“He’s the antithesis of the whole EU institution. He’s a assure that unlawful migration of this depth just isn’t potential.” Vilimsky additionally threatened that Austria, below an FPÖ-led federal authorities, might cease funds to Brussels. “After all, sure,” Vilimsky answered when requested whether or not an FPÖ finance minister might cease EU contributions. Stating that EU funds are agreed at intervals of a number of years (the present monetary framework runs till 2027), the FPÖ delegation chief stated: “Each journey begins with a primary step. Once I do not say what I would like and do nothing , I will not obtain something if I cease the funds, one thing must transfer there.”
He justified the demand with Austria’s internet payer standing, the army support for Ukraine and the corona vaccination doses for the EU inhabitants ordered by the incumbent EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen “by way of SMS for 35 billion euros”.
Öxit: Clear rejection
Vilimsky clearly rejected Öxit wishes. The FPÖ needs European cooperation. “We simply need to exchange folks as a result of they carry the incorrect content material. We need to slim down the European Union, we need to deliver competences once more into the parliaments of the member states in order that we have now extra direct democracy once more.”
Vilimsky additionally denied that his celebration wished to abolish direct elections to the European Parliament. “I don’t know that I spoke up for it,” he stated. In February, following a corresponding initiative by Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán, he stated that this was “undoubtedly value contemplating”. “That is no much less democratic than a direct election, as a result of the nationwide parliaments are democratically elected anyway,” Vilimsky argued on the time. “I’ve all the time stated, let’s lower this parliament in half,” he stated now. As a “reference measurement” he cited the US Home of Representatives with 435 members.
Simply as there is no such thing as a want for 720 MEPs for “27 commissioners to mistreat the continent”, Vilimsky additionally referred to as for a trustworthy interpretation of the EU Treaty of Lisbon, which stipulates a most measurement of two thirds of the member states (18 commissioners).
However, Vilimsky claimed the proper to appoint the Austrian EU Commissioner if the FPÖ had been to change into the strongest pressure within the European elections. On this regard, he drew a comparability to the appointment of the President of the Nationwide Council. “We advocate persevering with this custom that the strongest celebration has the proper to make proposals and the others settle for this as a lot as potential,” he stated.
Vilimsky answered the query with a transparent “no” as as to whether he, the FPÖ or associated associations had obtained cash from Russian, Ukrainian or Kazakh oligarchs or authorities representatives. Vilimsky was chairman of the Austrian-Ukrainian friendship group through the time of the pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, whose regime has been confirmed to have paid Western politicians comparable to former Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPÖ) for lobbying work. At the moment he spoke out in favor of Ukraine becoming a member of the EU.
Ukraine’s EU accession: “Attention-grabbing possibility from the angle of the time”
“From the angle of the time, that may have been an attention-grabbing possibility that may have needed to be mentioned,” stated Vilimsky. Right now, EU membership for Ukraine is “fully unthinkable” and “full insanity” as a result of the nation is at conflict and the geopolitical state of affairs has fully modified. “I additionally don’t need Georgia and Moldova to be within the EU,” he added. Of the six candidate nations within the Western Balkans, he sees “at most Serbia as a potential a part of the European Union,” he answered a query. Nonetheless, the nation should meet the Copenhagen accession standards and likewise maintain a referendum to make sure that EU membership truly corresponds to the desires of the native inhabitants.
Indignantly, Vilimsky rejected the persistent accusation made by his political opponents of being a Russian facet and referred to his shut and lively contacts within the USA. “I see myself within the Austrian custom in the course of the pressure fields,” he emphasised. He does not need to shake the neutrality. Austria shouldn’t come to the army support of an EU member state that’s below assault. “We’re impartial. We can not enter right into a conflict,” he clarified.
Criticism of the federal authorities
Vilimsky criticized the protection actions of the turquoise-green federal authorities, such because the “knocking letter to NATO” or the participation in Sky Defend. “I do not see the slightest state of affairs that Austria shall be caught in a hail of rockets, as was the case with Israel.” Neutrality just isn’t solely a part of Austria’s id, however can be “an lively protection instrument for Austria,” believes the MEP. “I do not suppose it is practical {that a} nation that has dedicated itself to neutrality would change into the goal of an assault.” Impartial nations are “the final ones (…) to be drawn into conflicts anyplace.”
The EU veteran, who’s already operating for his third time period in workplace, was open to taking up a “key function” throughout the right-wing populist faction “Identification and Democracy” (ID). “If the decision got here my option to be a part of a administration crew, I might be completely happy to take action,” stated the earlier FPÖ delegation chief. Nonetheless, he’s not concerned with a management place within the European Parliament – comparable to a vice-president place – as a result of he doesn’t need to use the bell in his hand to remind folks to stay to talking time.
“Putin is a brake, you are proper”
“Putin is a brake, you are proper,” he stated when requested in regards to the cooperation of the EU-sceptic events, that are divided into three camps – non-attached events, ID and the European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR) group. Earlier than the “conflict state of affairs” they had been already “very, very shut” to one another. “It is going to be solved sooner or later, it must be solved,” as a result of all events have realized “that measurement is energy” and “you may solely change issues with an acceptable variety of mandates.” However, Vilimsky admitted that voting habits was very completely different throughout the ID faction. As a “bracket for our actions”, the events demand the switch of European competencies once more to the member states. In any other case, the precept “We conform to disagree” applies, says Vilimsky.
