Austria Much of the former Yugoslavia (including Northern Serbia) was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. There’s a continuing underlying sensitivity about the instability of the region. In recent times, Austria has prided itself on its neutrality. It is not a member of Nato and has indicated that Nato warplanes would not be able to use Austrian airspace. President Thomas Klestil has said he hoped that the suffering of the civilian population could be reduced to the minimum. Austria has also expressed concern about refugees and the possibility of Serb terrorism in Europe.