Austria–Croatia relations

Last updated
Austrian-Croatian relations
Austria Croatia Locator.png
Flag of Austria.svg
Austria 		Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
Diplomatic mission
Austrian embassy in Zagreb Croatian embassy in Vienna
Envoy
Andreas WiedenhoffVesna Cvjetković
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman meets with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna on 13 September 2019 2019 Gordan Grlic Radman, Alexander Schallenberg (48742779146).jpg
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman meets with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna on 13 September 2019

A bilateral relationship exists between Croatia and Austria. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on January 15, 1992, following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia.

Contents

Croatia and Austria were part of the same union for almost 400 years: the Habsburg monarchy (1527–1804), the Austrian Empire (1804–1867) and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867–1918), with the Croatian regions of Istria and Dalmatia being under Austrian rule from the 1867 Compromise until the 1918 collapse.

Croatia has an embassy in Vienna, and honorary consulates in Graz, Linz, St. Pölten, and Salzburg. [1] Austria has an embassy in Zagreb, a general consulate in Rijeka, and a consulate in Split, as well as the Office of the Coordinator for Educational Cooperation, the Austrian Cultural Forum, the Office for Foreign Trade, the Office of the Attaché for Agricultural and Environmental Questions, and the Office of the Police Liaison in Zagreb. [2]

There are around 120,000 Croats that live in Austria, out of which 56,785 have Croatian citizenship. The most recognizable Austrian Croats are the Burgenland Croats that live in the Austrian state of Burgenland. 297 Austrians in Croatia are officially recognized as a minority by the Croatian Constitution and therefore have their own permanent seat in the Croatian Parliament. [3]

Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and of the European Union. Austria has given full support to Croatia's membership of the European Union.

History

Croatian high nobility elected Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg as King of Croatia in 1527 Cetingradski sabor 1527.JPG
Croatian high nobility elected Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg as King of Croatia in 1527

After the death of King Louis II of Hungary at Mohács monarchical crisis in the Kingdom of Hungary occurred. The Croatian Parliament met in 1527 in the town of Cetin and chose Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg as new ruler of Croatia, under the condition that he provides protection to Croatia against the Ottoman Empire in the Croatian–Ottoman War while respecting its political rights, although he later failed to fulfill this promise. [4]

Austro-Croatian relations have been close for most of modern history. Several heroes of Croatian history and culture were of Austrian origin and the country was one of the strongest in favor of Croatian recognition in the 1990s when Croatia declared its independence from SFR Yugoslavia.

Austria has also influenced development of education in Croatia. First Gymnasiums in Zagreb (1607), Rijeka (1627) and Varaždin (1636) were founded by the Jesuits from the Augustineum Training College. [5]

Many famous Croats like Janko Drašković, Dimitrije Demeter, Ljudevit Gaj, Stanko Vraz, Vatroslav Lisinski, Blagoje Bersa, Božidar Širola, Jakov Gotovac, Ivan Zajc and Ivan Meštrović have acquired higher education at the Universities of Vienna and Graz. [5]

Economic Relations

There are more than 700 Austrian companies in Croatia. [6]

Austria is also the largest foreign investor in Croatia with more than 7 billion euros invested from 1993 to 2014. [7] [6] Cooperation between Austrian and Croatian entrepreneurs is most often in the field of metal, electrical industry, wood processing, textile and footwear industry and food industry in the form of healthy food. [8]

Tourism

Croatia and Austria are founders and members of The Alps-Adriatic Working Group. Goals of this organisation are mutual communication, discussion and coordination of the points of interest of the member states, development of cooperation and exchanges in the Alpine-Adriatic region, strengthening of the Central European cultural identity and participation in the processes of the European cooperation and integration. Main areas of cooperation are sports, tourism, environmental protection, connecting cities, preservation of cultural and recreational spaces, culture and science and European integration. [9]

Austrian nobility started visiting the Croatian coast in the 1880s. Opatija became a fashionable destination for the Austrian imperial family and Austrian nobility. Soon many luxury hotels and villas were built. The first luxury hotel – Hotel "Quarnero" (1884) (today "Grand Hotel Kvarner") was built according to the plans by Viennese architect Franz Wilhelm. The hotel Kronprinzessin Stephanie was opened in 1885. Crown princess Stephanie, after whom hotel was named, and her husband Crown Prince Rudolf appeared at the opening. In 1887, Heinrich von Littrow established the "Union Yacht Club Quarnero" in Opatija which was the first sailing club on the Adriatic. In 1889, Austrian government officially declared Opatija as the first climatic seaside resort on the Adriatic. [10] Evan today Austrians are among the most frequent visitors of the Croatian coast, while Croats are frequent visitors of Austrian ski resorts. [11] [12] In 2018, 1.37 million Austrian tourists visited Croatia. They accounted for 7.065 million overnight stays, behind only German and Slovenian tourists in the overall number of overnight stays of foreign visitors. [13]

Croatian (cultural) organizations in Austria

Today there is a significant number of Croatian institutions in Austria. Some of them are: [3]

Burgenland Croats have all kind of their own newspapers, radio, news portals (like kroativ.at) and TV programs in the framework of the ORF.

Croatian Catholic Mission in Vienna is also very active religious-cultural organization. [14]

Matica hrvatska has a branch in Vienna. [15]

Education of Croats in Austria

Classes in the Croatian are being held in some Austrian schools. There is a bilingual primary school in Großwarasdorf and a gymnasium in Bort. Teaching Croatian is carried out in three grammar schools in Oberpullendorf and Eisenstadt. Vienna and Burgenland have few kindergartens in which young children can learn or improve Croatian. [3]

Other

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz choose Croatia as the first destination that he visited upon his appointment. On 20 December 2013 mr. Kurz met in Zagreb with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić. [16]

In year 1955, Austrian Cultural Forum was founded in Zagreb. It is an organization that promotes Austrian culture and German language in Croatia. [17]

Resident diplomatic missions


See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia</span> Country in Central and Southeast Europe

Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Italy to the west. Its capital and largest city, Zagreb, forms one of the country's primary subdivisions, with twenty counties. Other major urban centers include Split, Rijeka and Osijek. The country spans 56,594 square kilometres, and has a population of nearly 3.9 million.

The foreign relations of Croatia is primarily formulated and executed via its government which guides the state's interactions with other nations, their citizens, and foreign organizations. Active in global affairs since the 9th century, modern Croatian diplomacy is considered to have formed following their independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. As an independent state, Croatia established diplomatic relations with most world nations – 187 states in total – during the 1990s, starting with Germany (1991) and ending most recently with Togo (2023). Croatia has friendly relations with most of its neighboring countries, namely Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, Albania, and Italy. They maintain colder, more tense relations with Serbia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina due to historic nation-building conflict and differing political ideologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burgenland Croats</span> Ethnic group in Austria

Burgenland Croats are ethnic Croats in the Austrian state of Burgenland, along with Croats in neighboring Hungary and Slovakia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matica hrvatska</span> Cultural organization

Matica hrvatska is the oldest independent, non-profit and non-governmental Croatian national institution. It was founded on February 2, 1842 by the Croatian Count Janko Drašković and other prominent members of the Illyrian movement during the Croatian National Revival (1835–1874). Its main goals are to promote Croatian national and cultural identity in the fields of art, science, spiritual creativity, economy and public life as well as to care for social development of Croatia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

The foreign, diplomatic, economic, and political relations between Croatia and the United States were established on April 7, 1992 following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. After Croatia's debut as an independent state in 1996, the U.S. established the country as its most important political connection to Southeast Europe. Modern relations are considered to be warm and friendly, with stalwart bilateral collaboration. The Croatian diaspora in the U.S. is estimated to be around 500,000 which, in part, informs the foreign policy of Croatia. The two nations have strong connectivity through tourism, immigration, foreign aid, and economic mutualism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–Ukraine relations</span> Bilateral relations

Croatia–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between Croatia and Ukraine. The countries established diplomatic relations on 18 February 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Kyiv and an honorary consulate in Donetsk. Ukraine has an embassy in Zagreb and honorary consulates in Malinska and Split. Croatia supports Ukraine's European Union and NATO membership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–Iran relations</span> Bilateral relations

Croatia and Iran established diplomatic relations on April 18, 1992 when Iran became the 7th country in the world and the first among Asian and Muslim-majority countries to recognize the newly independent Croatia. Croatia has an embassy in Tehran while Iran has an embassy and a cultural center in Zagreb. Relations among two countries are described as good and friendly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–Kosovo relations</span> Bilateral relations

Croatia–Kosovo relations refer to the bilateral relations of Croatia and Kosovo. Diplomatic relations among two countries were established on 30 June 2008, following Kosovo's declaration of independence. Croatia has an embassy in Pristina, and Kosovo has one in Zagreb. Both countries were part of Yugoslavia from 1918 to 1991. Relations between the two countries are described as very good and friendly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–Hungary relations</span> Bilateral relations

The foreign relations between Croatia and Hungary are bound together by shared history, political development and geography. The two states established diplomatic relations on 18 January 1992 following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the independence of Croatia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–Italy relations</span> Bilateral relations

The foreign relations between Croatia and Italy are commenced in 1992, following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the independence of Croatia. Relations are warm and friendly with robust bilateral collaboration. The two nations have strong connectivity through tourism, immigration, foreign aid, and economic mutualism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–India relations</span> Bilateral relations

Croatia and India officially established diplomatic relations on 9 July 1992 following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–Israel relations</span> Bilateral relations

Full diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel were established on April 9, 1997 following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia. Croatia has an embassy in Tel Aviv and honorary consulates in Ashdod, Caesarea, Jerusalem and Kfar Shmaryahu. Israel has an embassy in Zagreb. Relations between the two countries are described as friendly and highly cooperative. In recent years, Croatia and Israel have intensified bilateral relations and defence and security cooperation. Croatia is one of the countries Israel occasionally turns to inside the EU to advocate on its behalf and it generally abstains or votes with Israel on key EU votes at the UN. Israeli president Reuven Rivlin described Croatia in 2019 as "Israel's strong ally in the EU, the UN and other multilateral organizations."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bosnia and Herzegovina–Croatia relations</span> Bilateral relations

The foreign relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Croatia are bound together by shared history, language, neighboring geography and cultural commonalties. They established diplomatic relations in 1992, following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and independence of Croatia. The two countries share a 932-kilometer (579 mi) border – the second longest external land border in the European Union (EU). Modern relations between the two states are functional but remain tense after ineffective 21st-century attempts at détente.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Croatia relations</span> Bilateral relations

China and Croatia established diplomatic relations on May 13, 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Beijing and a general consulate in Hong Kong. China has an embassy and a Confucius Institute in Zagreb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–Ireland relations</span> Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations between the republics of Croatia and Ireland were established on 27 January 1995 following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia. Ireland recognised Croatia as an independent state on 15 January 1992. Croatia is represented in Ireland through consulate and embassy in Dublin, while Ireland is represented in Croatia through its embassy and consulate in Zagreb. Both countries are full members of Council of Europe and of the European Union. In 2019, Croatian community in Ireland counted around 20,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miro Kovač</span> Croatian diplomat and politician

Miro Kovač is a Croatian historian, diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the Cabinet of Tihomir Orešković from 22 January 2016 until 19 October 2016. He is member of the conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antun Radić</span> Austria-Hungary politician

Antun Radić was a Croatian scientist, writer, translator, journalist, sociologist, ethnographer and politician. He is the founder of Croatian ethnography.

Darko Bekić is a Croatian historian, author, diplomat and foreign policy advisor to the first President of the Republic of Croatia Franjo Tuđman. He served, inter alia, as the Croatian Ambassador to the OSCE in Vienna (1992–1996) and as Permanent Representative of Croatia to the United Nations in Geneva (1996–1998). He authored the first-ever History of Croatian Diplomacy published in 2016 by Skolska Knjiga, Zagreb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia–North Macedonia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Croatia–North Macedonia relations are foreign relations between Croatia and North Macedonia. Two countries established diplomatic relations on 30 March 1992. Croatia is represented in North Macedonia via its Embassy in Skopje and honorary consul in Strumica while North Macedonia is represented in Croatia via its Embassy and the Cultural and Informational Center in Zagreb as well as consulate in Rijeka and honorary consul in Zadar. Croatia supports North Macedonia's European Union membership. Before their independence in early 1990s, both countries were constituent republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as the SR Croatia and SR Macedonia respectively. Croatia was one of the first countries in the world to recognize the independence of the country during the period in which Zagreb itself awaited international recognition. During the long-lasting Macedonia naming dispute (1991–2019) and before the signature of the Prespa agreement Croatia was the first country in the world to recognize North Macedonia under its constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia instead of appellation "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". Today, both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, and of the NATO. Croatia is an EU member and North Macedonia is an EU candidate. Since 2006 North Macedonia is a member state of the Central European Free Trade Agreement while Croatia was a member of the area between 2003 and 2013. Croatia strongly supports accession of North Macedonia to the European Union and also supported its NATO membership, being one of the first countries to ratify the membership protocol. Trade between the two countries reached 221 million euros in 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "MVEP • Veleposlanstva RH u svijetu • Austrija, Beč" . Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "MVEP • Veleposlanstva stranih država u RH • Austrija, Zagreb" . Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hrvatska manjina u Republici Austriji". Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Čepulo, Dalibor, Croatian legal history in the European Context from Middle Ages to Contemporary Period: Pravni fakultet u Zagrebu, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Croatia.eu - Croatian-Austrian and Croatian-German relations" . Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 "VUJČIĆ U BEČU 'Hrvatski bankovni sustav jedan je od najstabilnijih u Europi' - Jutarnji.hr". Archived from the original on 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2015-07-04.
  7. ↑ "Außenministerium Österreich -> Veleposlanstvo -> Zagreb -> Veleposlanstvo". www.bmeia.gv.at. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Najveći broj sudionika u povijesti Hrvatskoga gospodarskog dana u Beču". Hrvatska gospodarska komora. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "MVEP • Radna zajednica Alpe-Jadran - općenito". Archived from the original on 2015-07-05. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Hrvati i manjine u Hrvatskoj: moderni identiteti". Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Austrijanci poludjeli za hrvatskom obalom, u prvih 5 mjeseci stiglo ih više od 200 tisuća!". Slobodna Dalmacija. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Uglavnom plaćaju karticama: Evo kamo će Hrvati na skijanje!". Večernji.hr. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "Turizam u brojkama 2018" (PDF) (in Croatian). Ministry of Tourism (Croatia). 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  14. ↑ Toni Mastelić. "Povijest misije". Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Ogranak Matice hrvatske u Beču". matica.hr (in Croatian). Matica hrvatska. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  16. ↑ "HRT: Hrvatska i Austrija potvrdile odlične odnose". Hrvatska radiotelevizija. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "AKF". Austrijski kulturni forum Zagreb. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2016.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.