Minister for Europe Edtstadler: The EU must solve big cross-border problems
Vienna (PK) – “Let’s go to the United States of Europe. Make Europe capable of taking decisions, prepared for the future and, above all, capable of defending!”. NEOS has today presented the current European time at the National Council under this title. The club’s president, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, spoke out in favor of moving away from the principle of unanimity in matters of foreign policy and security in the European Union. For the Minister of Europe, Karoline Edtstadler, the strength and success of the EU is based on solving big problems across borders. Secretary of State Claudia Plakolm spoke out against a “federal superstate of the United States of Europe”.
Meinl-Reisinger: EU strategically inhibited by unanimity principle
According to NEOS club head Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Europe currently lacks the capacity to act, make decisions and defend itself to ensure economic influence, freedom and prosperity. The principle of unanimity in the EU may be in Austria’s interest as a small country, but that means the EU as a whole is strategically inhibited, Meinl-Reisinger pointed out. She cannot understand why Austria is not part of the initiative of several EU countries to revise the principle of unanimity in the field of foreign and security policy. In view of “Putin’s neo-imperialist thirst for power, we, like Austria and Europe, must be on the defensive. The US will not always rush to our aid to ensure peace and freedom,” said the head of NEOS. Meinl-Reisinger doubted that Austria “under the guise of neutrality” would be a reliable and determined partner in building a defensible army in Europe. But that requires a pro-European ÖVP, which currently has partners like Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
NEOS MEP Claudia Gamon criticized Austria’s “veto policy”. This is “selfish, short-sighted and good for short-term domestic political headlines”. For example, the aftermath of the “Schengen veto” is fueling anti-European sentiment in Romania. For Gamon, it is a self-determined European defense policy to ensure freedom, democracy and human rights in a united Europe. Douglas Hoyos-Trauttmansdorff (NEOS) found “no big difference” between the ÖVP and the FPÖ approach to European politics. In the field of defense policy, Austria talks about neutrality and forgets about solidarity. For example, the refusal to provide mine clearance assistance to Ukraine in Europe is perceived as a “blocker”.
Edtstadler: The EU must solve the main problems across borders
“The last three years can be described in one word: a state of emergency,” said Minister of Europe Karoline Edtstadler, head of NEOS. However, the solution to the challenges does not lie in the founding of the United States of Europe; the strength and success of the EU is based on solving the main cross-border problems. Edstadler still has a lot to do here, for example when it comes to expanding cross-border cooperation between security authorities, combating illegal migration and completing the internal market. “The EU is not measured by history, but by its ability to find solutions to the challenges of the future”, said the minister.
Secretary of State Claudia Plakolm argued similarly. The EU should take care of the “big questions” and not regulate the details. There is no need for a “super federal state of the United States of Europe”, it is about common goals, cooperation and, above all, common security and foreign policy. Subsidiarity allows for realistic decisions and is a “guarantee against centralist tendencies”, underlined Plakolm.
ÖVP: Europe needs more strength on the outside and freedom on the inside
The United States of Europe is a lofty goal, but a “naive approach”, said Carmen Jeitler-Cincelli (ÖVP). The more you push in that direction, “the harder it becomes to take people with you.” ÖVP takes a different approach to NEOS. It is about strengthening existing, well-functioning EU institutions and transforming others.
Bettina Rausch (ÖVP) gained nothing from NEOS’ criticism that the ÖVP and FPÖ would pursue a common European political line. The ÖVP acts and thinks European and has sided with Ukraine and the free world from the beginning. Rausch was also skeptical of the idea of a United States of Europe. The term is not appropriate, it is not intended to be a “copy of the USA”. For the ÖVP representative, as well as for her party colleague and MEP Lukas Mandl, Europe needs “more strength abroad and more freedom within”. Mandl hailed the EU’s Strategic Compass, which came into force a year ago.
SPÖ: Good EU measures for equality and protection from violence
According to Eva Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ), the EU has recently taken “good steps” towards its future viability. Holzleitner welcomed the guidelines put forward for gender equality in the area of pay transparency. As there are still large wage differences in Austria, the government is responsible for implementing EU requirements “as soon as possible”. The representative of the SPÖ also considered the accession to the Istanbul Convention positive. It’s about protecting women and girls from violence. As for the Western Balkan states, they must become part of the EU. Holzleitner spoke in favor of “clear” accession prospects.
“Europe is able to act and make decisions when we are resilient to autocrats, misanthropy, hatred and hate speech”, emphasized MEP Theresa Bielowski (SPÖ). However, to become better able to act, the EU must address current challenges. This requires qualified majorities and strong social structures. This is the only way to convince citizens of the idea of a common Europe. Robert Laimer (SPÖ) spoke out against “unrealistic visions” of the United States of Europe.
FPÖ: Right of veto is Austria’s protective anchor
Petra Steger (FPÖ) told NEOS that they were taking “subordination to the EU” to an extreme. right of veto as “Austria’s last protective anchor”. It was incomprehensible that representatives of the National Council would work to ensure that Austria had less of a voice at EU level. The FPÖ was also the only party that spoke out against an EU army.
MEP Georg Mayer (FPÖ) criticized NEOS for giving up Austria’s neutrality and sovereignty, which amounts to the end of the republic. Mayer described the EU’s Green Deal as a “green disaster” that would destroy all sectors of the economy “off the bat” or drive people to emigrate. The FPÖ stands for cooperating nation-states, as far as that makes sense.
Greens: Neutral EU countries must work towards an independent European defense policy
The abolition of unanimity in security policy means that NATO makes European defense policy, emphasized Michel Reimon (Greens) to NEOS. The remaining four neutral countries in the EU would have to work towards an independent European defense policy, as all other NATO countries would not promote it. As long as “Putin” threatens Europe with 6,000 nuclear warheads, Eastern European countries in particular will not give up NATO membership.
Green MP Thomas Waitz described the EU as a successful project that has ensured peace in Europe for nearly 80 years. Furthermore, the EU is an economic and socio-political success, as many have moved out of poverty. Only the EU can represent Austria’s interests in a multipolar world order. For Waitz, unanimity does not make sense in all areas, for example when it comes to minimum taxation. Furthermore, the “great issues of our time”, such as the climate crisis, can only be resolved together. (Continuation of the National Council) med
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