2023-05-17 09:00:31
“I’m retiring at the end of October next year, i.e. at the end of this mandate. Until then, of course, I’ll continue to work with full enthusiasm – there’s still a lot to do in my department. But three successful terms of office are enough,” said Hahn. Salzburg News” (Wednesday edition). Hahn thus confirmed statements that had previously been attributed to him by the “Standard” (Tuesday edition). The “Standard” had reported that Hahn had already announced his retirement “internally”. “I will look at the further development as a pensioner,” he was quoted as saying. Hahn is already the longest-serving member of the 27-strong EU authority, in which each member state has a representative. After the 2009 European elections, the then red-black coalition sent him to Brussels, which nominated him once more five years later. Hahn owes his third term to the Ibiza affair, which marks its fourth anniversary today. Before the European elections at the end of May 2019, the EU election candidate and State Secretary Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) was set as the new EU Commissioner, but the fall of the Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) cabinet intervened. The government of experts under Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein nominated Hahn following consultations with the National Council parties.
The former Viennese ÖVP boss and Minister of Science currently holds the important portfolio for budget and officials. In his first term he was responsible for EU enlargement, in his second for EU regional policy. Hahn also has an important position within the largest European party family, the EPP. He is one of ten vice-presidents of the European People’s Party (EPP).
If the turquoise-green federal government is still in office in the summer of 2024, a candidate from the Chancellor’s Party is likely to be sent to Brussels. Since Austria joined the EU in 1995, ÖVP politicians had been represented in the Brussels authorities. From today’s perspective, Edtstadler, who has meanwhile been promoted to EU minister, should have good cards. When asked regarding this, the lawyer replied with the German translation of the well-known Latin phrase of modesty “Nihil petere, nihil recusare”: “Don’t strive for anything, don’t refuse anything.” Referring to her previous work at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg, she added that it is “no secret that I have an international ‘second heart'”. At the same time, she emphasized that this question does not arise “at the moment” and that she is doing her current job “with body and soul”.
Hahn also commented on Austrian domestic politics in the “SN” interview. “I can’t imagine Chancellor Herbert Kickl (FPÖ),” he said. “He doesn’t have an absolute majority in the polls. He would first have to find a partner. But everyone says: Not with him.” From a European point of view, he would like “member states with stable governments and a sober but positive European agenda. If you don’t have them, you’ll cut off the branch you’re sitting on,” said Hahn, who at the same time complained that the “My Country first” rhetoric (…) unfortunately nothing unusual anymore”. “EU membership is not a question of a love marriage,” he emphasized. Rather, it is needed “for our freedom and sovereignty” because Austria alone internationally seen nowhere”.
Hahn sees “everything open” in the race for the Turkish presidency. “I hope that on May 28 the true will of the electorate will be expressed,” he said, referring to the irregularities identified by the OSCE election observers in the first ballot. When asked regarding a possible thawing of EU accession talks with Turkey, former EU enlargement commissioner Hahn said: “I assume that’s a permafrost constellation.” On the other hand, he reaffirmed Ukraine’s EU prospects, but at the same time referred to the estimated reconstruction costs of between 300 and 700 billion euros. “There can be no war discount when it comes to membership. Many conditions that are the same for everyone have to be met,” he emphasized.
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