South Tyrol Square in Vienna: Stele commemorates the achievements of autonomy!

South Tyrol Square in Vienna: Stele commemorates the achievements of autonomy!

On October 13, 2023, an “Autonomy Stele” was inaugurated at a special location in Vienna, Südtiroler Platz. This ceremony was accompanied by Mayor Michael Ludwig and State Governor Arno Kompatscher. The stele is intended to commemorate the path that South Tyrol traveled from a conflict region to an autonomous province. The unveiling took place in the context of South Tyrol's autonomy, whose origins go back to the 1960s.

The roots of South Tyrol's autonomy can be traced back to October 31, 1960, when an Austrian delegation led by Bruno Kreisky brought the South Tyrol question to the United Nations. The UN then decided to call on Austria and Italy to solve the problem on the basis of the Gruber-De Gasperi agreement of 1948. This agreement can be seen as the birth of South Tyrol's autonomy. The stele on Südtiroler Platz, which has been a reminder of Vienna's ties to South Tyrol since 1927, was also designed as an information and meeting place.

The path to autonomy and the challenges

In the 1950s and 1960s, economic and social conditions in South Tyrol deteriorated drastically. The continued influx of Italian workers and the exodus of German-speaking citizens to countries such as Germany and Switzerland led to tensions. Protest rallies, such as the large gathering at Sigmundskron Castle in November 1957, in which around 35,000 people demonstrated for more autonomy, were initially unsuccessful, but showed the pressure on the Austrian and Italian governments. The picture of a situation called “pseudo-autonomy” became increasingly clear.

Nevertheless, these protests and Foreign Minister Kreisky's initiative led to the UN's decision to adopt Resolution 1497/XV. This called on Austria and Italy to enter into negotiations about autonomy, which led to the establishment of the Commission of 19 by the Italian government. This commission developed the Second Statute of Autonomy, in whose implementation representatives of the German-speaking minority took part.

Milestones and the current situation

The autonomy grants South Tyroleans extensive self-government rights within Italy and is particularly aimed at protecting ethnic minorities. The Gruber-De Gasperi Agreement of 1946 is considered the first securitization of autonomy under international law, while the Italian Constitution and the First Statute of Autonomy of 1948 initially only granted the region inadequate rights. Only with the entry into force of the Second Statute of Autonomy in 1972, whose full implementation took until 1992, was autonomy significantly strengthened.

Every year, around 2,000 South Tyroleans start studying at Vienna universities, and many of them stay in the city after graduating. Today's autonomy has proven to be stable and protective, even if it has met with resistance in the past. Initiatives to reform the Statute of Autonomy continue to be discussed, most recently one in 2025 in the Roman Parliament.

The autonomy stele in Vienna is not only a symbol of the long-term successful development of autonomy, but also a symbol of the cultural connection between South Tyrol and Vienna. It is a reminder of an eventful history and a step towards a shared future.

presse.wien.gv.at and hdgoe.at offer further insights into the background of South Tyrol's autonomy, while Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of the legal basis and historical milestones.