chief lay organization, Catholic
Action
other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or
OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment
organizations in the areas of environment and human rights

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional
members), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission
Andreas Riecken
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David F. GIRARD-DICARLO
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0
FAX: [43] (1) 3100682

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

Economy
Austria

Economy - overview:

Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of
living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's.
The Austrian economy also benefits greatly from strong commercial
relations, especially in the banking and insurance sectors, with
central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. The economy features a
large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but
highly developed agricultural sector. Membership in the EU has drawn
an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the
single European market and proximity to the new EU economies. The
outgoing government has successfully pursued a comprehensive
economic reform program, aimed at streamlining government and
creating a more competitive business environment, further
strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investment location. It
has implemented effective pension reforms; however, lower taxes in
2005-06 led t