VIENNA, June 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Austria takes over the European Union’s
rotating presidency on Sunday, with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz taking the helm
after winning elections last year and becoming the EU’s youngest head of
government at just 31.
Here are some facts about the landlocked and wealthy Alpine country of 8.75
million people, a member of the European Union since 1995 but outside the
NATO military alliance.
– Happy 100th birthday –
Modern Austria was born in 1918 from the ruins of World War I and the
Austro-Hungarian empire, reduced to a small rump of what was once a vast
empire.
Violence between far-right and left-wing radicals marked the interwar
period.
Adolf Hitler annexed his native country into the Third Reich in 1938.
– Viennese whirl –
A fifth of the population lives in the capital Vienna, a city that
regularly scores highly in global surveys for quality of life with its rich
culture and impressive architecture.
One in two Viennese was either born abroad or has a foreign-born parent and
the population of the city — home to myriad international organisations —
is growing fast.
– Hills were alive –
Vienna is a byword for classical music, home at one time to Mozart,
Beethoven and Schubert. It was a cultural and intellectual hub in the late
19th and early 20th century.
Austria’s more recent stars have included “Rock me Amadeus” singer Falco,
techno twins Kruder and Dorfmeister and bearded lady Conchita Wurst, 2014
Eurovision Song Contest winner.
But few Austrians have seen “The Sound of Music”, the 1965 musical film
with Julie Andrews cavorting in Alpine meadows that still proves a huge
tourist draw for Salzburg.
– Guns and gambling –
European integration and the EU’s expansion into Austria’s eastern
neighbourhood have been good for the heavily export-dependent economy. Until
recently it had the lowest unemployment rate in the bloc.
The country is home to firms that may not be household names but are global
titans, like Glock (guns), KTM (motorbikes), Novomatic (gaming machines) —
and the better-known Red Bull (energy drinks).
This has helped Austria retain a generous social security system, although
companies have long complained about excessive red tape, taxes and non-wage
labour costs — all of which Kurz has vowed to slash.
– Green giant –
In 1978, Austria rejected nuclear power in a referendum, even though it had
a plant ready to start.
It currently ranks badly when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions but
plans to generate half of its energy through renewables within 15 years.
Some 20 percent of Austria’s agricultural land is used for organic produce,
making it a European leader in the sector.
– Skiing downhill –
Austria excels in winter sports. Sixty percent of the country is
mountainous and when stars like ski racer and Olympic gold medallist Marcel
Hirscher compete, Austrians are glued to their televisions to cheer them
along.
But ski lessons for schoolchildren haven’t been obligatory since the 1990s
and the number of regular skiers has fallen from 60 percent to 40 percent of
the population.