Vienna celebrates 70 years of state contract: Festival in parliament and Belvedere!

Vienna celebrates 70 years of state contract: Festival in parliament and Belvedere!

On May 15, 2025, the 70th anniversary of the signing of the State Treaty will be commemorated in Vienna. On this occasion there are two festivals that are held in the parliament and in the Belvedere castle garden. The state contract, which was signed on May 15, 1955, marked the restoration of Austria's sovereignty after a ten -year occupation by the Allies. Among other things, the National Council President as well as the former Federal President Heinz Fischer and the former National Council President Andreas Khol take part in the festivals. The first ceremony in parliament begins at 11 a.m., while in the evening in the Belvedere Castle Garden, where the signing took place, an honorary formation of the Federal Army occurs.

The state contract was signed by the representatives of the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, France and Austria and came into force on July 27, 1955. Foreign Minister Leopold Figl (ÖVP) announced during the signing: "Austria is free!". The creation of the state contract was a milestone for the Republic of Austria and completed the occupation, which only ended in October 1955 with the withdrawal of the last soldiers of the Allied. These events are recognized by Parliament with a ceremony in which historian Monika Sommer also speaks about the importance of this phase and shares her knowledge.

historical context and neutrality

In the 1950s, there was afraid of a possible nuclear war in Europe, while the Cold War worsened. The Soviets called for the “everlasting neutrality” as a price for the recovery of Austria's sovereignty, which was later decided as a constitutional law. Austria therefore explained not to join a military alliances and not to station foreign troops. This neutrality should act as a diplomatic asset in the following decades. Vienna developed into an important hub of international politics.

in the context of the current geopolitical situation, in particular Russia's war against Ukraine, Austrian neutrality is increasingly being viewed critically. Experts are of the opinion that the neutrality that has been in force for 70 years has been obsolete in the present time. The EU accession in 1995 and the changing security conditions in Europe have led to a rethink, which is also evident in recent surveys. These show that the majority of Austrians want to hold on to neutrality, but at the same time there are doubts as to whether they really offer protection militarily.

public opinion and political attitude

A survey from 2024 shows that many Austrians believe that neutrality does not protect militarily. At the same time, only a few are ready to defend their country in a military conflict or to help another EU state. Around two out of three Austrians also see Europe as security policy depending on the United States. In this situation, however, the official Austria refuses an open debate about neutrality and sticks to this term. Old Federal President Heinz Fischer emphasizes that the neutrality of Austria is protecting, but the public discussion is characterized by uncertainties.

This goes hand in hand with the upcoming festival, which should not only serve the celebration, but also the critical reflection on the past 70 years of Austrian history. Developments in the international context and the continuing uncertainties question Austria's role on the geopolitical stage and illustrate the challenges that the country is facing.