Opposition calls on development cooperation, South Tyrol and repatriation agreements remain on hold
Vienna (PK) – The Foreign Policy Committee of the National Council passed a resolution on Austria’s position regarding Turkey’s actions in Syria and Iraq with a large majority. The starting point was a demand by the three opposition parties for a firm condemnation of the Turkish attacks on northeastern Syria and northern Iraq. This request was supported only by the contributing parliamentary groups SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS and was therefore rejected by a majority. Subsequently, however, the committee passed a resolution in which the federal government is called upon to work at all levels to ensure that Turkey fulfills its obligations under international law. The candidacy was put forward by the ÖVP, SPÖ, Greens and NEOS and was also supported by MPs from those groups.
SPÖ motions to demand the federal government work towards the release of imprisoned journalists in Turkey and to condemn the ongoing banning process against Turkey’s People’s Democratic Party (HDP) have been postponed. The mandatory reporting requirement on Austrian arms exports was also postponed. A request by the SPÖ to fund domestic development work was also put on hold. A motion by the SPÖ to correct the Austrian ODA quota (ODA = Official Development Assistance, consisting of bilateral aid and payments to international organizations) was unanimously assigned to the EZA subcommittee.
Two requests for readmission agreements for rejected asylum seekers were also postponed. The FPÖ wants more bilateral agreements, while the NEOS wants to tie trade privileges to repatriation agreements.
Two FPÖ motions on South Tyrol issues were also postponed after a short debate.
Opposition wants Turkish attacks in northeast Syria and northern Iraq condemned and stopped
The three opposition parties SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS have tabled a joint motion in which they want to call on the federal government to condemn ongoing Turkish attacks against Kurdish targets in northern and eastern Syria in the strongest possible terms at national, European and international level. . The federal government and, in particular, the foreign minister must take every opportunity in relation to Turkey’s official representatives to insist on an end to violent attacks on Kurds and the observance of human rights, the motion says, but this does not have a Committee majority found (3083/A(E)).
However, the ÖVP, SPÖ, Greens and NEOS agreed in committee on a joint motion for a resolution. In it, the federal government is called upon to work at all levels to ensure that Turkey fully complies with its obligations under international law. In particular, Austria must work on behalf of Turkey to protect the civilian population, including the Kurdish population, and to protect human and fundamental rights in northern Syria and northern Iraq. The federal government must continue to commit to humanitarian support for the civilian population in Syria, Iraq and Turkey.
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg stressed that Austria and the EU had already taken a clear position and expected Turkey to fulfill all its obligations under international law. This position remains unchanged.
SPÖ calls for mandatory reporting on Austrian arms exports
As Austrian weapons would repeatedly appear in conflicts, more transparency must be created, argued SPÖ MP Petra Bayr. Therefore, a legal basis is needed for the annual reports on arms exports from Austria (3162/A(E)). According to Bayr, greater attention should also be given to dual-use goods, as these would always end up in conflict regions. According to reports, the Myanmar regime, for example, used drones with components made in Austria for brutal repressive measures. Henrike Brandstötter (NEOS) also advocated for a better definition of “dual use”. Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens) said it was an important issue, but it made sense to debate it in the Defense Committee, where an identical motion had already been tabled.
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said he could rule out dual-use goods having been exported to Myanmar in recent years. In principle, the EU lists which goods cannot be exported to conflict regions as “dual use”. Given the ever-evolving technical developments, it makes sense, from his point of view, to have flexible regulations that allow for constant fine-tuning.
Turkey: SPÖ calls for release of journalists, criticizes HDP ban
In addition to the consequences of the devastating earthquake in parts of Turkey, the SPÖ is alarmed by the deteriorating political situation in the country, especially in relation to the restriction of press freedom and the situation of journalists. She is therefore in favor of the federal government once again clearly expressing the demand for freedom of the press and expression of opinion in Turkey and for the release of Turkish journalists (3252/A(E)). ÖVP MP Carmen Jeitler-Cincelli pointed out that the National Council had already campaigned for freedom of expression in Turkey with a resolution in March 2022. This position remains unchanged, it justified the request to postpone the application of the SPÖ.
The SPÖ is also making a second attempt regarding the ongoing banning process against the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey. Harald Troch (SPÖ) pointed out that the third largest democratically legitimized party in the country, which advocates a democratic and pluralistic Turkey in its program and party policies, now faces increasingly strong attacks from the Turkish government. The Minister for Foreign Affairs must therefore once again condemn the ban and campaign bilaterally and at European level for the enforcement of democratic structures in Turkey (3253/A(E)) Here too there was a delay. Nico Marchetti (ÖVP) argued that Austria had already taken a clear position, so he saw no added value in an almost identical resolution. Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens) advocated keeping a close eye on the situation in view of the upcoming elections in Turkey.
SPÖ: Do not include Sudan debt relief in ODA quota
SPÖ MEP Petra Bayr finds unjustified “cosmetic figures” in the finance minister’s budget forecasts with regard to Austria’s ODA share. Austria’s contribution to Sudan’s debt relief has not been paid in recent years, but this position can be found in the budget documents and makes Austria’s ODA quota look higher than it actually is. Bayr therefore asks that the ODA quota be produced, which does not automatically take into account any debt reductions in Sudan from year to year (3044/A(E)). According to the information available, the Minister of Finance is also interested in clarifying this situation, explained the SPÖ deputy. Her request that the application be assigned to the EZA subcommittee for preliminary consultation was unanimously accepted.
FPÖ and NEOS are demanding amended access to repatriation agreements
The FPÖ demand for the conclusion of new bilateral readmission agreements was once again on the agenda. Focus should be on Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Somalia and Egypt (2292/A(E)). Liberals complain that Austria is currently one of the EU member states most affected by migration. The number of deportations, repatriations or voluntary departures, on the other hand, is “very manageable”, noted FPÖ MP Axel Kassegger. From your group’s point of view, the solution should be sought bilaterally rather than always referring to the EU.
NEOS are also in favor of expanding repatriation agreements. The EU Commission has set a target of 70% for the return of rejected asylum seekers, but the EU average is just 30%, argues Nikolaus Scherak (NEOS) in a proposed resolution. Henrike Brandstötter explained that, as several states refuse to take back their citizens, his parliamentary group proposes to link trade privileges of non-cooperative states to repatriation agreements (3193/A(E)).
Michel Raimon (Greens) was in favor of postponing the motions. The FPÖ’s demand cannot be realized in view of the political conditions of the mentioned countries, he said. The NEOS request is particularly problematic for him because what he is asking for as “commercial privileges” are nothing more than agreements to protect the world’s poorest countries.
Subcommittee reports on FPÖ matters relating to South Tyrol
After the processing of the motions by the FPÖ in the subcommittee of the National Council of South Tyrol, the subcommittee reports on two motions were on the agenda of the Foreign Relations Committee today. FPÖ MP Peter Wurm sees a progressive “Italianization” of the administration in South Tyrol, which must be stopped (2403/A(E)). Ewa Dziedzic (Greens) was in favor of postponing the candidacy. What the FPÖ calls “Italianization” is the inclusion of 100 people in the administration of South Tyrol.
Wurm also wants the foreign minister to initiate an Austrian-Italian agreement to allow traditional and marine associations to carry weapons across borders (2585/A(E)). Nikolaus Belakowitsch (ÖVP) referred to the resumption of negotiations to resolve this point and spoke in favor of the postponement here as well.
SPÖ demands funding for domestic development work
SPÖ MP Petra Bayr believes that domestic development work needs to be updated. She calls for the United Nations proposal to be followed and for at least 3% of development cooperation funds to be earmarked for domestic work, and for funding in this area to be valued annually (263 / A (E)). Bayr was dissatisfied with the fact that the request had already been postponed several times and, most recently, had been assigned to the Subcommittee on Development Cooperation, but it was not discussed in substance there either. ÖVP representative Martin Engelberg pointed to the increase in development cooperation funds that had already taken place and defended the postponement of the candidacy. (Closure of the Foreign Affairs Committee) sox
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