Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-02-02-Speech-3-019"
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"en.20000202.4.3-019"2
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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I have been requested, on behalf of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union, to state our position to this Parliament on the current political situation in Austria and its consequences for relations between that country and the Union’s other Member States. First of all, I would like to make it clear that the statement made by the Portuguese Prime Minister on 31 January, on behalf of three other countries which are also Member States of the European Union, was made in this specific context. In other words, a common political position was adopted by the Heads of State and Government of fourteen countries, which Portugal presented on behalf of all of them. The text of this joint statement has a clearly defined scope and purpose: the bilateral relationship between each of these fourteen countries and an Austrian Government which now comprises members of that country’s Freedom Party. Let me remind you of what this statement said.
Our common understanding is that this party’s position clearly runs counter to the values that we hold to be fundamental to Europe and which in fact form the frame of reference which the Union has been promoting in its external relations, both with regard to its forthcoming enlargement and in the context of its common foreign and security policy. It could be said that the present situation is a result of the people of Austria exercising their freedom of expression, which must be respected, and that any stand on this subject might be tantamount to interference in that country’s internal affairs. First of all, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, no one is threatening the existence of a democratic government in Austria or questioning the electoral reality behind the results of the recent elections. Those elections showed – and this also needs to be emphasised – that the great majority of Austrians are still not in favour of Mr Haider’s party. What we regret, and take issue with, is the fact that the solution opted for gives a share of political power in that country to a party whose leaders have not given the slightest guarantee that they will safeguard the fundamental principles Austria has committed itself to respect, defend and promote.
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Austria has every right to choose the government it wishes, but we also have a right and duty to state our opinion on any political choices which we feel infringe Austria’s international commitments. Today this applies to Austria, but tomorrow it could apply to any other country in the European Union.
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Let me repeat that point: this applies to Austria today and it would apply tomorrow to any Member State of the European Union. On the other hand, as we all know, human rights, fundamental rights issues, the great principles of democracy and of the rule of law, the rules for protecting minorities and combating racism, xenophobia and intolerance are no longer issues to be discussed purely within a country. All the more so when that country belongs to a community of states for which these concerns represent the very heart of its project for civilisation. The Europe that we want to build and strengthen is not a purely economic project – it is a community of values and principles which may act as a base for political union and for the establishment of a great area of freedom, security and justice imbued with the values of solidarity.
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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we therefore feel that we have the right and the duty to tell our Austrian friends, as other countries outside the European Union have indeed done, that its choice of government will inevitably have consequences for our future relationship with them, as long as Mr Haider’s party forms part of their government.
As for the tangible consequences of this, about which the Commission’s statement yesterday gave a few clues, the European Union will try to continue its work, whilst strictly respecting the Treaties and of course paying particular attention to the way in which the new Austrian Government acts. The Community framework is a special area, governed by very specific political and legal rules, which means that it will also be given special treatment. We therefore want to ensure that the working of the Community machine is not affected by the current situation.
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1 – The governments of the fourteen Member States shall not initiate or accept any official bilateral contacts at political level with an Austrian Government which includes the Freedom Party.
2 – Austrian candidates for posts in international organisations will not have the support of these fourteen countries.
3 – Austrian ambassadors in the Union’s capitals will only be received in the technical sense.
I think that over the last few days, the reasons which have led the fourteen states supporting this statement to adopt it have become clear. Basically, the view these states share of the political situation in Austria led them to conclude that the possible inclusion in the Austrian Government of a party such as the Freedom Party could bring about a change in respect for the common values which the Member States of the European Union are committed to safeguarding.
We are all aware of the public statements made by Jörg Haider and of some of the ideas on specific policies that his party has advocated. I do not think that I need to remind you about his ideas exonerating the Nazi regime, his attitudes towards foreign and immigrant communities, or to point out that this populist nationalism is reminiscent of another era."@en1
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