European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) was disappointed with the outcome of the EU Future Conference. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go as expected,” Edtstadler said Monday at the presentation of Austria’s report on activities at the conference in Vienna. “A lot of time was wasted on procedural issues and inter-institutional disputes. There was very little discussion about acute problems and concrete solutions,” said the former deputy.
required reforms
The EU must “immediately initiate essential reforms”, Edtstadler said. “Our progress and our European way of life are at risk,” she said, referring to the war in Ukraine and associated economic difficulties, such as inflation or the disruption of supply chains.
Edtstadler spoke shortly before the ceremonial delivery of the conference’s final report to the heads of EU institutions in Strasbourg. With regard to the Austrian contribution, the politician ÖVP made a positive assessment. 1,421 contributions to the conference came from Austria, which places the country in “7th place in the comparison of EU countries”, measured in terms of population even in the top 6 out of 27 countries.
“We can see that the development of the European Union is important for Austrians,” Edtstadler said with satisfaction. In this context, she also highlighted the role of the Federal Government. “On average in a year in Germany there was an activity every two days as part of the EU Future Conference.”
EU policy according to Kurz-Line
In terms of content, Edtstadler confirmed the European political line defined by former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), namely that in many areas “more communitarization than before” is needed, but “all the problems that can be better solved in the states (…) must also remain a national responsibility”. The ideas expressed by citizens, civil society and business “specify the direction in which the EU must evolve. Until now, however, we have been looking in vain for real reforms at European level to derive from them”, complained Edtstadler.
increase defenses
The Minister for Europe therefore presented her own proposals in detail. First, Europe must “put its own interests first”, she called for an expansion of European defense, a functional external border protection and a new impetus in the enlargement process in order to neutralize the influence of Moscow and Beijing. in Europe.
Accession of Ukraine linked to the accession of the Western Balkans
Edtstadler supported Ukraine’s rapprochement with the EU and described it as “an important signal”. However, corresponding measures must also be taken in the Western Balkans. “If we want to give Ukraine the green light, then there must also be the green light for Albania and North Macedonia. If Ukraine is to be given candidate status, then Bosnia and Herzegovina must also be given candidate status,” Edtstadler demanded.
In the economic sector, Edtstadler reiterated his criticism of the EU bureaucracy. “Our claim must be to be world champions of innovation, champions of value creation and therefore pioneers of the highest quality of life. Today, we are world champions of over-regulation.”
The EU must “orient itself towards opportunities and not towards risks”, it called, for example, for the elimination of existing barriers in the internal market, for the strengthening of the capital market and for a “European commitment to avoid plating”, or namely that member states have higher standards of protection than specified in EU directives.
Immigration for skilled workers must be facilitated
Edtstadler also advocated making the European labor market more flexible, for example to facilitate international remote work. In addition, immigration opportunities for skilled workers must be facilitated. In terms of financial policy, he insisted on meeting the Maastricht criteria, but also called on the European Central Bank to reconsider its zero interest policy in the face of high inflation. “The European Central Bank is also needed. With inflation now at eight percent, we are far from the two percent target,” she told the Frankfurt monetary authorities.
Institutionally, Edtstadler spoke out in favor of a legal anchoring of the system of leading candidates in EU elections, which was previously practiced only informally. Furthermore, each country must have its EU commissioner and the European Parliament must “finally establish a single permanent seat in Strasbourg or Brussels”. In the dispute over violations of the EU’s core values, Edtstadler called for “an anchoring of the conditionality of the rule of law in EU treaties”. In Article 7 cases (against Poland and Hungary) one must “proactively” seek solutions and “resolve the impasse with understanding from all sides”.
In a later discussion with former Chancellor Wolfgang Bowl (ÖVP), Edtstadler admitted that not all proposals can be implemented and referred to the unanimity requirement in this regard. She emphasized that the end of the Future Conference was “only the beginning” and that it should be implemented now. Bowl was skeptical about the idea of calling a formal convention now. Instead, the focus should be on what can be “done within the framework of applicable treaties”. At the same time, in view of constitutional violators like Hungary, she advocated that the EU, in the face of current “external threats”, try to alleviate internal tensions rather than increase them.