Why did Austria join the EU?
Austria joined the EU in 1995, ending 40 years of neutrality. (In 1955 Austria had committed itself to neutrality in order to end the Allied occupation of the country). After the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the Soviet Union, there was no need for Austria to continue a ‘balancing act’ between East and West as this division no longer existed. EU membership also gave Austria a huge market – and a say in the running of the EU.
