Austrians to vote over sanctions

Chancellor Schuessel plans referendum later this year

Austria is to hold a national referendum on the sanctions imposed by the European Union against the government in Vienna.

The announcement was made by Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel after a meeting of the country's policy-making coalition committee.

He said the referendum would be held on 20 October or 26 November unless the sanctions, which were imposed in response to the inclusion of the far-right Freedom Party in Austria's coalition government, were lifted in the meantime.

Last week, the Chancellor said he would co-operate with an EU plan to send a three-man inspection team to investigate human rights issues in Austria.

Freezing contacts

But he strongly criticised the plan, saying that its proposals were vague and came with no definite commitment to lift the sanctions.

Joerg Haider, who dominates the extreme right wing Freedom Party despite resigning as leader last month, has expressed support for the referendum.

He believes it will embarrass the other EU countries by demonstrating that Austrians oppose the sanctions.

Voters in the referendum will be asked six questions, the first of which is: "Should the government, as part of the impending reform of the EU Treaty, ensure with all suitable means that the sanctions unjustly imposed on Austria by other member states of the European Union be immediately lifted."

Expansion veto

The BBC correspondent in Austria says the government stands to lose face if less than 50% of the electorate turns out to vote.

If, on the other hand, more than half the electorate expressed dissatisfaction with the sanctions, then the government would be under pressure to take concrete action, she says.

This could include using an Austrian veto of EU reforms vital for the bloc's expansion, which might further isolate the government in Vienna.

The 14 other EU member countries froze bilateral political contacts with Vienna on 4 February after Mr Schuessel formed a coalition with the Freedom Party, which is widely considered to be racist and xenophobic.

The stand-off has overshadowed EU business ever since.