2024-03-18 19:39:35
Chancellor Nehammer and EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler inform MPs in advance of the European Council meeting
Vienna (PK) – Security policy issues, particularly with regard to the war in Ukraine, the fight once morest illegal migration and the EU’s expansion plans in the Western Balkans, were the dominant topics at the meeting EU Main Committee, which met today ahead of the European Council meeting on 21 and 22 March. Chancellor Karl Nehammer and EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler answered questions from MPs.
Regarding Ukraine, Nehammer emphasized the importance of including non-European countries such as the BRICS countries in the peace brokering process. Due to statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron, MPs particularly spoke out once morest any sending of troops from EU member states to the war zone. The SPÖ and FPÖ submitted two motions for a statement in which they called on the federal government to “vehemently” speak out once morest such deployment at the EU level – not even to the medical or demining service, as both motions state. In its initiative, the SPÖ also calls on the federal government to continue to clearly condemn Russia’s war of aggression and to work within the EU to “keep the channels of communication open” and to find a peace solution. Both proposals remained in the minority. Nehammer made it clear that sending troops from member states would not represent a position capable of gaining a majority within the EU anyway.
On the subject of migration, Nehammer reported on the EU’s partnership agreement with Egypt that was finalized yesterday. Agreements like this as well as greater investments in external border protection are intended to repair the “broken EU asylum system”.
Both Nehammer and Edtstadler welcomed the EU-level accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina – despite concerns, particularly regarding the rule of law in the country. Both were convinced that the accession process might act as a “motor for reform”.
Ukraine: Nehammer wants to involve countries in the global south more closely in the peace process
In his introductory statement, Chancellor Nehammer insisted on the inclusion of “big players from the global south” – in particular the BRICS states – in peace efforts in view of the continuing “spiral of escalation” in the Ukraine war. In the EU there is a “Western echo chamber” in which agreement can be reached quickly, while the perspectives outside Europe are often different. It is therefore important to also take non-European perspectives and allies into account in peacemaking. Nehammer saw valuable potential in India and China in particular – whose support the USA would also seek. In addition, it must be ensured that the BRICS states do not circumvent the sanction once morest Russia and that the aggressor is isolated, as Wolfgang Gerstl (ÖVP) added.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s considerations regarding sending European ground troops to Ukraine also caused a need for discussion in the committee. FPÖ mandater Axel Kassegger spoke of a dangerous “attack of Napoleonism” that points towards military escalation. Philip Kucher and Mario Lindner (both SPÖ) also spoke out once morest such considerations. Lindner asked Nehammer whether he had also taken a position once morest it at the EU level. According to Nehammer, Macron’s statements only came following a conference on the Ukraine war in Paris. It was clear from the start that this was not a position capable of gaining a majority within the EU. Austria is clearly committed to de-escalation, which Nehammer also demonstrated with his trips to both Kiev and Moscow. Wolfgang Gerstl emphasized that there was no legal basis for sending Austrian soldiers to Ukraine, which is why he was surprised at the FPÖ’s request. Martin Engelberg also saw the proposal as a “political maneuver” that tended to confirm the Chancellor’s position.
Mario Lindner (SPÖ), Axel Kassegger (FPÖ) and David Stögmüller (Greens) were interested in the question of gas supply security. While Stögmüller saw the purchase of Russian gas as support for Putin’s “war machine”, Kassegger doubted the feasibility of energy independence from Russia in light of an announcement by the Ukrainian Energy Minister that no more Russian gas would be allowed to pass through Ukraine from 2025. Chancellor Nehammer spoke of several measures that had been taken to ensure the “strategic reserve of the republic” and to achieve supply independence from Russian gas. The current gas storage level is “more than good” and will be further improved over the summer. With regard to energy independence from Russia, Nehammer mentioned the expansion of the WAG Loop (new section of the West Austria gas pipeline) to ensure gas supplies from Western Europe and the leasing of pipeline capacities for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Wolfgang Gerstl (ÖVP), Mario Lindner (SPÖ), Georg Bürstmayr (Greens) and Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) also discussed the human rights situation in Russia. Nehammer explained that Austria had supported all of the 13 sanctions packages and would not hesitate to decide on more if this became necessary.
Migration: “Broken” EU asylum system should be repaired, according to Nehammer
Both Chancellor Nehammer and EU Minister Edtstadler emphasized that Austria had played a leading role in bringing regarding a paradigm shift in migration and asylum at EU level. It is necessary to repair the “broken EU asylum system” as migration pressure on Europe continues to increase, said Nehammer. He cited investments in border protection and agreements with third countries “on an equal footing” as the most important means of combating illegal immigration. As an example of the latter, Nehammer reported on the EU’s partnership agreement with Egypt, which was finalized in Cairo the day before and which Wolfgang Gerstl (ÖVP), David Stögmüller (Greens) and Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) inquired regarding. This not only brings an improvement in the migration situation for Europe, but through sustainable cooperation it also brings economic benefits for Egypt, which has suffered loss of income due to the crisis in the Suez Canal and the attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea. Cooperation with the EU would at the same time create perspectives on site and thus reduce the pressure on the external borders, explained Nehammer.
It is now important to convince even more EU member states of the paradigm shift and increased cooperation with third countries, also in order to break the smugglers’ business model and end the deaths in the Mediterranean. The planned processing of asylum procedures in safe third countries does not mean a worsening of the situation for asylum seekers, as the facilities provided for this would be based on the standards of the UNHCR, as Nehammer explained. The human rights situation in Egypt and the situation in the Gaza Strip were also discussed in Cairo.
EU enlargement: accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina as a “reform engine”
Another focus of the committee debate was the accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina planned at EU level. Andreas Minnich (ÖVP), Axel Kassegger (FPÖ), Jakob Schwarz (Greens), and Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) were interested in this. Kassegger was particularly critical, describing the Western Balkan state as a “failed state” and fearing serious disadvantages for Austria if it joined the EU. Brandstätter also saw a functioning rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina as “not present at the moment”.
Chancellor Nehammer agreed with the criticism, but emphasized that the accession process might act as a “driver of reform” for the country, although there were major concerns, particularly regarding the role of Republika Srpska. This is already evident, as there have been “significantly more efforts” on the part of Bosnia and Herzegovina to comply with the EU criteria. “Old fault lines” also threaten to break open once more if the EU’s influence dwindles, said Nehammer.
EU Minister Edtstadler was also convinced that the EU “cannot afford” another crisis in Europe. She also saw that the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina had not yet been developed to the necessary level. But it is precisely this development that should be promoted through the accession negotiations and “gradual integration”. It’s regarding “exporting stability instead of importing instability,” said Edtsstadler.
The MPs were also interested in the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip, measures once morest anti-Semitism, the European defense industry, Hungary’s role within the EU, free trade agreements and the EU’s economic competitiveness. (End) wit
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