30 Years of the EU Referendum: A Success Story for Austria

PeopleOther ♦ Published: June 12, 2024; 23:27 ♦ (Vindobona)

On June 12, 1994, a groundbreaking referendum was held in Austria, in which two-thirds of the population voted in favor of joining the European Union. This decision laid the foundations for a new era of economic, political, and social integration of Austria in Europe. Since its official accession on January 1, 1995, the country has changed considerably and has since benefited from EU membership in many ways.

Thirty years ago, Austria's negotiations to join the European Union came to a successful conclusion. / Picture: © Vindobona.org

The referendum in 1994 was a clear commitment to European values and a common future in a united Europe. On June 24, 1994, the accession treaty was signed by Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky and Foreign Minister Alois Mock in Corfu, and in November 1994 the Austrian National Council officially ratified the treaty. With its accession to the EU, Austria entered a new economic and…