Of the three priorities of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU – tackling illegal migration, securing prosperity and the EU prospects of the Western Balkans – presented by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Strasbourg on Tuesday 3 July, it is the protection of the external borders of the European Union that divided opinion.
From the right of the political spectrum, there was a welcome for the reaffirmed emphasis on the need for the EU to protect its external borders so as to be able more effectively to address illegal migration and, indeed, some MEPs saw it as a way of protecting Christianity.
From the centre and left, Kurz was accused of distracting people’s attention from the real problems, such as job insecurity and widening social inequality by stoking their fears and making migrants, even though arrivals have fallen dramatically since 2015, the scapegoats.
“Living in Europe is a gift!” immediately stated the young, 31-year old chancellor, who says that, in his view, it goes without saying that Europe is open.
Referring to the results of the recent European summit (see EUROPE 11951 and 11952), Kurz welcomed the “paradigm shift” among European leaders who, finally, agreed there is a need to “monitor the external borders so as not to have internal borders” in the EU. He argued for a stronger European border and coast guard force (Frontex) and for “guidance” for NGOs coming to the assistance of migrants in the Mediterranean.
When asked by Udo Bullmann (S&D, Germany) about the steps Vienna would take if Germany were to impose transit centres at its borders in order to send back asylum seekers – 20 per week, he claimed – who had already submitted an asylum request in member state, Christian Democrat Kurz declined to answer until the German coalition government reaches its final decision and the Austrian government has held its internal debate.
“If what has been announced is implemented, it will rather be Germany that is taking national measures. The other countries will react”, he said. Later, however, he gave a “promise” to “do everything possible to make sure that, in the long term, there are no internal borders”.
Manfred Weber (EPP, Germany) said that “Austrians have the right to maintain their culture”. He welcomed the Austrian chancellor’s suggestion of an EU-Africa summit. He also called on Kurz to take the bull by the horns in order to reach agreement before the European elections of May 2019 on a multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 that meets citizens’ expectations in terms of security.
Ulrike Trebesius (ECR, Germany) thanked the chancellor for his actions on closing borders. “In Germany, we are not governing, we’re managing”, she railed. “Here at least is someone who cares about Europe’s Christian culture”, said Nigel Farage (EFDD, UK), who would like to see the Schengen area of free movement abandoned as part of the fight against terrorism. “You scream at Mr Trump when he opens detention centres. Will you now scream at Mrs Merkel?” he asked.
Harald Vilimsky (ENF, Austria) pointed out that Austria’s vision of the future of the EU is the Commission’s scenario 4, which advocates less cooperation at EU level but greater effectiveness.
The views were altogether different from the centre and left of the political spectrum. Bullmann criticised “the ‘Orbánisation’ of European political parties” which “instil the fear of others in people”.
On one point, everyone is in agreement: “no migrants in my back yard”, castigated Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium), refuting claims of mass arrivals of migrants – there have been around 45,000 arrivals since the start of 2018, “0.007% of global flows”. Condemning a crisis born of the opportunism of an Italian minister, he did not rule out migrant reception centres “inside and outside the EU” where asylum applications could be lodged. He also spoke of the possibility of opening legal migration channels to address labour shortages in the EU.
Philippe Lamberts Greens/EFA, Belgium) argued that citizens, first and foremost, wanted their politicians to tackle poverty and, in fourth place, after tackling climate change, to address uncontrolled migration. “You’re focusing on an issue that is not citizens’ priority”, and all the while you are acting to put in place a 12-hour working day and cut the social benefits of those who hold dual nationality, he said. A Europe that protects – that’s the slogan of the Austrian Presidency of the Council, aimed at those who hold economic power and send their investments to Liechtenstein, he railed: “All you’re doing is offering succour to the far right by legitimising their ideas!”
Coming to the defence of Austrian workers who are demonstrating against attacks on their working conditions, Neoklis Sylikiotis (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) also slammed the approach of a “fortress Europe holding people prisoner” in defiance of international law.
When asked by the press about the difference between the EU position in 2000 when action was taken against the inclusion of the extreme right in the Austrian government and the lack of reaction to the current governing coalition between Kurz’s Christian Democratic ÖVP and the far-right FPÖ, the president of the European Commission suggested that the difference was that the Austrian Presidency programme is “pro-European in tone”.
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, welcomed what Austria has to say on the need for a Europe with no internal borders but protecting its external borders. He also underlined the importance of concluding the reform of the European asylum system by the end of 2018. Kurz said nothing on this point.
Pointing out that the population of Africa will double between now and 2050, Tajani reiterated the importance of acting as a matter of priority to “tackle poverty, terrorism and climate change” on that continent. He will travel to Libya on 9 July and to Niger on 17 July. (Original version on French by Mathieu Bion)