As Austria, I have 7 preeminent goals:

1)Crush whoever soils the Balkans, wipe out Venice and rule the Adriatic
2)Stave off the pagan Prussians until Silesia is heavily fortified, then counter-attack
3)Carry the Cross to the infidels in Costantinople/Istambul
4)Chop up the Orthodox Russkies
5)Bribe the Pope for moral support
6)Marry, marry, marry, bring young ripe princesses and their dowries into my folds
7)Hope nobody realizes what's lurking in the Alps until it's too late