Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-11-14-Speech-2-222"
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"en.20001114.8.2-222"2
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"It is true that when I first saw this question I did wonder what the French European Affairs Minister had said as he – and I quote the question – ‘affirmed once again his rejection of the Austrian Federal Government. He continued moreover to assert that the government coalition between the ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party) and the FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) was abnormal and that the FPÖ was a racist and xenophobic party.’ The author of the question continued: ‘How can the Council justify the situation where an official representative of the French Presidency of the Council continues, unopposed, to assert such a rejectionist, aggressive and offensive attitude towards another EU country which is a full member on an equal footing?
Can the Council clarify whether those statements made by the French European Affairs Minister also represent the attitude of the French EU Council Presidency, or whether this was the expression of Mr Moscovici's private opinion? Lastly, can the Council confirm that Austria and its Federal Government will suffer no disadvantage and no unequal treatment in the pursuit of major, large-scale European projects as a consequence of Mr Moscovici’s statements and attitude? When will the Council publicly distance itself from Moscovici’s statements and clarify its reactions to them?’
Not this evening, and here I come to my answer, as I know the Minister and I can give you the Council’s response. In response to the question posed by Mr Karas, the Presidency-in-Office should like to highlight the fact that the political situation in Austria and the sanctions imposed bilaterally by the other Member States and then lifted were not carried out at the Council’s instigation, precisely because they were bilateral measures. The Presidency-in-Office therefore has no answer to give with regard to this point. However, it goes without saying that, as the sanctions have been lifted, it is no longer an issue of making Austria suffer any disadvantage or unequal treatment because the sanctions are no longer in place.
On the other hand, and speaking on a more personal level, I can confirm that the statements this Minister made on France 3 clearly reflect his personal opinion on the matter."@en1
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