Sobotka: Austria will never tire of supporting the EU accession process
Vienna (PK) – “Focus on the Western Balkans: Hopes, Setbacks, New Perspectives and the Effects of Ukraine’s War on the Region” – under this title Parliamentary Director Harald Dossi and the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group invited to the discussion in Parliament yesterday at the Hofburg. The main focus was the process of integration of the Western Balkan countries to the EU, which is stalled, and the war against Ukraine, which threatens Europe and its values.
“Austrian foreign policy will never tire of supporting the countries of the Western Balkans in their accession process”, assured the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, in his opening speech. The Western Balkans have been the focus of the Austrian Parliament’s work for a long time. However, the prospect of Ukraine’s accession formulated by the EU Commission must not run counter to the sometimes enormous efforts in the countries of the Western Balkans. The President of the National Council also expressed his concern about a new armed conflict, for example in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Russia’s attack on Ukraine has brought the region back into international consciousness.
“Tonight is dedicated to commemorating Erhard Busek, who dedicated his life to a united Europe,” underlined Parliament Director Harald Dossi. It is essential to introduce the countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union. Both partners would have to make their contribution to this. On the one hand, the EU must fulfill the promises it has made, on the other hand, in the countries of the Western Balkans, it is a question of consistently continuing the reform processes that have begun.
In his keynote speech, political scientist Damir Kapidžić, who joined the University of Sarajevo, discussed the effects of the Ukraine war on the Western Balkan states. Therefore, there are no common views of the population in the respective countries. Positions would range from reluctance to outright condemnation of the invasion of Russia. However, the current war is bringing back memories of the 1990s and re-traumatizing people. Basically, Kapidžić assumes that there is security in the region. However, this should not be equated with stability. As for the consequences for the European accession process, Kapidžić still does not see a decision in the EU on how to deal with the Western Balkan countries in the future.
In his opening speech, the head of the Center for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz, Florian Bieber, also addressed the consequences of the Russian war of aggression for the Western Balkans. This brings clarity that an authoritarian regime is a threat to democracy and the rule of law. Furthermore, the conflict in Ukraine shows the urgency of the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU. Here the European peace project could be filled with life. According to Bieber, it’s about formulating a clear political will and rethinking European integration. Words must now be followed by actions.
Debate with representatives of bilateral parliamentary groups
In a panel discussion with Kapidžić, representatives and members of the bilateral parliamentary groups, namely Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens) from the Austria-Albania group, Bedrana Ribo (Greens) for Austria-Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carmen Jeitler-Cincelli for Austria-Kosovo (ÖVP), Eva Blimlinger (Greens) for Austria-Montenegro, Christian Buchmann (ÖVP) for Austria-North Macedonia and Gudrun Kugler (ÖVP) for Austria-Serbia. The moderator was the director of the European Fund for the Balkans, Aleksandra Tomanić, and the university professor Bieber.
From the point of view of Eva Blimlinger (Greens), there were always problems in the solutions for the historical dimension in the Western Balkans after conflicts and wars, which brought new difficulties. Even if it is difficult, she considers it necessary to “bring all the Western Balkans” in the process and also to keep in mind the multi-ethnicity of the countries. Blimlinger pointed to country knowledge, that is, tourism and general exchange at all levels, as an important driving force.
Austria and the EU would do a lot for Serbia, but the population barely saw it, said Gudrun Kugler (ÖVP). The goal here is to fill a void and be more visible. According to Kugler, the EU would not be complete without the Western Balkans, and Serbia is an important part. A big issue for her is also to seek positive dialogue with people from Serbia living in Austria, as well as ongoing parliamentary cooperation to build bridges. In any case, from the point of view of Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens), it is important not only to speak, but with the countries of the Western Balkans and to work together with them on perspectives. Many of the countries turned their backs on the prospect of membership. According to her, the concerns of civil society should also have a greater voice. But even within the EU, Ernst-Dziedzic sees the task of further developing the union as a union of values.
Christian Buchmann (ÖVP) agreed that new dynamics are needed in the region and that dialogue must be intensified. The Austrian Parliament is taking a good approach in this area, both with the recent involvement of young people in discussions on the Conference on the Future of Europe, but also with twinning projects. Bedrana Ribo (Greens) said that Austria plays a very special role in Bosnia and Herzegovina with regard to the EU issue. Currently, people have other difficult problems in an unstable political situation, and young people are also migrating to a large extent. International society must be aware of this.
Carmen Jeitler-Cincelli (ÖVP) said that many of the Western Balkan countries have done their homework in relation to the EU. In Kosovo she sees a lot of vigor, now it’s a question of regaining confidence. The war in Ukraine is also a historic opportunity to find a joint response and establish an exchange with common strength. Damir Kapidžić also added that the region now has to be talked about again and differently, and that action must follow, especially as trust can no longer be built on words alone. In his opinion, the EU should also talk about how states with a more complex structure, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, can be integrated.
The Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG), which invited to this event together with the Parliament today, is a joint initiative of the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) and the Center for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz (CSEES) promote the European integration of the Western Balkans and the democratic development of this region. BiEPAG is made up of numerous scientists from the Western Balkans and across Europe and would like to support and advance this process with its experience. (close) med/mbu
NOTE: Photos of this event can be found on the Parliament website.
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