Vienna (PK) – Over the next two days, EU heads of state and government will meet in Brussels for a summit. The themes of the European Council will include current developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as migration, the economy and the multiannual financial framework. At today’s EU Main Committee, EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg briefed the mandates on this in advance. Due to his trip to Israel, Chancellor Karl Nehammer was represented by Secretary of State Claudia Plakolm. Criticism of Nehammer’s absence came from the opposition, especially the SPÖ and FPÖ.
The situation in the Middle East was also a dominant topic in the commission. It is completely clear that Israel has the right to self-defense and that there must be no inversion between perpetrator and victim, Edtstadler emphasized. The Chancellor traveled to Israel to express full solidarity there. Israel’s security is also a reason of state for Austria, Schallenberg said, given the state’s historical responsibility and position in the region.
The FPÖ failed to find a majority for two declaration motions with which it intended to give the government negotiating positions regarding the EU budget and distribution quotas for migrants to Brussels.
Edtstadler and Schallenberg inform the deputies
European heads of state and government had already expressed solidarity with Israel in a joint statement in mid-September, explained EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler. Over the next two days it will also be important for the European Council to send a unified message to the outside world. . From his point of view, it should amount to clearly condemning terrorism, calling for the release of the hostages and emphasizing Israel’s right to self-defense. According to Edtstadler, there is “great concern” that the war of aggression against Ukraine will be lost sight of in the face of developments in the Middle East. Here too, European solidarity is unbreakable. Pressure on Russia must continue to be maintained. Taking into account the tense situation in Kosovo, according to the EU Minister, it is important that the Council sends a clear signal that a solution can be found at the negotiating table. “We cannot allow more crises and wars in Europe,” said Edtstadler.
Regarding migration, Edtstadler reiterated the Austrian position that common financing is necessary for strong protection of external borders and for cooperation with third countries. The model for the asylum and migration pact is now in the European Parliament. The Austrian position is also clear on the issue of increasing the EU budget: together with other frugal states, Austria is clearly for and against reallocating existing funds. But the funds are important for Ukraine, especially for reconstruction.
Taking into account the conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh and Kosovo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, spoke of a “ring of fire that is increasingly closing around Europe”. Two points are now a priority in the Middle East: avoiding a “conflagration” caused by the spread of the conflict to Israel’s neighboring countries and the unconditional release of all hostages. A humanitarian crisis must also be avoided, while ensuring that aid only benefits the civilian population. He would ensure that not a single euro of Austrian taxpayers’ money would be channeled into anti-Semitic propaganda, and so he also suspended development aid payments pending a review. Another problem, according to Schallenberg, is a “tsunami of fake news”. He appealed to people not to transmit unfiltered information and thus run the risk of spreading Hamas propaganda.
Focus on the situation in the Middle East
Christian Oxonitsch (SPÖ) thanked the Minister for Foreign Affairs for his presence, but at the same time expressed surprise that what he considered to be the correct solidarity visit of the Federal Chancellor to Israel was taking place today, of all days – at same time as the EU Main Committee and the special session of the National Council. That was not the appropriate signal for parliament, Oxonitsch said. Petra Steger (FPÖ) described the “disrespect for parliament and the other parties in this house” as “disrespect and audacity”. For them, it would be appropriate for the Chancellor to be present in Parliament today.
In terms of content, Oxonitsch, like his parliamentary group colleague Petra Bayr (SPÖ), was interested in the review of the Austrian development cooperation payments to Palestine mentioned by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. They wanted to know when test results could be expected. He did not set a deadline, but assumes a report will be available in the coming weeks. Michel Reimon (Greens) asked about Austria’s policy towards Iran. The terrorist acts perpetrated by militias in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria are financed or controlled by Iran. In this context, relations are currently “in the freezer”, replied the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Georg Strasser (ÖVP) wanted to know how the safety of Jews in Europe could be guaranteed in light of recent anti-Semitic incidents. Edtstadler highlighted that Austria was the first EU country with a national strategy against anti-Semitism. But now many of the efforts have suddenly been delayed by three or four steps, she said soberly. There are attacks on Israeli flags and a sharp increase in anti-Semitic incidents. “The solution cannot be to put a police officer in front of every flag,” said the minister. Attitude must come from society, Edtstadler called for more civil courage. Nor does she have a magic potion against anti-Semitism. From her point of view, it is necessary to make Jewish life visible, protect it and show solidarity with Israel. Interjections came from the liberal ranks that anti-Semitism was “imported”. On this occasion, Selma Yildirim (SPÖ) spoke out clearly against this formulation and the objectification of people. Dagmar Belakowitsch and Christian Hafenecker (both FPÖ) also joined the debate. Belakowitsch identified an attempt to divert attention from the “failure of integration”. The truth is that there is an increase in anti-Semitic acts, all perpetrated by people from the Arab world. For Belakowitsch these are “imported problems”.
Deputies ask about aid for Ukraine
The situation in Ukraine was addressed by Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS), among others. He asked about the situation on the use of confiscated Russian assets for reconstruction in Ukraine. Edtstadler emphasized that this option is only possible if it is legally protected. Georg Bürstmayr (Greens) asked about specific support for Ukraine. Foreign Minister Schallenberg referred to new sanctions against Russia, for which he expects an agreement in November.
Petra Steger (FPÖ) also put the EU budget at stake in the context of the war against Ukraine. From the FPÖ’s point of view, an increase in the EU budget should be completely rejected, especially if it is intended to finance payments to Ukraine. Steger therefore presented a motion for a declaration with which the Freedom Party wanted to call on the government to veto the increase in the multi-year financial framework, including the planned payments to Ukraine. The request was not approved. EU Minister Edtstadler defended the Ukraine Mechanism. Most of these are loans that will be repaid, he emphasized.
Migration and EU enlargement are other topics of debate
Liberal MP Petra Steger also criticized the EU’s migration policy. The ÖVP “fell” with the planned migration pact. Steger considered the fact that the Minister of the Interior abstained from voting on a distribution mechanism as “electoral fraud”. Through a request for a statement, she wanted to appeal to the Chancellor to speak out against any form of distribution of migrants between EU states at the EU summit. Both mandatory admission quotas and fines for non-compliance must be rejected. The motion remained in the minority. Georg Strasser (ÖVP) was convinced that Interior Minister Karner was able to complete many milestones. Ernst Gödl (ÖVP) also considered it a credit to the Austrian federal government that migration policy has taken on such a high priority in the European Union in recent months.
Wolfgang Gerstl (ÖVP) spoke about the next steps in terms of EU expansion. Now that Europe is under pressure, cohesion is more important than ever, he said. EU Minister Edtstadler also saw things this way. The climate for membership of the Western Balkan States has changed enormously over the past three and a half years, she said. Austria specifically demands that accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina begin this year. In the case of Albania and North Macedonia, they are in favor of accession conferences and in the case of Kosovo, they are in favor of candidate status. Progress is also needed in Montenegro and Serbia. (Conclusion of the EU Main Committee) kar