2023-12-11 11:30:23
Pan-European President Karl von Habsburg: The EU must finally become a geopolitical actor
Vienna (OTS) – In view of the upcoming EU Council, which will, among other things, address the key question of whether the EU wants to act as an independent geopolitical actor or whether it will continue to be content with well-sounding but empty slogans, this comes from Paneuropa Austria a clear commitment to starting accession negotiations with Ukraine and to the strategically important EU integration of the Western Balkan countries.
“Whoever seriously examines the security policy situation in Europe will come to the conclusion that starting accession negotiations with Ukraine is in the interest of both sides,” said Karl von Habsburg, President of the Austrian Pan-European Movement. This is regarding security and stability in Europe. “We all know that negotiations are not yet accession,” said Habsburg, “and that Ukraine also has a series of reform steps ahead of it in order to be able to join at all.”
For Ukraine, candidate status and the start of accession negotiations are a motivation both for the necessary further reform steps and for the fight for freedom and independence, which is also a fight for freedom and independence for the whole of Europe. “And it is a signal to Putin’s criminal regime that Europe will not be intimidated by war crimes.”
For the EU, Ukraine’s preparation for accession is a gain for security, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Because: The further we push the boundaries of freedom eastwards, the safer the middle becomes (a slogan of the former Pan-European President Otto von Habsburg from the time following the fall of the Iron Curtain, which is still valid today). It will also be necessary to take reform steps in the EU in order to bring the common goals of a Europe of freedom, security and justice back to the fore and to put national egoism in the background.
PanEurope clearly rejects attempts to play off the start of accession negotiations with Ukraine once morest the necessary integration of the six Western Balkan countries into the EU. “Anyone who acts like this is at most trying to cover up their own failures on the path to EU integration of the Western Balkan countries, which were already promised to join at the Thessaloniki summit 20 years ago,” said Karl von Habsburg.
Paneuropa Austria is also committed to sending much stronger military support to Ukraine, and quickly. “Any delay in the delivery of modern combat technology that will enable Ukraine to develop technological superiority on the battlefield will cost human lives. Both in Ukraine and in Russia,” the Pan-European President condemns the inhumane cynicism behind the hesitant attitude that only leads to a prolongation of the war. “No European head of government can have any interest in having Russian troops on the borders of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary or Romania.”
Note: The security policy situation in Europe and the necessary strengthening of a genuine European foreign and security policy will also be one of the focuses of the “Speech on the Future of Europe,” which Karl von Habsburg will give on January 11, 2024.
Questions & Contact:
Rainhard Kloucek
Pan-European movement Austria
[email protected]
mobil: +43 (0)676 4060955
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