Lord McNally, who is also leader of Liberal Democrat peers, said a further ECHR ruling in April in relation to Austria had "narrowed even further the terms by which votes could be denied to prisoners".

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Gladstone announced treaties that further reduced tariffs affecting trade with Austria, Belgium and the German states.

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Austria and Vienna have gone further still by regularly improving these facilities.

UN: Secretary-General

In Germany, the Bavarians have reluctantly removed border posts with Austria, only to reinstate police controls further inland.

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While the report is widely expected to be positive, public opinion in France, Germany, Austria and elsewhere is becoming increasingly reluctant to accept a further enlargement of the EU, especially to include a large Muslim nation like Turkey.

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