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The capital of Austria is Vienna, its area measures 83,900 square kilometres, the population is made up of 8,067,289 inhabitants, the gross domestic product is 223.2 billion Euros. The inflation is 1.9%, its unemployment rate is 5.8%, the deficit is –1.5%, and its National debt is 64%. Austria is a federal Republic made up of 9 Lander, or regions. The Austrian constitution dates back to 1920, it was reformed in 1929 and it came again in force in 1945, after the National-Socialist period. The Austrian form of government is a parliamentary one. The Government is linked to the Parliament and in particular to the National Council by a confidence relationship. The Austrian system is also carachterized by the direct election of the President of Republic. This system was introduced by the constitutional reformation in ’29, but it didn’t come in force until 1951. The Austrian Parliament has a bicameral structure, typical of the federal countries, made up of the National Council, the Bundestag, including 183 members elected every 4 years by universal suffrage, and the Federal Council, the Bundesrat, including 64 members elected by the Lander Parliaments. Every Land’s Parliament elects a number of representatives proportional to the land’s population. The Government coalition is presently made up of the Popular Party and the Liberal Party. The Social-Democratics and the Greens, are at the opposition. The Federal Chancellor, that is the Prime Minister, is Wolfgang Schussel, from the Popular Party, in office since 2000. His mandate has been renewed by the general elections held in September 2002. The Federal President is Heinz Fischer, from the Socialist area, elected on 25th April 2004, as I said, by universal and direct suffrage after overcoming the populars’ candidate Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Austria is part of the Union since 1st January ’95, after a referendum, held in ’94, where the “Yes” won with more than 66% of the votes. Austria is part of the Euro area as well, since 1st January 2002 and the Treaty that adopts an European constitution has been ratified by the Austrian Parliament in March 2005. After the enlargement, Austria has 18 seats within the European Parliament, i.e. 23 less than those it used to have before. Austria voted for the European elections, on 13th June 2004, with a low partecipation, compared to the Austrian trend (41.8%). 7 seats were awarded to the Social-Democratic party, 6 to the Populars, 2 to the Greens, just 1 to the Liberals, whereas the personal list of Hans Peter Martin, former leaders of the Austrian Social-Democratics within the European Parliament, gained a good 2 seats. The Austrian commissary within the Commission is Benita Ferrero-Waldner, responsible for the external relationships and the European policy of neighbourhood.
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