Austria became a member of the European Union (EU) on January 1, 1995, as part of the EU enlargement to several Central and Eastern European countries. Its accession to the EU involved negotiations and processes of harmonization with EU rules and standards.
Regarding the European anthem, it is indeed based on Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," the final movement of his Ninth Symphony. This melody was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1972 as the European anthem and later by the European Union. It symbolizes European unity and identity beyond national borders.
