Austria: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Due to geopolitical constellations, Austria could be seen as “a rather late” comer to the European Union (it joined in 1995). The rationale to join remains relevant: protection of wealth and securing a prosperous future. Being very reliant on export, the access to the single market is fundamental to its economy. The enlargement has also helped Austria become a hub between Western and Eastern Europe.
There is almost a paradox among Austrians whereby euroscepticism reaches a high level of acceptance, while they have a distinct europhile feeling, especially when it comes to questions of identity.
EU membership is not perceived to be equally beneficial across all sections of society: there is a gap between younger and older generations and larger and smaller companies. Addressing the concerns of the disadvantaged groups could further legitimise the EU.
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Austria: Two Sides of the Same Coin
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