On 16 December 1956, the Austrian daily newspaper Wiener Zeitung analyses the consequences for Austria of the establishment of a European Free Trade Area.
On 21 February 1957, following the negotiations held in Val Duchesse between the Six on the establishment of the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom, Fritz Bock, Austrian Minister for Trade and Industry, outlines the possible consequences of the Common Market for the Austrian economy.
On 4 August 1957, the daily newspaper Österreichische Neue Tageszeitung, published by the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, considers the participation of the Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in the planned large European Free Trade Area.
On 10 December 1957, referring to the plan for a large Free Trade Area in Europe, Ernst Fischer, Communist Member of the Austrian National Council, warns against the domination of foreign cartels and emphasises the importance of the protection of workers’ rights in Austria.
On 11 January 1958, the Austrian daily newspaper Arbeiter-Zeitung declares its support for Austria’s participation in the planned European Free Trade Area but calls for a transitional regime in view of the special situation of the Austrian economy.
On 12 July 1958, in an article for the Austrian weekly newspaper Die Furche, Bruno Kreisky, Austrian Junior Foreign Minister, examines the procedures by which neutral States may participate in the efforts being made to achieve European integration and the implications of such participation.
On 20 March 1959, given the uncertainty surrounding the plan for a large European Free Trade Area and the unfavourable situation of the European countries outside the European Economic Community (EEC), the Austrian daily newspaper Wiener Zeitung calls on the country’s political authorities to take advantage of Austria’s freedom to act and to take measures on its own initiative.
On 22 November 1959, the Vienna-based daily newspaper Die Presse comments on the criticisms levelled by Leopold Wagner, President of the Austrian Economic Confederation, against the stance of Austrian Socialists towards European integration
On 26 November 1959, the Vienna-based daily newspaper Die Presse comments on the reaction of Maurice Faure, former French Junior Foreign Minister and former Minister for the European Institutions, to the establishment of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and emphasises the difficulties involved in reaching an agreement between EFTA and the European Economic Community (EEC).
On 26 November 1959, in its coverage of the Austrian National Council's debates about Austria's accession to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Vienna-based daily newspaper Die Presse criticises the way in which MPs seem to have been presented with a fait accompli by the government.
On 26 November 1959, Julius Raab, Austrian Chancellor, points out to the National Council the role played by Austria in the establishment of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and emphasises the country’s responsibility in the development of economic cooperation between the Member States of EFTA and those of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC).
On 26 November 1959, as debates are held in the National Council about Austria's accession to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Rudolf Reisetbauer (ÖVP), Wilfried Gredler (FPÖ), Karl Czernetz (SPÖ), Jörg Kandutsch (FPÖ), Bruno Kreisky (SPÖ), Bruno Pittermann (SPÖ) and Fritz Bock (ÖVP) outline the advantages and disadvantages of the Austrian Government's decision to accede to EFTA.
On 28 November 1959, in its coverage of the parliamentary debates taking place in Vienna on Austria’s accession to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Austrian daily newspaper Arbeiter-Zeitung welcomes the European commitment of the country’s Socialists.
On 28 November 1959, the Vienna-based daily newspaper Die Presse comments on the debates held in the National Council about Austria's accession to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and welcomes the decision taken by the government to work towards European unification on an economic level.
In December 1959, in an article for the journal Österreichische Monatshefte, Fritz Bock, Austrian Minister for Trade and Industry, analyses the reasons for the failure of the large European free trade area and refers to the special position of Austria, torn between participation in the future European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and its efforts to secure possible accession to the European Communities.
In December 1959, the Austrian cinema newsreel reports on the political and diplomatic debates concerning the establishment of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
On 3 January 1960, the Austrian daily newspaper Wiener Zeitung describes the reactions of Bruno Kreisky, Austrian Foreign Minister, and of Fritz Bock, Austrian Trade Minister after having initialled the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
On 3 January 1960, Bruno Kreisky (left), Austrian Foreign Minister, and Fritz Bock (right), Austrian Trade Minister, arrive at Vienna Airport to travel to Stockholm where, the following day, they are to sign the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
On 4 January 1960, in Stockholm, the Ambassadors or Foreign Ministers of Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom sign the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which is to enter into force on 3 May 1960.
On 20 January 1960, in response to an address given by Walter Hallstein, President of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC), in which he referred to the status of the neutral countries in Europe, Karl Czernetz, Austrian Member of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, explains why Austria chose to be one of the founding countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
On 12 March 1960, in an article for the Austrian weekly newspaper Die Furche, Fritz Bock, Austrian Trade Minister, outlines the main thrust of Austria’s European policy, with particular emphasis on its position within the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Austria and the strengthening of relations between the EEC and EFTA
On 7 May 1961, in its coverage of the consequences of the United Kingdom’s possible accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), the Austrian daily newspaper Arbeiter-Zeitung refers to the proposal of the Austrian Government that links be established between the Six and the Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), other than the UK, in order to strengthen their trade relations.
‘Between two stools.’ In 1963, the Austrian cartoonist, Ironimus, illustrates the uncomfortable situation of Austria which, though a founder member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), is, nevertheless, considering the possibility of acceding to the European Economic Community (EEC).
On 23 June 1964, the Austrian daily newspaper Arbeiter-Zeitung takes a critical look at the differences of opinion in the Austrian Government over the stance that should be adopted during the negotiations held in Brussels. It emphasises that the aim of Austria’s policy of integration should be a strengthening of links with the EEC without having to abandon the advantages derived from its participation in EFTA.
On 24 May 1965, (from left to right) Bruno Kreisky, Karl Schleinzer, Josef Klaus and Bruno Pittermann, Austrian Ministers, attend the summit meeting of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in Vienna.
Austria and the strengthening of relations between the EEC and EFTA
On 24 May 1965, the final communiqué issued by the ministerial meeting of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Council in Vienna calls for a strengthening of its relations with the European Economic Community (EEC) with a view to putting an end to the schism dividing the two organisations.
In his political memoirs, Bruno Kreisky, former Austrian Foreign Minister, recalls the establishment, in 1960, of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the negotiations that led to the signing, on 22 July 1972, in Brussels, of the cooperation agreements between the European Economic Community (EEC) and those EFTA Member States that were not applicants for accession to the European Communities.
On 13 November 1972, at a conference on Europe held at the Palais Pálffy in Vienna, Edmund P. Wellenstein, Head of the European Commission Delegation for the negotiations on the enlargement of the European Communities, outlines the nature of the specific difficulties arising for Austria in connection with the redefining of relations between the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
On 24 November 1972, Fritz Bock, former Austrian Trade Minister, considers that the signing of the Association Agreements between members of EFTA and the EEC means that EFTA will become obsolete, even though he emphasises its importance and its essential role in achieving economic unification in Europe.
‘Bruno and the seven dwarves.’ On 13 May 1977, to mark the summit meeting of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in Vienna, the Austrian cartoonist, Ironimus, emphasises the role played by the Austrian Chancellor, Bruno Kreisky, in EFTA.
In May 1979, in an article for the EFTA Bulletin, Helmut Romé, economic editor of the Vienna-based daily newspaper Arbeiter-Zeitung, organ of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), analyses the nature and development of economic relations between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Community (EEC).
In January–March 1985, Jean Komaromi, an Austrian journalist, gives a provisional summary of Austria's participation in the efforts towards economic integration made by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) since 1960.
Austria and the establishment of the European Economic Area
On 12 November 1991, as debates are held in the National Council, Norbert Gugerbauer, leader of the parliamentary party of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), criticises Austria’s participation in the European Economic Area (EEA) and calls for the immediate and rapid accession of the country to the European Communities.
On 22 April 1991, in Vienna, Manfred Scheich, Permanent Representative of Austria to the European Communities, gives his views on the proposed European Economic Area (EEA) and outlines the various aspects of Austria's European policy.
On 12 May 1992, Alois Mock, Austrian Foreign Minister, gives an address to the National Council on the implications of the signing, on 2 May in Oporto, of the Agreement establishing the European Economic Area (EEA) and calls for a strengthening of the links between Austria and the European Union.
On 12 May 1992, Johannes Voggenhuber, spokesman for the Green Party in the Austrian National Council, condemns Austria’s participation in the European Economic Area (EEA) and outlines the dangers involved.
‘The leap of faith.’ On 2 May 1992, in Oporto, despite protests from opposition parties, the Austrian Government — a coalition between the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) — signs the Agreement establishing the European Economic Area (EEA).
In this interview, Manfred Scheich, Head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Economic Policy and Integration and chief negotiator for the diplomatic negotiations on the country’s accession to the European Union from 1987 to 1995, discusses how the Austrian authorities reacted to the proposal made in January 1989 by Jacques Delors, President of the Commission of the European Communities, for the establishment of a European Economic Area (EEA), and the impact of this proposal on the negotiations for Austria’s accession to the European Communities.