This Vienna meeting explored the potential role the middle powers could play as a group to balance the pursuit of interests by the major powers.

In 2015, Austria celebrates the sixtieth year of its neutrality law, presenting the opportunity to give the concept of neutrality a fresh look. After the Second World War, Europe has been divided into two military and ideological blocs. The conference of Yalta seventy years ago stands for this creation of spheres of influence when neutrality became the exception to the rule.

2015 is also the thirtieth anniversary of the Helsinki-Final Act. During the CSCE-process the neutral and non-aligned states sharpened their profile as mediators between the two blocs. Can neutral states and Middle Powers play a role in a Helsinki II? After the end of the Cold War, Austria moved towards an “engaged neutrality”, which means active participation in international missions without being a member of an military alliance. This raises the question of whether neutral states in many ways can be more credible partners since they do not act in the interests of an alliance or a big power?