Austria–Serbia relations

Last updated April 23, 2024

Foreign relations exist between Austria and Serbia and their predecessor states. Austria has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Vienna and a general consulate in Salzburg. Austria is a European Union member and Serbia is a European Union candidate.

History

The history of relations between the two countries goes back to the Great Turkish War, Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1686–91) and Great Serb Migrations (formation of Military Frontier and building of Petrovaradin Fortress), to the era when the Kingdom of Serbia (1718–1739) had been a province of the Habsburg monarchy, and the last Austro-Turkish War (1787–91) at the time of Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1788–92).

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip ( Domenica del Corriere, 12 July 1914) DC-1914-27-d-Sarajevo-cropped.jpg — Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip ( *Domenica del Corriere* , 12 July 1914)

Foreign relations, as such, date from the proclamation of the Austrian Empire in 1804 and the formation in 1817 of the Principality of Serbia, an autonomous state within the Ottoman Empire. The Habsburg recognized the independence of Serbia and established diplomatic relations in 1874, supported by the Treaty of Berlin (1878).

Hungarian suppression of Serbian revolts during the 1848 Revolutions were not opposed by the Habsburg rulers. Serbian claims were not recognized by Hungary was eventually placated with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, further angering Serbian nationalists. One notable flare-up between the two countries was the 1906-1909 economic conflict known as the Pig War followed with the diplomatic and military crisis over the Austrian annexation of Bosnia which contributed to inflame pan-Serb sentiment and helped lay the grounds for World War I.^[1] Ultimately, the tensions between the two countries could not withstand the strain of the Assassination of the Austrian Archduke, by a young Bosnian Serb, an opportunity for the Austro-Hungarian government to solve Slav nationalism.^[2]

Following the July Crisis, Austro-Hungary launched three unsuccessful offensives to punish Serbia for allegedly supporting the assassins. In October 1915 with the help of German and Bulgarian forces, Serbia was finally conquered and divided into separate occupation zones. The northern three-quarters of Serbia was placed under a harsh Austro-Hungarian occupational regime until its liberation by allied forces in 1918.^[3]

The First World War eventually destroyed the Austro-Hungarian Empire, leaving a shrunken First Austrian Republic as a rump state. Serbia annexed much of the former Austrian holdings in the Balkans to become the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Austria was eventually annexed by Germany in 1938, ending its separate foreign relations. During World War II, Serbian prisoners of war were among Allied POWs held in the Stalag XVII-A, Stalag XVII-B, Stalag XVIII-A, Stalag XVIII-B, Stalag 317/XVIII-C and Stalag 398 German POW camps and forced labour subcamps in German-annexed Austria.^[4]

A number of Serb medical doctors and veterinarians got educated in Austria during the interwar period and earlier as well.^[5]

Population

There are between 200,000 and 300,000 people of Serbian descent living in Austria.^[6] There are also 3,000 Austrian expats in Serbia, making it home to the largest Austrian population in the Eastern European region (besides Romania).

Diplomacy

Serbia has an embassy in Vienna and a consulate-general in Salzburg
Austria has an embassy in Belgrade and a consulate-general in Niš

Austrian Embassy in Belgrade
Serbian embassy in Vienna

Related Research Articles

Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire or the Dual Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. Austria-Hungary was a military and diplomatic alliance of two sovereign states with a single monarch who was titled both emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. Austria-Hungary constituted the last phase in the constitutional evolution of the Habsburg monarchy: it was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 in the aftermath of the Austro-Prussian War and was dissolved shortly after Hungary terminated the union with Austria on 31 October 1918.

The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm, was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is also referred to as the Danubian monarchy or the Austrian monarchy.

Foreign relations of Serbia are accomplished by efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Serbia has inherited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with all of its holdings, after the dissolution of the previous state union with Montenegro. Serbian foreign ministries continue to serve citizens of Montenegro in countries that do not have Montenegrin diplomatic presence. The governments of Serbia and Montenegro expressed an interest in pursuing a common foreign policy. Former President of Serbia Boris Tadić referred to relations with the European Union (EU), Russia, United States and China as the four pillars of foreign policy. Serbia joined the United Nations on 1 November 2000.

The U.S. Embassy in Austria is located in Vienna. Since 2023, the United States Ambassador to Austria is Victoria Reggie Kennedy. The Austrian Embassy in the U.S. is located in Washington, D.C. Currently, the position of the Austrian Ambassador to the United States is Petra Schneebauer.

Relations between Austria and Germany are close due to their shared history and culture, with German being the official language and Germans being the major ethnic group of both countries.

Bilateral relations exist and existed between Austria and Russia and their predecessor states. Since October 1955, the Republic of Austria maintains the constitutionally-mandated status of neutrality; the country is a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OEEC). Austria joined the EU in 1995. Russia is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a partner of ASEAN, a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the leading member state of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Both countries are members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Relations exist and have existed between Austria and Turkey and their predecessor states, the Habsburg monarchy and Ottoman Empire respectively. The countries fought as allies during the First World War. The countries have since had normal relations, however Austrian opposition to the Accession of Turkey to the European Union has become a point of tension. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe. Austria opposes Turkey's European Union membership. Turkey is a member of NATO. Austria instead is not a member of NATO.

Japanese-Serbian relations are the bilateral relations between Japan and Serbia. Both countries have signed diplomatic missions on May 20, 1997. Japan has an embassy in Belgrade and Serbia has an embassy in Tokyo and an honorary consulate in Osaka.

Diplomatic relations between Austria and Bulgaria were established in 1879. 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.

Foreign relations exist between Austria and Ukraine. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918 became the first major international document with the Austrian nation.

Foreign relations exist between Austria and France. Both countries have had diplomatic relations with each other since the Middle Ages. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the European Union.

Foreign relations exist between the alpine nations of Austria and Switzerland. Both countries have had diplomatic relations since the Middle Ages. The Habsburgs, who ruled Austria for more than six centuries, are originally from Aargau, Switzerland. The two countries are predominantly German-speaking. Austria has an embassy in Bern, a general consulate in Zürich and seven honorary consulates. Switzerland has an embassy in Vienna and six honorary consulates. Together, both countries organized the Euro 2008.

Foreign relations exist between Austria and Netherlands. Austria has an embassy in The Hague and 2 honorary consulates. The Netherlands have an embassy in Vienna and 6 honorary consulates. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, OECD, OSCE and the European Union.

Neighbourly relations exist between Austria and Hungary, two member states of the European Union. Both countries have a long common history since the ruling dynasty of Austria, the Habsburgs, inherited the Hungarian throne in the 16th century. Both were part of the now-defunct Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 to 1918. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1921, after their separation.

Austria–Poland relations are foreign relations between Austria and Poland. The two nations have a very long historical relationship dating back several centuries, which has been complicated throughout most of their history.

Foreign relations exist between Austria and Italy. Austria has an embassy in Rome, a general consulate in Milan and 10 honorary consulates. Italy has an embassy in Vienna, a consulate in Innsbruck, and 5 honorary consulates. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and of the European Union.

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.

Foreign relations exist between Austria and the United Kingdom, and have been positive and friendly since Austrian independence in 1955. Both nations are members of the Council of Europe. The two nations share close economic and technological ties, and cooperate in a variety of fields, particularly when the UK was a member of the European Union and also more recently in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They have also agreed to cooperate on mutual interests over matters involving security in the Balkans, including regarding Kosovo, Albania and Serbia and furthermore to work together on countering subversive Russian activity in the region.

The diplomatic relations between the Republic of Austria and Romania were largely determined and limited by the global political environment. Generally good cooperation has always been in the interest of Romanian and Austrian foreign policy. However, due to Austria’s Schengen denial for Romania, Romania’s massive boycott targeting Austrian companies and citizens, frauds made by Raiffaisen Bank and OMV, and Romanian discrimination in Austria, the two countries really started to dislike each other. Romania has an embassy in Vienna. The permanent mission of Romania is near the international organizations of Vienna. Romania has the Romanian Cultural Institute in Vienna. Austria has an embassy in Bucharest. Austria has in Bucharest the Austrian cultural forum. Both countries are full members of Council of Europe and of the European Union.

Diplomatic relations between both countries exist since the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire: in 1870, Baron Anton von Petz celebrated a Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Navigation between both countries.

References

↑ Gardner, H. (2016). The Failure to Prevent World War I: The Unexpected Armageddon. Military Strategy and Operational Art. Taylor & Francis. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-317-03217-5.
↑ Martel, G. (2016). Origins of the First World War. Seminar Studies. Taylor & Francis. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-134-85703-6.
↑ Calic, M.J.; Geyer, D. (2019). A History of Yugoslavia. Central European studies. Purdue University Press. ISBN 978-1-55753-838-3.
↑ 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. pp. 307, 386, 484–487, 490, 492. ISBN 978-0-253-06089-1.
↑ Gašić, Ranka (2005). Beograd u hodu ka Evropi: Kulturni uticaji Britanije i Nemačke na beogradsku elitu 1918–1941. Belgrade: Institut za savremenu istoriju. p. 168. ISBN 86-7403-085-8.
↑ 20 Minuten Online: Serben-Demo eskaliert in Wien

External links

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[Gardner_2016_p._165-1] Gardner, H. (2016). The Failure to Prevent World War I: The Unexpected Armageddon. Military Strategy and Operational Art. Taylor & Francis. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-317-03217-5.

[Martel_2016_p._94-2] Martel, G. (2016). Origins of the First World War. Seminar Studies. Taylor & Francis. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-134-85703-6.

[Calic_Geyer_2019_p.166-3] Calic, M.J.; Geyer, D. (2019). A History of Yugoslavia. Central European studies. Purdue University Press. ISBN 978-1-55753-838-3.

[4] 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. pp. 307, 386, 484–487, 490, 492. ISBN 978-0-253-06089-1.

[5] Gašić, Ranka (2005). Beograd u hodu ka Evropi: Kulturni uticaji Britanije i Nemačke na beogradsku elitu 1918–1941. Belgrade: Institut za savremenu istoriju. p. 168. ISBN 86-7403-085-8.

[6] 20 Minuten Online: Serben-Demo eskaliert in Wien

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