Austria–Bulgaria relations

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Austrian-Bulgarian relations
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Bulgaria

Diplomatic relations between Austria (then a part of Austria-Hungary) and Bulgaria were established in 1879. [1] Austria has an embassy in Sofia and an honorary consulate in Burgas while Bulgaria has an embassy in Vienna and an honorary consulate in Salzburg. [2]

Contents

Both countries are members of the European Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe.

History

In 1885, Tsardom of Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary were not formal enemies but rather maintaining the status quo. Austria-Hungary acted as a restraining power in the conflict between Bulgaria and Serbia. While it opposed the Bulgarian unification on geopolitical grounds and worked alliance with Serbia. [3]

By 1894, trade relations between Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria were formalized under mutual most-favored-nation agreements, which were periodically renewed but insufficient to substantially expand trade. Austro-Hungarian economic policy therefore maintained a cautiously cooperative stance toward Bulgaria. [4]

The Banat Bulgarian community, largely Western-rite Catholics descended from 17th–18th-century refugees from Bulgaria, had been settled in Austria-Hungary for over a century by 1890. Their population in Temes and Torontál counties numbered 14,801 in 1890 and 12,583 in 1910. [5]

During the Great War, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria were part of a wartime military coalition known as the Central Powers, including joint military campaigns such as the invasion of Serbia.

During World War II, Bulgarian prisoners of war were among Allied POWs held in the Stalag XVII-A German POW camp in German-annexed Austria. [6]

The Austria-Bulgaria relationship during the Cold War illustrates how neutral states and aligned socialist countries could pursue targeted cooperation amid geopolitical tension. Austria served as a testbed and intermediary for Bulgarian engagement with the West, while both countries jointly navigated regional challenges in Yugoslavia. [7] [8]

In April 2005, President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov paid a state visit to Austria. [9]

Austria attaches great importance to participation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other international economic organisations, and it has played an active role in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). As an OSCE-participating state, Austria's international commitments are subject to monitoring under the mandate of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.

In December 2022, Austria prevented Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to the Schengen Area. [10] In the two countries, the Austrian veto caused considerable outrage. As of 9 December 2024, Austria had lifted its veto, allowing Romania and Bulgaria to become part of the Schengen free-travel zone on 1 January 2024. [11]

European Union

Austria joined the EU in 1995. Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007.

NATO

While Bulgaria became a member of NATO in 2004, Austria has never been a member of NATO.

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

  1. ↑ Österreich, Außenministerium der Republik. "Двустранни отношения". www.bmeia.gv.at (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  2. ↑ Österreich, Außenministerium der Republik. "Австрийски институции". www.bmeia.gv.at (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  3. ↑ https://m.bigenc.ru/vault/f6d9ac76ffb141e80ecbb9da5a920133.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  4. ↑ Flaningam, M. L. (1961). "German Economic Controls in Bulgaria: 1894-1914". The American Slavic and East European Review. 20 (1): 99–108. doi:10.2307/3001248. JSTOR   3001248.
  5. ↑ Peykovska, Penka. "Peykovska, P. Literacy and Illiteracy in Austria-Hungary: The Case of the Bulgarian Migrant Communities. - HHR, 2014, N 3, pp. 673-711".
  6. ↑ Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Overmans, Rüdiger; Vogt, Wolfgang (2022). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. p. 484. ISBN   978-0-253-06089-1.
  7. ↑ https://www.papersofbas.eu/images/2022-2/Dobrev_139-151__Papers_of_BAS-2_2022-PECHAT-4.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  8. ↑ Banchev, Biser T. (January 2024). "Common Challenges for Bulgaria and Austria in Their Relations with Yugoslavia in 1968-1980". Austrian-Bulgarian Relations During the Cold War, Alexandre Kostov, Nadia Boyadjieva, Peter Ruggenthaler (eds.), Sofia.
  9. ↑ "Bulgariens Präsident von pünktlichem EU-Beitritt 2007 überzeugt" (in German). Federal President of the Republic of Austria. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  10. ↑ "Austria blocks Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria, while Croatia gets green light". euronews. 9 December 2022. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  11. ↑ Jochecová, Ketrin (12 December 2024). "Romania and Bulgaria get the Schengen green light". Politico. Retrieved 17 December 2024.


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