Austria takes the reins of Europe

Donald Bandler and Peter Rashish of Kissinger McLarty Associates, an international strategic advisory firm, are cautiously optimistic about Austria's leadership stint. "Because it combines low unemployment, labour market flexibility and respectable economic growth with social equality - but nonetheless is in the geographic core of the EU - Austria is well placed to build on the UK presidency's efforts to revive the stalled Lisbon strategy of reform. (...) The Austrian EU presidency will face risks, the foremost of which are at home. Parliamentary elections will be held in 2006, either in the spring (during Austria's presidency period) or in the early autumn. (...) No better time, then, to let the enlightened, cosmopolitan spirit of Mozart, whose 250th birthday will be celebrated next year in Vienna, guide the country's turn at the EU helm."

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