Brussels, 03/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament, after an impassioned debate on Wednesday afternoon (see yesterday's EUROPE, pp. 3-4), adopted on Thursday morning a joint proposal for a resolution on the proposed formation of an ÖVP/FPÖ coalition government in Austria, tabled by the heads of the EPP, Socialist, Liberal, Greens and United Left groups, in place of separate texts tabled the day before by the different groups.
In its resolution, adopted in a vote of 406 to 53, with 60 abstentions, Parliament states that the European Union "cannot demand of candidate states standards which are not seen to apply with equal force to Member States" and, while expressing the importance it attaches to the defence of democratic values by the European Union and its institutions, recognises the integrity of the democratic rights and constitutional prerogatives of the people and the State of Austria. Parliament: (a) "condemns all the insulting, xenophobic and racist statements" issued by Jörg Haider (451 to 29, with 36 abstentions); (b) "believes that the admission of the FPÖ into a coalition government legitimises the extreme right in Europe" (308 to 165, 34 abstentions); (c) "believes that such sentiments can play no part in the evolution of political relations between Austria and the EU" (283 in favour, 38 abstentions) and, in particular, alerts Mr Schüssel, ÖVP leader, "to his profound political responsibility to ensure that any government which he might lead must respect the spirit and letter of the fundamental principles of the Treaty" (293 to 176, 41 abstentions); (d) "welcomes the timely political intent of the statement of the Portuguese Presidency in so far as it reiterates Member States' common concern to defend common European values as an act of necessary heightened vigilance" (366 to 103, 45 abstentions); (e) "welcomes the timely political intent of the statement of the Commission in so far as it retierates Member States' common concern to defend common European values as an act of necessary heightened vigilance" (the EP adopted the same wording for the Council and the Commission); (f) "calls on the Commission and Council, together with Parliament, to monitor developments especially regarding racism and xenophobia in Austria and throughout Europe"; (g) "calls on the Council and Commission to be prepared, in the event of the existence of a serious and persistent breach by whatever Member State of principles mentioned in Article 6(1) of the Treaty on European Union, to take action under Article 7 of this Treaty and, following Parliament's assent, to suspend that State's rights deriving from application of this Treaty" (447 to 17, 45 abstentions: see EUROPE of 2 February, page 4, in regard to Articles 6 and 7 of the Amsterdam Treaty). Voting against the resolution were the FPÖ members, 19 EPP Group members (Austrians, Germans and Italian Raffaele Costa), almost all the members of the Technical Group taking part in the vote (Bonino List, National Front, Vlaams Blok), the majority of the Union for the Europe of Nations (except Andrews, Fitzsimons, Hyland and Segni, who voted in favour) and Mrs Garaud (Non-attached).
Parliament rejected all amendments except one, tabled by Mr Baron Crespo on behalf of the Socialist Group. Adopted by 243 to 242, with 30 abstentions, that amendment expresses its trust in the large majority of Austrians, who did not vote for the FPÖ, and invites the Council and Commission to support fully the initiatives taken in Austria to counter racist, xenophobic and anti-immigrant views. The plenary refused to vote on an amendment tabled orally by Mr Baron condemning Mr Haider's recent "insults" against leaders of certain Member States (Belgium and France, Ed.) and noting that Wolfgang Schüssel has not condemned these remarks.
Debate: Austrian ÖVP and FPÖ MEPs call for government to be judged on its acts
The FPÖ is an established party in Austria that participates in the regional government and it has the right to participate in a government coalition, said during debate FPÖ member Peter Sichrovsky, who also asserted that the Austrian Social Democrats had offered three ministerial posts to Jörg Haider's party (see below). Urusla Stenzel of the ÖVP, stated that this party has always defended the Union's values and that the future government will have to be judged on its acts and not have words put into its mouth. Austrian Social Democrat Johannes Swoboda stated: "I cannot be reassured by Mrs Stenzel's remarks. The Conservatives are taking off on a walk in the woods with the wolf until they are eaten." "There is another Austria and I am asking all of us for help for this Austria. Support the Austrian people against this government", he launched.
British Conservative Edward McMillan_Scott, while rejecting the FPÖ philosophy, also expressed outrage at the tolerance of the Left for the tyranny, terror and excesses of the former USSR and asserted that the Party of European Socialists should "break its fraternal links" with the Chinese Communist Party. He also criticised the PES' silence over government coalitions including Communist "fellow-travellers" in Italy and France or in governments of German Länder.
At the conclusion of the debate, Commission Vice-President Neil Kinnock reacted to what he called an "exciting and sometimes moving" debate and reiterated that the Commission would play its role in accordance with Article 7. "Our position shows no complacency or weakness" and it was adopted by the entire College, including Mr Fischler, who "demonstrated his independence" and who should not be asked for any explanations, said Mr Kinnock. After discussing "Mr Haider's hateful and xenophobic remarks" and "his selective memory on Nazism", Mr Kinnock repeated that the Commission must act on the basis of law and in defence of shared values. "It will do so resolutely and unfailingly", he promised.
In a joint statement, FPÖ MEPs (who sit with the Non-attached Members) Daniela Raschhofer, Gerhard Hager, Peter Sichrovsky, Hans Kronberg and Wolfgang Ilgenfritz assert that the Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs has a programme based on "democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights". Jörg Haider is the "Landeshauptmann" of Carinthia, a Land where "the rights of the Slovenian minority are protected fully" and, in his role, "he has demonstrated that he considers himself bound by the values laid down in Article 6(1) of the Treaty", they note. "We therefore ask the fourteen Member States to review their position and to judge the Austrian Government on the basis of its programme and not on unjustified prejudices", conclude the five MEPs.
This crisis has made possible "progress for political Europe", says Fontaine
EP President Nicole Fontaine welcomed in a statement this "very firm resolution", saying "we will have to specify at the earliest opportunity, with the Council and Commission, the course to take" for implementation, "if need be", of the procedure for depriving a Member State of its right to vote in the Council. And, noting that it is also "thanks to crises that Europe is built", she said this one has made possible "progress in political Europe", a "federal electroshock" having "reminded Europeans of what unites them most, which some seem to have forgotten". Mrs Fontaine, who pointed out the mobilisation of civil society in "Austria and the rest of the Union", concluded by asking: "How could we impose on applicant states, which include still fragile democracies, principles not fully respected in the Union".