”, adjustment”. the German-speaking South Tyroleans were accorded equal rights with the Italians and a June 28, 1946: certain degree of autonomy; the peace confer- Second Control Agreement for Austria (rights ence approved this agreement on September 21. and duties of the Allied Council and the Feder- al Government, guaranteeing its independence September 19, 1946: and territorial sovereignty; constitutional laws Winston Churchill proposes the creation of a require the unanimous approval of the Allied “United States of Europe” and a “Council of Council, while the remaining laws can be en- Europe” in the context of his Zurich speech. acted after 31 days in the event of a lack of unity October 1, 1946: of votes; authorization for Austria to enter into Gruber’s report before the Austrian Council diplomatic and consular relations with all gov- of Ministers or the Foreign Committee of the ernments of the . Nationalrat on the Paris Conference and the August 21, 1946: state of the South Tyrolean question, in which At the Paris Peace Conference (July 29-October he expressly emphasizes that Austria had not 15), Austria’s Foreign Minister Karl Gruber re- renounced South Tyrol. iterates Austria’s position on the issue of South February 10, 1947: Tyrol; he addresses the plenary session of the The Gruber-De Gasperi Agreement, which was Paris Foreign Ministers’ Conference, which conceived as a “European solution”, was an- was drafted in consultation with Federal Chan- chored in Annex IV of the Italian peace treaty, cellor Figl; a South Tyrol Memorandum pre- but could only be implemented to a very limited sented by Austria to the Conference does not extent in the subsequent period. change the position of the allied foreign minis- ters that the injustice of the separation of South March 4, 1947: Tyrol from Austria in 1919 is irreparable and Treaty of Dunkirk between Great Britain and that South Tyrol should be left to Italy. France concluded for 50 years against possible German warlike intentions, forerunner of the August 26, 1946: Brussels Treaty (1948). Memorandum of the Austrian Government with a proposal to amend Article 10 of the June 5, 1947: Italian draft peace treaty; the South Tyrolean US Secretary of State George C. Marshall delegation expresses its disapproval that “all announces the European Recovery Program at cards will be uncovered early”. Harvard University. September 2, 1946: June 24, 1947: The Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasp- Gruber commissions the Austrian envoy in eri explains that the autonomy of South Tyrol Washington, Ludwig Kleinwächter, to inform himself unofficially about the Marshall Plan. 1254 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

June 27-July 2, 1947: November 8, 1947: Conference on the US Aid Programme for Eu- Admission of Austria to UNESCO. rope (Marshall Plan) in Paris. The Soviet For- January 2, 1948: eign Minister Molotov rejects the plan and also The Agreement on Interim Aid with the USA is opposes the inclusion of Germany in the recon- signed: Austria receives free supplies of food, struction programme. clothing, coal and other goods to last until the June 28, 1947: Marshall Plan is launched. The Council of Ministers approves Gruber’s March 17, 1948: proposal to send missions to the four foreign Signature of the Brussels Treaty (Great Britain, ministers to demonstrate Austria’s great inter- France, Belgium, , the Nether- est in the Marshall Plan. lands): military, economic, social and cultural July 2, 1947: cooperation is established. The pact is still of- Austria applies to join the United Nations. ficially directed against the “renewal of a Ger- man aggression policy”, but was practically al- July 8, 1947: ready directed against Soviet expansion policy. The Council of Ministers in Vienna unani- mously decides that Austria will participate in April 16, 1948: the formation of the European Marshall Plan Foundation of the Organization of European Organization. Economic Cooperation (OEEC), forerunner was the Committee on European Economic Cooper- July 12-Setember 22, 1947: ation (CEEC), founded in July 1947 by 16 Euro- Conference of 16 European states with Austria’s pean countries (including the european neutrals participation to launch the Marshall Plan; the Austria, , and Ireland) with conference meets because a conference of for- headquarters in Paris: coordination of the Euro- eign ministers on the question of the Marshall pean Recovery Program (ERP); dismantling of Plan held from June 27 to July 2, 1947 had been trade barriers and exchange controls. unsuccessfully broken off due to the rejection by the Soviet Union (Molotov); the Austrian May 7-10, 1948: delegation is headed by Alois A Coordination Committee on European unifi- Vollgruber; on July 12 Gruber lets it be known cation convenes a Congress of European asso- that “with regard to the geographical situation” ciations in The Hague, whose resolutions call Austria’s task is to “balance the balance be- for a united and democratic Europe and the tween East and West”. creation of a Council of Europe. The “Europe- an Movement” was founded on the basis of the July 16, 1947: Hague Congress. Establishment of the Committee of European Economic Cooperation (CEEC), Austria an- July 2, 1948: nounces a need of $660 million for 1948. Austria signs a bilateral ERP Agreement with the USA (valid until June 30, 1953). September 22, 1947: CEEC’s catalogue of measures for economic July 10, 1948: cooperation in Europe in response to Marshall’s Signing of the OEEC Treaty by Austria. speech on June 5. July 30-August 18, 1948: October 30, 1947: Danube Conference in Belgrade, attended by 23 countries sign the General Agreement on Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Romania, Ukraine, the Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in Geneva (elimina- Soviet Union, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Great tion of “preferential tariffs”; tariff reduction for Britain, France and the USA; Austria is rep- industrial goods 19%). resented by an observer (Felix Orsini-Rosen- berg); a new Danube Convention adopted by XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1255 the Eastern states was not recognised by the October 4, 1949: Western powers and Austria. Austria addresses a memorandum to the OEEC with reference to the difficulties in adapting August 27, 1948: to liberalisation and the ineffectiveness of the Austria becomes a member of the Internation- clearing agreements; export earnings do not al Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Internation- cover consumption needs; payment difficul- al Bank for Reconstruction and Development ties can only be remedied through aid deliver- (IBRD). ies; debtor position vis-à-vis the OEEC area; October 6, 1948: application for suspension of liberalisation Austria’s Foreign Minister Gruber is author- provisions. ised by Federal Chancellor Figl to conclude May 9, 1950: the agreement on the intra-European payment French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman system. It is the forerunner of the European proposes communitarisation of european coal Payments Union (EPU). and steel production between Germany and October 16, 1948: France (Monnet Plan). Signature of the agreement on intra-European June 25, 1950: payments and invoicing (clearing and drawing Beginning of the Korean War. rights). August 18, 1950: January 25, 1949: The OEEC Council decides on a liberalisation Agreement to establish a Council of Mutual programme. By 1955, 90% liberalisation of Economic Assistance (Comecon) in Moscow intra-European trade in industrial goods takes (USSR, Albania, Bulgaria, Soviet Zone in Ger- place (exemption from export restrictions). many/GDR, Mongolian People’s Republic, Po- land, Romania, Czech Slovak Republic, Hun- September 19, 1950: gary and Cuba). Establishment of the European Payments Union (EPU) as a sub-organisation of the OEEC, April 3, 1949: retroactively to July 1, 1950, which brings about Election of Foreign Minister Gruber as “Vice multilateral settlement (“clearing”, long-term President”, i.e. Deputy Secretary General of the objective: “convertibility”) among the OEEC OEEC. states; the neutrals are members or associated April 4, 1949: from the outset. Signature of the NATO agreement in Washing- October 24, 1950: ton, in force from August 24, 1949. French Prime Minister René Pleven proposes May 5, 1949: the creation of an integrated European army. The Convention establishing the Council of November 4, 1950: Europe (Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Signing of the European Convention on Human Ireland, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Nether- Rights (ECHR) in Rome. lands, and Sweden) with its seat in is signed in London and enters into April 18, 1951: force on August 3, 1949. Signature of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community ( Benelux, July 16, 1949: Germany, France, Italy), limited to 50 years Interview with State Secretary Graf in the with a High Authority in Luxembourg. The Klagenfurter Zeitung, in which he advocates neutrals seek observer status and negotiate Austrian accession to NATO. This is the separately with the High Authority. only positive public statement by an Austrian government member on this issue. 1256 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

June 19, 1951: August 14, 1952: The Nationalrat approves Austria’s accession to The Soviets reject the Short Treaty of March 13 GATT. as inconsistent with the Potsdam Agreement. October 19, 1951: February 10, 1953: Austria becomes a member of the GATT un- Opening of the ECSC common market for coal, der the unconditional “Most Favored Nation iron ore and scrap (for steel on May 1). Clause”. March 10, 1953: November 24, 1951: Draft of the EDC Assembly for the Estab- Austria is granted observer status at the lishment of a European Political Community Council of Europe with a permanent delega- (EPC). tion of observers in Strasbourg and the right to April 14, 1953: speak in plenary sessions, but without the right In the Austrian Council of Ministers, a first and to vote. a deputy Austrian observer shall be appointed December 11, 1951: for the Coal and Steel Community. The Consultative Assembly of the Council of May 19, 1953: Europe recommends the admission of Austria The Austrian Federal Government calls the cre- to the Committee of Ministers. ation of a permanent delegation of observers to March 10, 1952: the High Authority the “limit of the possible”. With the first Stalin note to the Western am- July 1, 1953: bassadors in Moscow, the Soviet government Austria joins the EPU as a full member. presents a draft for a peace treaty for a coali- tion-free, united Germany equipped with a na- July 27, 1953: tional army. It is an offer for all cases (even- Armistice in Korea. tualities) and therefore serious. The Western December 15, 1953: powers reject it at Adenauer’s insistence. Liberalisation of imports from the OEEC states Austrian diplomacy registers the offer for Ger- begins; following a decision by the Austrian many precisely and begins to consider whether Council of Ministers on September 22, 1953, such a solution would be possible for Austria. liberalisation was set at 50% from Decem- March 13, 1952: ber 15, 1953. The USA, Great Britain and France submit a December 16, 1953: new draft of the Austrian State Treaty (“Short Parliamentary initiative by Treaty”) to the Soviet Foreign Ministry. The (SPÖ), Barthold Stürgkh (ÖVP) “and comrades” Western Powers demand from the Soviet on Austria’s accession to the Council of Europe. Union the unrestricted renunciation of claims to “German property” which is not acceptable January 25-February 18, 1954: to Moscow. The Berlin Conference of Foreign Ministers meets to discuss the German, Austrian and Tri- May 27, 1952: este questions; an Austrian delegation ( including Signing of the Treaty on the European Defence Bruno Kreisky, , Norbert Bischoff, Community (EDC) (Benelux, FRG, France, Josef Schöner) takes part – in contrast to the Italy). Federal Republic – for the first time as an equal July 23, 1952: partner in the negotiations on the State Treaty The ECSC Treaty enters into force. For the first with the foreign ministers of the four victori- time in the 20th century, six European states ous powers; Figl stresses the Austrian policy of transfer national sovereign rights to a suprana- freedom from alliances and not to allow military tional organisation. bases on its territory; the conference officially ends without result in all questions. XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1257

February 12, 1954: representatives, the results of which are set Austria’s Foreign Minister Figl makes a out in the “Moscow Memorandum” (April 15): statement at the Berlin Conference of Foreign military freedom of alliances and bases, neu- Ministers on Austria’s non-participation in trality according to the Swiss model, terri- military alliances. torial integrity, troop withdrawal, correction of the draft State Treaty of 1949, replace- February 13, 1954: ment deliveries, oil, Danube navigation, The US Secretary of State Dulles declares Austrian-Soviet trade as a promise of use. herself willing internally in Berlin to accept a voluntarily declared neutrality of Austria in ac- May 7, 1955: cordance with that of Switzerland, but speaks Federal Chancellor makes a posi- out against a neutrality imposed by other states tive statement on Austrian neutrality. by force; the statement by Figls that Austria has May 9, 1955: no intention of entering into a military alliance At the NATO ministerial meeting in Paris the with any state is noted; Molotov continues to question of a guarantee for Austria is critically adhere to the connection of the Austrian ques- assessed. A guarantee for NATO states would tion with the German peace agreement; the ne- risk drawing other NATO states into a military gotiations are not concluded. conflict. August 30, 1954: May 2-13, 1955: The French National Assembly removes the Vienna ’ Conference of the Four EDC from its agenda: the project has failed. Occupying Powers and Representatives of the October 13, 1954: Austrian Federal Government (Revision of Federal Chancellor Raab makes statements that the Draft State Treaty of 1949, Clarification the Federal Government rejects plans to retain of Open Questions: Preamble Question; Repa- military bases on Austrian territory. triation of Transferred Persons; Restriction of Austrian Armed Forces; Withdrawal of Troops October 23, 1954: and German Property). Foundation of the Western European Union (WEU): Italy and the Federal Republic of May 5, 1955: Germany join the Brussels Pact. Entry into force of the Paris Treaties; officially announced end of the occupation regime in the October 23, 1954: Federal Republic of Germany (not in Berlin): Signing of the Paris Treaties: The FRG joins the Federal Republic becomes “sovereign” and NATO after the failure of the EDC. as a NATO member on May 9 a military and December 14, 1954: political ally of the USA. In practice, the Feder- The Austrian Council of Ministers decides not al Republic of Germany only attains an internal to resume negotiations with the ECSC. partial sovereignty and remains controlled and supervised by the Western victorious powers, February 8, 1955: above all the USA. Molotov’s speech to the Supreme Soviet, in which he indicates his willingness to resolve May 10, 1955: the connection between the Austrian and Initialling of the “Vienna Memorandum” by the German question. , the United States and Austria and of the “Austrian-French Memorandum” March 24, 1955: (negotiations on property issues and oil com- The German Bundestag gives its approval to panies); submission of a Soviet proposal to the the Paris Treaties. Western Powers by making the dissolution of April 11-15, 1955: military bases on foreign territories a precondi- Moscow negotiations of the Austrian gov- tion for disarmament. ernment delegation with Soviet government 1258 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

May 14, 1955: the same time, the Federal Republic ratifies the Foundation of the Warsaw Pact. Austrian State Treaty. May 15, 1955: July 5, 1955: Signing of the Austrian State Treaty (Figl for The Soviet Union ratifies the State Treaty. Austria, Dulles for the USA, Molotov for the July 9, 1955: Soviet Union, Macmillan for Great Britain, The USA ratifies the treaty. Pinay for France). July 19, 1955: May 18, 1955: Great Britain ratifies the treaty. At a press conference, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced that he was positively July 22, 1955: evaluating the idea of a neutral belt of states Figl explains to the Western ambassadors in in Central Europe and that he thought it pos- Vienna that Austria would by no means accept sible to do so even if the states concerned were a unilateral guarantee from the Soviet Union. as heavily armed as Switzerland; Adenauer July 27, 1955: was alarmed, warned Dulles and had all his Entry into force of the State Treaty with the heads of mission recalled to his health resort at deposit of the last outstanding instrument of Bühlerhöhe (May 25) to report. ratification by France; start of the 90-day evac- May 20, 1955: uation period for the occupying forces; entry Benelux Memorandum on the creation of a into force of the agreements between Austria Common Market. and the USSR on deliveries of goods and oil; resolution of the Allied Council on the occasion May 24, 1955: of its last meeting. US Secretary of State Dulles denies the State Department’s neutralization plans and – unlike October 26, 1955: his president – announces his personal rejection The Nationalrat decides on the Federal Consti- of a possible German neutrality. tutional Law on Perpetual Neutrality. June 1-3, 1955: November 5, 1955: ECSC Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Entry into force of the Federal Constitutional Messina to relaunch Western European inte- Act on the Neutrality of Austria. gration efforts. December 6, 1955: June 4, 1955: Recognition of neutrality by the four signatory The Warsaw Treaty enters into force. powers of the State Treaty. June 7, 1955: December 14, 1955: Approval of the State Treaty by the National- Austria becomes a member of the United rat; resolution of the Nationalrat on Austria’s Nations (UN). neutrality; Soviet note to the German Feder- February 21, 1956: al Government with the official invitation to The Austrian Council of Ministers approves Federal Chancellor Adenauer to Moscow. accession to the Council of Europe (approved June 8, 1955: by the Nationalrat March 1). Approval of the State Treaty by the Bundesrat April 16, 1956: and signing of the instrument of ratification by Accession of Austria to the Council of Europe. Federal President Theodor Körner. April 21, 1956: June 14, 1955: Spaak report on the creation of a common mar- At a press reception in Washington, Adenau- ket (basis for negotiations on the establishment er draws attention to the incomparability of of the European Economic Community=EEC). Austria’s situation with that of Germany; at XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1259

May 8, 1956: March 11, 1960: Austria’s tariff agreement with the ECSC under Austrian Foreign Minister Bruno Kreisky in- GATT. formes the President of the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community May 19, 1956: ( EURATOM), Etienne Hirsch, that the Austri- Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Venice an Federal Government has decided to install an decides to open negotiations with a view to es- Austrian delegation to EURATOM by Austria’s tablishing the European Economic Community Ambassador to the EEC, Ernst Lemberger. (EEC) and the European Atomic Community (EURATOM). May 3, 1960: The EFTA Treaty enters into force. July 18, 1956: The OEEC proposes a large free trade area. December 14, 1960: Signature of the Paris Convention establishing October 23, 1956: the OECD as successor to the OEEC. Foreign Minister Leopold Figl announces that the Austrian Federal Government is consider- January 1, 1961: ing joining the ECSC. Partial approximation of EEC national customs duties. January 29, 1957: The Austrian Council of Ministers is in favor February 10, 1961: of participating in the planned European Free The Heads of State and Government of the Trade Area. EEC countries decide on closer economic and political cooperation. Christian Fouchet heads February 12, 1957: a committee of civil servants which draws up Foreign Minister Figl presents Austria’s a plan. proposals for a free trade area to the OEEC Council of Ministers. July 31, 1961: Ireland applies to join the EEC. March 25, 1957: Signing of the Treaties establishing the Euro- August 9, 1961: pean Economic and Atomic Community in Great Britain submits application for EEC Rome (EEC, EURATOM) between Benelux, membership. FRG, France and Italy for an indefinite period August 10, 1961: ( Treaties of Rome). Denmark submits application for EEC January 1, 1958: membership. Entry into force of the EEC and EURATOM October 19, 1961: Treaties. Walter Hallstein becomes first Presi- Austria, Sweden and Switzerland decide to dent of the EEC Commission. seek association with the EEC. January 4, 1960: December 12, 1961: Signature of the Convention estab- A Soviet Aide-Mémoire referres “in a friendly lishing EFTA (Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, way” to the political character of the EEC, its Austria, , Sweden, Switzerland). close connection with NATO and leading role March 3, 1960: of the FRG. Foreign Minister Bruno Kreisky warnes against December 15, 1961: an overestimation of the role that a neutral state Austria, Sweden and Switzerland submit appli- could play between East and West, in order to cations for association with the EEC (pursuant then adds that in any case, Austria as a neutral to Article 238 of the EEC Treaty). country is willing to mediate between East and West at any time and to provide that both sides would come to Austria. 1260 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

April 17, 1962: Vienna does not seek an association, but a Negotiations on the European Political Union “ special arrangement” with Brussels. are broken off because no consensus is possible February 28, 1963: on the Fouchet Committee’s proposals. The Soviet news agency TASS warns Austria April 30, 1962: against an association with the EEC. Norway applies for membership of the EEC. March 2, 1963: July 4, 1962: Rejection of the TASS declaration by Austria. Nikita S. Khrushchev describes the EEC as May 3–4, 1963: an “instrument of NATO” during Chancellor The initial rounds of secret talks between the ’s visit to Moscow. Commission and Austrian government repre- July 28, 1962: sentatives takes place in Brussels. Bruno Kreisky, Minister for Foreign Affairs, May 9–10, 1963: explained Austria’s request for association to EFTA Council of Ministers meeting in Lisbon: the EEC Council of Ministers. the EFTA Member States show their under- October 22, 1962: standing for the fact that because of the dispro- The EFTA conference in Oslo progresses as portionately strong trade policy connection of expected by Vienna. It is of political benefit. its economy to the EEC, Austria has “a particu- EFTA solidarity is reinforced. Rumors that lar problem”. Great Britain attempts to “break out” were July 8–9, 1963: efficiently countered. The initial rounds of secret talks between the January 14, 1963: Commission and Austrian government repre- French State President Charles De Gaulle ve- sentatives takes place in Brussels. toes British accession to the EEC. April 2, 1964: January 22, 1963: The Austrian Council of Ministers states that Signing of the German-French Federal Treaty the settling of the relationship with the EEC in Paris (“Elysée Treaty”) is “the highest priority in the foreign policy arena”. January 29, 1963: Cancellation of EEC accession negotiations June 3, 1964: with Great Britain The EEC Commission’s report is generally favorable towards Austria. But further talks February 12, 1963: with Brussels quickly meet with resistance The Austrian cabinet comes together at the from the other EEC members. They fear that lowest common denominator: a professing of a special provision for Austria would lead to loyalty to EFTA in Geneva and merely explora- further future precedents which, in turn, could tory EEC talks in Brussels. lead to a dilution of the structures and inten- February 18–19, 1963: tions of the EC. At the conference of the EFTA Council of July 10, 1964: Ministers in Geneva the member states reaffirm Pravda criticises the talks between Austria and their goal: “To collaborate in order to create a the EEC. huge, unified, and open European market.” January 26, 1965: February 26, 1963: The Austrian chancellor gives a speech before In contrast to the accession and association the Consultative Assembly of the Council of candidates (Switzerland and Sweden), Austria Europe in Strasbourg in which he uttered the expressly renews its wish for an early arrange- phrase “Civis europeaus sum”. ment with the EEC. Subsequently, however, XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1261

March 2, 1965: July 1, 1968: The EEC Council of Ministers gives the Com- The implementation of the EEC customs union mission a mandate to open official negotiations before the deadline laid down (December 31, on the removal of trade impediments, on the 1969) and the introduction of a common exter- regulation of customs on trade between Austria nal tariff. and third party countries, and on the harmoni- November 22, 1969: zation of community policy with that of Austria Negotiation results between Austria and Italy are (economic and agricultural policy). approved by the South Tyrolean People's Party. March 19, 1965: November 29–30, 1969: Start of Austria’s first mandate to negotiate Foreign Minister comes to an with the EEC (until February 1966). agreement with his counterpart Aldo Moro in April 8, 1965: Copenhagen over the settlement of the South Signature of the Treaty merging the executive Tyrol question. bodies of the three European Communities December 1–2, 1969: (ECSC, EEC, EURATOM). EC Heads of State and Government meet in June 30, 1965: The Hague and decide on accelerated integra- Negotiations on the financing of the Common tion, the gradual introduction of Economic Agricultural Policy (CAP) fail in the EEC. and Monetary Union (EMU) by 1980, politi- France breaks off negotiations and pursues cal cooperation and a decision to open acces- “empty chair policy”. sion negotiations with Denmark, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway. January 29, 1966: So-called “Luxembourg compromise”: de facto December 8, 1969: renunciation of the contractually intended tran- Removal of the Italian veto against Austria in sition to majority decisions. Brussels. December 7, 1966: December 8–9, 1969: The EEC approves the 2nd negotiating mandate The EC expresses its interest in new contact with Austria (until February 1967). talks with Austria in the course of the conclu- sion of the South Tyrol package and the with- February 2, 1967: drawal of the Italian veto against Austria. The round of negotiations with Brussels is con- cluded. The possibilities of concluding a special December 18, 1969: treaty with the EEC seems favorable. Austria specifies its ideas regarding an economic interim solution (preferential March 16, 1967: customs and trade agreement). Federal Chancellor replies to Soviet reproaches regarding an arrangement with the January 1, 1970: EEC. Foreign trade competences are transferred from the member states to the EC. May 10, 1967: Second application for EC membership by October 8, 1970: Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark (May 11). The Luxembourg Prime Minister Pierre Wer- ner’s plan for the gradual implementation of July 1, 1967: EMU is published. Italy vetoes further agreements between Vienna and Brussels. The Merger Treaty of April October 27, 1970: 8, 1965 enters into force. Jean Rey becomes The Luxembourg Report (Davignon Report) of President of the Commission of the European the EC Foreign Ministers to the Heads of State Communities, succeeding Walter Hallstein. and Government on the EPC is available. 1262 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

February 9, 1971: March 11–12, 1973: The EC Council of Ministers agrees in Brussels Great Britain, Ireland and Italy are staying on Economic and Monetary Union. away from the “currency snake”. January 22, 1972: May 14, 1973: The accession treaties with Denmark, Great Norway and the EC sign free trade agreement. Britain, Ireland, Norway and the EC have been October 5, 1973: concluded. Free Trade Agreement -EC without an March 21, 1972: evolutionary clause. Introduction of the “currency snake” (max. December 10, 1974: 2,5 % exchange rate difference). The Heads of State and Government of the July 22, 1972: EC decide to meet in Paris as the “European Signature of the EC bilateral free trade agree- Council”. ments with the EFTA states Iceland, Austria, March 10–11, 1975: Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland (residual The Heads of State and Government of the EFTA), which enter into force in 1973. EC decide to meet in Paris as the “European August 18, 1972: Council”. In an Aide-Mémoire, the USSR reminds the May 30, 1975: Austrian Federal Government that the agree- Conclusion of an Austrian-Soviet trade ments in no way could and should change the agreement. commitments entered into by Austria in 1955. Official confirmation of this by Austria would June 5, 1975: be “duly honoured” by the Soviet Union. The UK population votes to remain in the EC in a referendum. September 20, 1972: In an Aide-Mémoire, the Federal Government December 29, 1975: takes up the Soviet suggestion and declares that The Tindemans Report on the “European it is willing to confirm officially to Moscow its Union” is available and recommends further position that the agreements with the EC “in no development of integration at “two speeds” if way can and should alter the scope of the rights necessary. and obligations” of the signatory states of the May 13, 1977: State Treaty and the obligations arising from An EFTA summit conference is held in Vienna the Neutrality Act. on the initiative of Federal Chancellor Bruno September 25, 1972: Kreisky. The Norwegians reject their country’s acces- July 1, 1977: sion to the EC in a referendum. The completion of the tariff dismantling be- October 2, 1972: tween the 9-EC states is given. The Danes agree to their country’s accession to April 8, 1978: the EC. The European Council in Copenhagen decides October 20, 1972: on direct elections to the European Parliament. The Heads of State and Government of the en- July 7, 1978: larged EC decide in Paris to expand the EC into The European Council in Bremen decides to the European Union and adopt a timetable for establish a European Monetary System (EMS) the implementation of EMU. and a European Currency Unit (ECU). January 1, 1973: The enlargement of the EC to nine Member States enters into force. XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1263

December 5, 1978: January 7, 1985: The Brussels European Council decides that Jacques Delors becomes President of the Euro- the EMS shall enter into force on January 1, pean Commission. 1979, with the ECU at its core. June 12, 1985: May 28, 1979: The Acts of Accession of and Portugal The Act of Accession of Greece to the EC is are signed. signed in Athens. December 3, 1985: June 7–10, 1979: The European Council agrees in principle on First general and direct election to the Europe- the Single European Act (SEA) to develop the an Parliament takes place. EC in the spirit of the solemn declaration of June 19, 1983. January 11, 1980: The EPC condemns the Soviet intervention in January 1, 1986: Afghanistan. Accession of Spain and Portugal to the EC, full accession of Finland to EFTA. January 1, 1981: Greece becomes 10th member of the EC. February 17–28, 1986: Signature of the Single European Act (SEA) in January 6–20, 1981: Luxembourg and The Hague. The German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and the Italian Foreign Minister April 14, 1987: Emilio Colombo call for a strengthening of Turkey’s application for EC membership. European Political Cooperation. July 1, 1987: January 4, 1982: The SEA enters into force. EC Foreign Ministers condemn the imposition March 29, 1988: of martial law in Poland. The European Commission announces the April 6, 1982: results of a study entitled “Europe 1992 – the An EC solidarity declaration is issued for Great great challenge”, commissioned by a group Britain in the Falklands conflict. of experts to carry out a scientific analysis of the benefits of the single market (“Cecchini April 16, 1982: Report”). An EC import embargo against Argentina is imposed. June 25, 1988: Signature of a Joint Declaration by the EC and June 19, 1983: the CMEA on the establishment of official The European Council signs the “Solemn relations. Declaration on the European Union” in Stuttgart. September 26, 1988: February 14, 1984: Signature of the EC Cooperation Agreement The draft Treaty establishing the European with Hungary. Union (Altiero Spinelli Committee) is adopted by the European Parliament. January 17, 1989: Jacques Delors, President of the European April 9, 1984: Commission, proposes an EEA between EFTA The “Luxembourg Declaration” at an EC and and the EC to the European Parliament. EFTA ministerial meeting provides for a dyna- misation of relations and the creation of a single January 27, 1989: European Economic Area (EEA). The VÖI is sceptical about the proposals made June 14–17, 1984: by Jacques Delors, President of the European Second direct election to the European Commission, on January 17, 1989 to reorganise Parliament. relations between the EC and EFTA. 1264 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

March 14–15, 1989: October 3, 1990: The EFTA Heads of State and Government German unification is completed. welcome the Delors proposal on the EEA at a October 8, 1990: summit in Oslo. Great Britain joins the European Monetary April 3–4, 1989: System (EMS), but in summer 1992 the British The decision on the EC application will be tak- pound withdraws again due to speculation en by the SPÖ leadership at the meeting of the by the exchange guru George Soros with the Federal Executive Committee. British pound. June 15–18, 1989: January 14, 1991: Elections to the European Parliament. Austria’s Economics Minister Wolfgang Schüssel assesses the EEA as “currently the July 17, 1989: fastest train to Brussels”. Austria’s application for EC membership of July 14, will be presented to Roland Dumas in April 1, 1991: Brussels by Foreign Minister . The The Warsaw Pact is dissolved as a military explicit reservation of neutrality causes confu- alliance. sion and irritation, especially among Belgians. April 4, 1991: August 10, 1989: ÖVP federal party chairman Josef Riegler Aide-Mémoire of the Soviet Union with res- denies the need for an EEA referendum. ervations on Austria’s application for EC April 15, 1991: membership. Opening of the European Bank for Recon- November 9, 1989: struction and Development in London. Opening of the first border crossings at the July 1, 1991: Eastern sector borders to Berlin; “Fall of the Sweden’s application for EC membership Berlin Wall”. ( without reservation of neutrality). December 19, 1989: August 1, 1991: Start of negotiations between the EC and the Opinion of the European Commission on EFTA member states on enhanced cooperation Austria’s application for membership (‟avis”): and the formation of a European Economic Recommendation by the European Commission Area (EEA). to the Council to open accession negotiations with Austria. May 17, 1990: European Parliament resolution on German Sepember 1, 1991: reunification. Liechtenstein joins EFTA. June 19, 1990: October 5–12, 1991: Schengen Agreement. Transit negotiations between the EC Commis- sion and Austria/Switzerland. June 25–26, 1990: The Dublin European Council agrees to con- October 21, 1991: vene an Intergovernmental Conference on Political negotiations on the EEA Treaty EMU and a Second Intergovernmental Confer- between the EC and EFTA concluded in ence on Political Union. Luxembourg. July 1, 1990: December 9–11, 1991: Entry into force of the German Monetary, Eco- At the Maastricht Summit, the Heads of State nomic and Social Union (EEC-GDR Customs and Government of the EC states agree on a Union); entry into force of the first phase of the treaty for the European Union with economic European Economic and Monetary Union. and monetary union, political union and com- mon security and foreign policy. XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1265

December 14, 1991: December 6, 1992: The European Court of Justice challenges the The Swiss population is opposed to their coun- EEA Court provided for in the EEA Treaty. try’s accession to the EEA by a narrow majori- ty: 50.3% vote against, 49.7% in favor, delaying December 16, 1991: the implementation of the EEA by one year. Association agreements with Poland, Hungary and the CSFR signed. December 11–12, 1992: The Heads of State and Government of the EC February 7, 1992: grant Denmark exemptions from the Maas- Signing of the Treaty on European Union in tricht Treaty in Edinburgh. Maastricht. December 13, 1992: March 18, 1992: In a referendum, the citizens of Liechtenstein Finland applied for membership of the EC voted in favor of EEA membership. (without reservation of neutrality). January 1, 1993: May 2, 1992: The EC Internal Market enters into force: the Signing of the EEA Agreement in Porto/Sign- free movement of persons, capital, goods and ing of a transit agreement between Austria and services is achieved, but the planned entry into the EEC. force of the EEA Agreement is delayed. May 20, 1992: January 12, 1993: Switzerland applies for membership of the EC With the exception of Switzerland, all EFTA without reservation of neutrality. countries have ratified the EEA Agreement June 2, 1992: with Iceland. In a referendum, the Danes reject the Maas- February 1, 1993: tricht Treaty with 50.7% against 49.3%. Start of EC accession negotiations with Austria, June 18, 1992: Sweden and Finland. In a referendum in Ireland, the population over- March 17, 1993: whelmingly approves the Maastricht Treaty: With an Additional Protocol, the EC and EFTA 68.7% in favor. Member States make it possible for the EEA July 9, 1992: Agreement to enter into force after Switzer- The Transit Treaty is approved by the National- land’s departure. rat as a law-changing and complementary trea- April 5, 1993: ty, the Treaty proves to be unsuitable in other Start of EC accession negotiations with Norway respects for curbing heavy traffic and reducing pollutant emissions. May 18, 1993: In a second vote, Danish voters approved the September 20, 1992: Maastricht Treaty by 56.8%, which was revised In a referendum, France votes 51.05% against in Edinburgh. 48.95% for the Maastricht Treaty. December 11–12, 1993: September 22, 1992: The Heads of State and Government of the EC After more than eight hours of discussion, grant Denmark exemptions from the Maastricht the Nationalrat ratifies the EEA Treaty with Treaty in Edinburgh. the votes of the governing parties; the Green Alternatives table a motion of censure against January 1, 1994: the government. The EEA enters into force: 372 million people benefit from the free movement of goods, November 25, 1992: services, capital and persons; the second stage Norway applies to join the EC. of Economic and Monetary Union enters into 1266 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy force: creation of the European Monetary April 4, 1997: Institute (EMI) in Frankfurt/Main to meet the Entry into force of the Schengen Agreement convergence criteria; Alexandre Lamfalussy with Italy, the Brenner customs border falls. becomes first President of the EMI. July 7, 1997: March 16, 1994: Austria takes over the Schengen Presidency. After Finland, Austria and Sweden, Norway October 2, 1997: also concludes accession negotiations with the Signing of the EU Treaty of Amsterdam. European Union. October 7, 1997: March 30, 1994: Entry into force of the Schengen Implementing Sweden, Finland, Norway and Austria sign the Convention for Austria. negotiation packages of the Accession Treaties. November 24-December 1, 1997: May 4, 1994: The Schilling and anti-euro referendum The European Parliament votes in favor of the requested by the FPÖ is held, and the required accession of the neutrals with 374 “yes” votes, majority is not reached: 253,949 votes are only 24 “no” votes and 61 abstentions. 4.43 %. June 12, 1994: April 1, 1998: In Austria, the population votes 66.6% in favor The so-called “Options Report” on the Feder- of EU accession. al Government’s future security policy fails; October 16, 1994: border controls on land transport between In Finland, the population votes 57% in favor of Austria, Italy and the Federal Republic of EU accession. Germany are lifted. November 13, 1994: July 1, 1998: In Sweden, the population votes 52.2% in favor Start of the Austrian EU Presidency. of EU accession. July 21, 1998: November 27–28, 1994: Ratification of the Amsterdam Treaty by In Norway, the population votes 52.2% against Austria. EU accession. October 24–25, 1998: January 1, 1995: Informal European Council in Pörtschach. Austria, Sweden and Finland are members of December 11–12, 1998: the European Union. All these countries are Vienna European Council. leaving EFTA – Austria participates in the EMS and has observer status at the WEU. December 31, 1998: End of the Austrian EU Presidency. January 9, 1995: Austria formally joins the EWS. May 1, 1999: Entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. January 24, 1995: Adoption by Austria of the Partnership for June 13, 1999: Peace (NATO Partnership Programme). Second European Parliament Election in Austria. April 28, 1995: Austria signs the Act of Accession to the December 10–11, 1999: Schengen Convention (1990). The Helsinki European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Bulgaria, October 13, 1996: Latvia, , Romania and in First direct election to the European Parliament spring 2000. Turkey is granted candidate sta- in Austria. tus, i.e. it is considered to be ready and willing XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1267 to negotiate. By 2003, the EU will also set up a December 6–11, 2000: European Rapid Reaction Force (ERRF) in or- The EU summit in Nice provides for compre- der to be able to carry out independent military hensive changes in the institutional regulations operations. The Council also decides to present (weighting of votes, majority decisions), as well next February an Intergovernmental Confer- as an EU with 27 member states in the future. A ence on the revision of the Treaties. treaty reform is planned for 2004. The Europe- an Council in Nice lays the institutional founda- January 15, 2000: tion for enlargement through the decision of the Accession negotiations with Bulgaria, Latvia, intergovernmental conference on institutional Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia begin reform. The enlargement strategy proposed by in Brussels. the Commission is approved, the main element January 31, 2000: of which is the roadmap for negotiations. Joint declaration by the EU-14 Member States December 7, 2000: to impose sanctions in the event of FPÖ partic- The draft Charter of Fundamental Rights will ipation in government. be solemnly “welcomed” and proclaimed at the February 1–2, 2000: EU summit in Nice, but has no legal force yet. At its second plenary session, the committee January 1, 2001: called itself the “Convention” to draw up a Greece becomes twelfth member of the euro Charter of Fundamental Rights. zone at the suggestion of the EU Commission February 4, 2000: (May 3, 2000) – but the conditions are not met. Austria’s Federal President February 26, 2001: swears in the ÖVP (Haider) FPÖ government in Signature of the Treaty on European Union of the face of massive domestic and international Nice (enters into force in 2003). protests; the EU-14 Member States implement the announced sanction measures. June 7, 2001: In a referendum, the Irish people rejected the February 14, 2000: Treaty of Nice, and the turnout was 32.9%. In The opening ceremony of the Intergovernmental another referendum, the Irish finally vote in Conference, which is expected to lay the founda- favor after an intensified debate, so that nothing tions for institutional reform by December 2000. stands in the way of the ratification of Nice. Against the Austrian representatives – Vienna had been excluded from the “tour des capitales” September 11, 2001: (round trip through all EU capitals to explore the Terrorist attacks in New York on the World positions of the individual EU members) of the Trade Center and Washington on the Penta- Portuguese Council Presidency – an unprece- gon as a result of hijacked passenger planes by dented mobbing against Austrian representa- Islamist fundamentalists of the terrorist group tives, especially those of the FPÖ, took place. Al Qaeda under the leadership of Osama Bin Laden trigger worldwide horror and solidar- September 13, 2000: ity with the USA. The Bush administration Repeal of the bilateral EU-14 sanctions against strengthens its political-military efforts against Austria within the framework of the French EU the Taliban regime in Afghanistan by contin- Presidency following the presentation of a Wise uing to support the “Northern Alliance” and Men’s report recommending the immediate by intensifying its war preparations against lifting of the boycott actions. Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. September 28, 2000: December 15, 2001: The majority of the Danish population decides The EU summit in Laeken, Belgium, officially against joining the eurozone. commissions the creation of a “Convention on 1268 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy the Future of the European Union” to draw up decision to enlarge is a political one and will proposals for the future shape of the Union. continue to be consistently enforced. January 1, 2002: March 1, 2003: First circulation of euro banknotes. The single The Treaty of Nice enters into force. European currency becomes legal tender. March 20, 2003: February 28, 2002: The Anglo-American war against Iraq, which End of the validity of most national currencies is carried out without a UN mandate by the UN of the euro countries as legal tender; opening of Security Council, constitutes a breach of inter- the “Convention on the Future of the European national law and is therefore illegal, deepens Union” in the European Parliament in Brussels. the already existing division of the EU states He gives himself the name “Constitutional Con- in the question of intervention and thus also in vention on the Future of the European Union”. EU foreign and security policy, so that the final- isation date of the Convention’s work becomes March 1, 2002: questionable. Payments are only possible in euro. April 1, 2003: April 4, 2002: Small EU states are convening a mini-summit The exchange of the “old currencies” of the of “like-minded people” in Luxembourg, es- euro countries is now only possible at the na- pecially with a view to the Convention’s work tional banks of the respective countries. against the background that both Germany and September 17, 2002: France’s Foreign Minister and US President George Bush speaks of the Ameri- Dominique Villepin want a dual leadership, i.e. can claim to a conventional or nuclear first strike an EU President in addition to the President of (“preemptive strike”) against “rogue states” and the Commission. the “axis of evil” in the world and thus signals a April 16, 2003: paradigm shift in US world politics. The accession treaties for the ten new EU October 28, 2002: members are signed in Athens. The President of the Constitutional Conven- June 20, 2003: tion, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, is presenting At its meeting in Thessaloniki, Convention a draft “framework for a future Constitution President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing presented for Europe” to the European Parliament, eight the European Council with a draft Treaty estab- months after the start of the work of the EU Re- lishing a Constitution for Europe in the person form Convention. There was consensus on the of the incumbent Greek Prime Minister and approval of a “Constitutional Treaty”, on the European Council President Costas Simitis. It incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental is divided into four parts (organisational frame- Rights, on the legal personality of the EU and work of the EU, definition, objectives, compe- on “dual citizenship”. tences, institutions; the Charter of Fundamen- December 13, 2002: tal Rights; revision of the individual provisions The historic Copenhagen Summit paves the way of the Treaty of the European Communities for EU enlargement with ten new members. Ac- [TEC] and of the European Union [TEU] and cession is scheduled for May 1, 2004. However, ratification and final provisions). the economic problems and institutional chal- October 4–5, 2003: lenges are not sufficiently taken into account, At the EU summit in Rome there is a large although there has been no lack of criticism and number of requests from the member states warnings. It ignores the fact that members and for changes to the “Convention draft”. The candidate countries do not form a single entity question of untying the “Constitutional Trea- either in terms of structure or objectives. The ty” divides the member states, whereby the XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1269 dividing line, unlike in the Iraq intervention and the new Foreign Minister question, now runs mainly between founding signed the Constitutional Treaty for Austria. states and latecomers. January 12, 2005: December 12–13, 2003: The European Parliament is in favor of the In Brussels, the summit of the Heads of State “European Constitution” by a large majority. and Government of the EU member states fails Of the 732 parliamentarians, 677 were present. in the adoption of the draft EU Constitutional 500 mandataries (almost 74%) voted in favor, Treaty, which had been debated and desired 137 against and 40 abstained. for months and which had been drafted by the May 11, 2005: Giscard Convention. From an external and su- The Austrian Nationalrat ratifies the EU Con- perficial point of view, the Spanish (José Maria stitutional Treaty with one vote against. Only Aznar) and Polish (Lezek Miller) insisting on one person voted against, the weighting of votes in the Council of 27 (FPÖ). (compared to France, Germany, Italy and Great Britain 29), which was set at Nice, appear to be May 5, 2005: mainly responsible for the failure. The reasons The Austrian Bundesrat approves the ratifica- for the temporary failure are more complex. tion of the Constitutional Treaty. May 1, 2004: May 29, 2005: The European Union expands by ten new mem- 54.87% of the French reject the EU Constitu- bers: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, tional Treaty. The EU is in a ratification crisis. Slovakia, Slovenia, , Hungary, June 6, 2005: Cyprus. It is the biggest enlargement in the 61.6% of the Dutch reject the EU Constitutional history of the European Communities and at Treaty, a pause for reflection and reflection is the same time it means the political unifica- demanded, the EU is in one of its worst crises tion of the continent and the definitive formal after the failure of the EDC (August 30, 1954) overcoming of the division of Europe during and the policy of the empty chair by de Gaulle the Cold War. Negotiations with Bulgaria and in 1965–66. Romania are still ongoing. Estonia, Lithua- nia and Latvia as well as Romania, Bulgaria, June 14, 2005: Slovenia and Slovakia become members of Following the signing of the EU Constitutional NATO. Treaty by Federal President , the instrument of ratification will be deposited in June 13, 2004: Rome on June 17, 2005. Elections to the European Parliament with low- er voter turnout October 3, 2005: Official start of accession negotiations with June 18–19, 2004: Turkey after Austrian resistance to the conces- After months of tug-of-war, the EU Heads of sion of fair burden-sharing for the forthcoming State and Government in Brussels agree on EU enlargements has been halted. Start of EU the new EU constitution to make the enlarged accession negotiations with . Europe more democratic and transparent, thanks to good preparatory work by the Irish January 1, 2006: Council Presidency under Bertie Ahern. How- Start of the Austrian Council Presidency ever, the Convention’s draft will be modified on February 20, 2006: key points, critics say it will be watered down. The European Year of Workers’ Mobility will October 29, 2004: be launched by Commission President José Ma- Signing of the EU Constitutional Treaty in nuel Barroso, Commissioner Vladimír Špidla Rome. Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and Austrian Minister for Economic Affairs and Employment Martin Bartenstein. 1270 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

March 15, 2006: June 21, 2007: The Austrian Presidency, in cooperation with The fourth ministerial-level meeting within the European Economic and Social Commit- the framework of the energy dialogue between tee (EESC), is organising the 8th European the EU and the Organisation of the Petroleum Consumer Day in Vienna. Exporting Countries (OPEC) takes place in Vienna. April 27, 2006: The EU decides to send 1,500 soldiers (EUFOR June 21–23, 2007: CD Congo) to secure the elections in Congo. The European Council in Brussels, under the The operation will start on 30 July 2006 and German Council Presidency, agrees on a solu- end on November 30, 2006. tion to the ratification crisis of the “EU Consti- tutional Treaty”. Without symbolism and with May 7, 2006: longer transition periods, the content of the The European Parliament approves the finan- failed “EU Constitution” is to be incorporated cial perspective for 2007–2013. into a new “Basic Treaty” or “Reform Treaty”. May 25, 2006: October 18–19, 2007: The 17th EU-Russia Summit takes place in So- At the Lisbon Reform Summit, European heads chi (Russia). of state and government agree on the text of the June 19, 2006: new “Treaty of Lisbon”. The eleventh ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary December 12, 2007: Assembly takes place in Vienna, where MEPs Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the Eu- and national parliamentarians from 79 ACP ropean Parliament, José Manuel Barroso, countries (African, Caribbean and Pacific President of the European Commission, and States) meet. José Sócrates, Prime Minister of Portugal and June 21, 2006: President-in-Office of the Council, sign the EU Commission President José Manuel Barro- Charter of Fundamental Rights at a ceremony so, President of the European Council, Aus- at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. trian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and US December 13, 2007: President George W. Bush meet in Vienna for The Treaty of Lisbon is signed at the Hiero- an EU-US Summit. They will discuss foreign nymus Monastery in Lisbon. The European policy cooperation, energy security, economic Parliament adopts the 2008 budget in second and trade issues and other global issues. reading. The official signature takes place on July 1, 2006: December 18, in the European Parliament in Finland takes over the EU Presidency. The Brussels. Treaty establishing the “Energy Community” December 21, 2007: between the EU, Albania, Bosnia and Herzego- Estonia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hun- vina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia gary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slo- and Kosovo enters into force. venia become full members of the Schengen March 8–9, 2007: area. The European Council in Brussels adopts a January 28, 2008: new energy and climate policy. Greenhouse gas Within the framework of the Common Foreign emissions are to be reduced by 20% by 2020 and Security Policy (CFSP) and in accordance (base year 1990), the share of renewable ener- with UN Security Council Resolution 1778 gies is to be increased to 20% of total energy (2007), the EU agrees to a military operation in requirements and energy efficiency is to be eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African improved by 20%. Republic (‚EUFOR Chad/RCA‘). It will start on March 15, 2008. XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy 1271

February 16, 2008: August 15–16, 2008: The EU Council establishes the EU Rule of The EU signs a peace plan in the conflict Law Mission in Kosovo (”EULEX Kosovo“). between Georgia and Russia to end the Caucasus war. April 9, 2008: Austria ratifies the Lisbon Treaty. September 1, 2008: At a summit meeting, EU leaders discuss the June 12, 2008: fighting in Georgia and condemn Russia’s There is a rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the ‟disproportionate reaction”. Irish people with 53.4% (no votes). With the ex- ception of the Czech Republic, all members had September 9, 2008: ratified the Treaty or ratified it after the Irish The EU and Ukraine agree on an Association No (Germany and Poland had not yet deposited Agreement in Paris. it due to the outstanding signature of the head September 15, 2008: of state). The declaration of insolvency of the US June 17, 2008: Lehman Brothers Bank in New York hits the The European Commission proposes a 10-point global economy with a severe financial mar- strategy to curb illegal immigration. Another ket and banking crisis. The collapse of the proposal aims to provide asylum seekers with US investment bank leads to the bursting of a the same protection across the EU. hypothenic bubble in the USA, which triggers a global financial crisis and a global economic June 18–19, 2008: crisis. The European Council discusses the future of the Treaty of Lisbon and decides to continue the October 7, 2008: ratification process. The EU finance ministers decide on a guaran- tee for savings deposits in the EU of at least July 1, 2008: 50,000 euros and support for ‟systemically France takes over the Presidency of the Coun- important” banks. cil of the European Union, whose priorities include energy and climate change, the draft- October 12, 2008: ing of a pact on migration policy, security and The 15 members of the euro zone agree on counter-terrorism, agriculture and the future of common rules for national crisis management. the Lisbon Treaty. October 15, 2008: July 7–8, 2008: The financial crisis is at the forefront of the Leading politicians meet for the G-8 summit EU summit. EU leaders are pushing for a in Toyako, Japan. With EU support, they ad- comprehensive reform of the financial system, vocate new targets to reduce greenhouse gas calling for more international supervision, a emissions. global crisis early warning system and global prudential rules to ensure transparency and July 13, 2008: accountability. A “Mediterranean Union” is launched at a summit meeting in Paris. Joint projects are October 22, 2008: launched to strengthen relations between the Catherine Ashton confirmed as new Commis- EU and its south-eastern neighbours. Nicolas sioner for External Trade. She replaces Peter Sarkozy’s project is doomed to failure, as it will Mandelson. not receive German approval. November 10, 2008: August 8, 2008: The Council of the EU adopts a joint EU mili- The Caucasus war between Russia and Georgia tary action to improve security in Somali coast- begins. The EU takes part in the ceasefire al waters. Operation Atalanta is a response to negotiations. increasing pirate attacks on ships in the region. 1272 XVII. Chronology of the History of Austrian Foreign and Europe Policy

November 16, 2008: and other institutions while tightening financial A G20 summit will discuss measures to com- market regulations. bat the global financial crisis. Heads of State April 5, 2009: and Government agree on reforms to strength- At the EU-US Summit in Prague, EU leaders en financial markets, increase risk management and US President Barack Obama discuss the and facilitate access to capital for emerging and financial crisis and security issues. developing countries during the economic crisis. May 7, 2009: December 8, 2008: The EU holds a special summit on employment The military mission ‟Atalanta” to combat in Prague to discuss the impact of the economic piracy off the coast of Somalia begins. crisis on Europe’s labour markets. The Govern- December 12, 2008: ing Council of the ECB decides in principle that At the Brussels summit, an agreement was the EMS will buy covered bonds denominated reached on a climate and economic stimulus in euro. package and on how to proceed with the finan- June 4–7, 2009: cial crisis. A plan for the ratification of the Lis- Elections to the 7th European Parliament bon Treaty is drawn up in Ireland. Switzerland becomes a new Schengen member, which means June 30, 2009: that border controls are no longer necessary, but Not unconditional but positive decision of the police cooperation can be strengthened. Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe on the Lisbon Treaty January 1, 2009: Linz/Austria and Vilnius/Lithuania are July 4–6, 2009: European Capitals of Culture. Elections to the European Parliament are held in all EU countries. 736 members of the February 6, 2009: European Parliament are elected. The turnout US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vis- continues to fall (43.2%). ited the European Parliament since Ronald Reagan’s visit in 1985 as the highest ranking July 18–19, 2009: US representative. The EU summit in Brussels paves the way for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in February 8, 2009: Ireland. The Swiss people vote in favor of extending the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons July 1, 2009: between the EU and the Swiss Confederation. Sweden takes over the EU presidency, which focuses on economic recovery and the fight February 22, 2009: against climate change. The European members of the G20 group meet in Berlin. Leaders agree on common action September 16, 2009: to tackle the financial crisis and restore confi- The European Parliament approves the dence in the Single Market. appointment of José Manuel Barroso as President of the European Commission for a February 25, 2009: further term of five years. A group of experts presents a report commis- sioned by the European Commission and rec- October 2, 2009: ommends stricter supervision of the financial Second Irish referendum: With a 59% turn- markets in order to avoid a repetition of the fi- out, 67.13% vote yes and 32.87% vote no to the nancial crisis. Lisbon Treaty. Ireland thus agrees. April 2, 2009: December 1, 2009: The G20 summit in London agrees that 832 The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force. billion euros will be made available for the IMF