Vienna / Brussels, 04/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The presidents of the ÖVP and FPÖ, Wolfgang Schüssel and Jörg Haider, signed, before the forming of the new Austrian government, a declaration on the "responsibility for Austria - a future in the heart of Europe", which had been drafted by the President of the Republic Thomas Klestil and which clearly states Austria's adherence to European values and to continued integration and enlargement of the Union. EUROPE publishes below the full text of this document and will return to certain aspects of the programme of the new government concerning, above all, its European policy (see EUROPE of 31 January/1 February, p.9, for the declaration by the fourteen Member States concerning their bilateral relations with Austria; in EUROPE of 2 February, p.3, the declaration by the European Commission; and in EUROPE of 4 February, p.3, the resolution adopted by the European Parliament). The informal meeting of social affairs ministers on 11 and 12 February (see below) and the General Affairs Council of 14 February will be the first EU ministerial sessions in which the members of the government headed by Wolfgang Schüssel will participate, a government in which Benita Ferrero-Waldner (ÖVP, former Secretary of State) is foreign minister, and Karl-Heinz Grasser (FPÖ) is finance minister. Furthermore, the Permanent Representative for Austria with the EU, Gregor Woschnagg, will be the representative for this country within the IGC Preparation Group.
The Declaration on "Responsibility for Austria - A Future in the Heart of Europe"
The text signed by Mr Schüssel and Mr Haider is as follows:
"The Federal Government reaffirms its unswerving adherence to the spiritual and moral values which are the common heritage of the peoples of Europe and the true source of individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law, principles which form the basis of all genuine democracy. The Federal Government stands for respect, tolerance and understanding for all human beings irrespective of their origin, religion or weltanschauung. It condemns and actively combats any form of discrimination, intolerance and demagoguery in all areas. It strives for a society imbued with the spirit of humanism and tolerance towards the members of all social groups. The Federal Government works for an Austria in which xenophobia, anti-Semitism and racism have no place. It will take vigorous steps to counter every way of thinking which seeks to denigrate human beings, will actively combat the dissemination of such ideas and is committed to full respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms of people of any nationality - irrespective of the reason for their stay in Austria. It acknowledges its special responsibility as regards the respectful treatment of ethnic and religious minorities. The Federal Government supports the Charter of European Political Parties for a Non-Racist Society and commits itself to work for the exemplary realisation of its fundamental principles in Austria. The Federal Government is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights as well as to their unconditional implementation at national and international level. This also makes an important contribution to the prevention of wars and domestic conflicts which result in violations of the rights of people, who may find themselves displaced or even forced to leave their home country. The Federal Government is committed to the principles of pluralistic democracy and the rule of law common to all members of the European Union, which are also anchored in the Austrian constitution and form the precondition for membership in the Council of Europe. The rights and freedoms enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, which are constitutionally guaranteed in Austria, are a clear expression of this commitment.
The Federal Government is committed to the European peace project. Cooperation between the coalition parties is based on a commitment to Austria's membership in the European Union. The Federal Government is bound by those principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, which under Article 6 of the Treaty of the European Union are common to all member states of the European Union. Austria's future, too, lies in the deepening of integration and the enlargement of the Union. Austria's history and geopolitical situation represent a special responsibility to further the process of integration and to anchor the European idea even more firmly in everyday life. The Transatlantic Partnership will have a special significance in order to assure peace and stability during
the 21st century. The European Union as a community of values corresponds to a definite concept for the future development of European integration. This includes, in particular, work on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Austria supports further work towards combating all forms of discrimination according to Article 13 of the EU Treaty.
A living culture of democracy and the rule of law demands a relationship between state and citizens that creates new areas of freedom and responsibility for the individual. In a modern efficient state there are functions which can best be carried out by the individual or by non-state actors. The Federal Government is, however, committed with all emphasis to the maintenance in solidarity of the state welfare services for every citizen who needs state help and support. This applies especially to those people who are unable to take advantage of the opportunities induced by modernisation which are increasingly dominating our lives. The principle of solidarity also means that consideration must be shown towards the needs and expectations of future generations in order to ensure fair chances for all members of society and their plans for the future.
The Federal Government desires to strengthen Austria's position as a performance and competition oriented economic location. That is the basis for securing existing employment, creating new jobs and ensuring prosperity in our country. Austria's accession to the European Union and an assured participation in the European Monetary Union were and remain important preconditions for the future of the economy and employment in Austria. Austria's social partnership has proved itself as an important instrument for the location of industry and jobs in Austria, and has contributed thereby to the maintenance of social peace. The Federal Government is committed to comprehensive cooperation with the social partners, but at the same time recommends the necessary readiness to reform the social partnership, for example in respect of the social security structures including the election of representatives of the insured, and strengthening the service character of the social partnership institutions.
The Federal Government is aware that the Austrian people must energetically continue to build on their great achievements of the past and develop Austria's strengths still further. Austria accepts her responsibility arising out of the tragic history of the 20th century and the horrendous crimes of the National Socialist regime. Our country is facing up to the light and dark sides of its past and to the deeds of all Austrians, good and evil, as its responsibility. Nationalism, dictatorship and intolerance brought war, xenophobia, bondage, racism and mass murder. The singularity of the crimes of the Holocaust which are without precedent in history are an exhortation to permanent alertness against all forms of dictatorship and totalitarianism. The European Union's project for a broad, democratic and prosperous Europe, to which the Federal Government is unconditionally committed, is the best guarantee against a repetition of this darkest chapter of Austrian history. The Federal Government is committed to a self-critical scrutiny of the National Socialist past. It will ensure unreserved clarification, exposure of the structures of injustice, and the transmission of this knowledge to coming generations as a warning for the future. As regards the question of forced labour under the National Socialist regime, the Federal Government will endeavour to arrive at objective solutions in the light of the intermediate report by the Austrian commission of historians, while having regard to the primary responsibility of the companies concerned.
The government parties are committed to a new form of government and cooperation. They desire to solve problems, deal with challenges and make consistent use of opportunities, because they are committed to Austria's future in Europe. Austria, as a stable and reliable country, will make her contribution in partnership for a peaceful and secure life together in Europe and the world."
Declaration by (Austrian) Commissioner for Agriculture and Fisheries
Furthermore, Commissioner Franz Fischler issued the following personal statement:
"I am well aware of the immense responsibility resting on me, as both a convinced European and an Austrian citizen, as a result of the inclusion of the Austrian Freedom Party in Austria's new national government. I share the concern expressed by the Commission in its statement. The Commission has a duty as guardian of the EU Treaties and is determined to exercise that role to the full, remaining watchful and quick to reprimand the slightest breach of EU law. However, it is not the Commission's place to isolate a member country. On the contrary, our duty is to prevent any country cutting itself adrift from the rest of Europe. This is why the Commission must and will maintain its working relationship with Austria. One part of my responsibility is and always has been to convey the present international concern to my countrymen and to explain that the European Union is not turning against Austria as a country or a people. The Union has made clear that its basic values - tolerance, solidarity, respect for human rights - have to be automatic for every Member State. No Austrians who are attached to their country will want to disagree with me on this. But another part of my responsibility, as I see it, is to help defend Austria's well-deserved reputation abroad. Austria is not a stronghold of fascism, of intolerance, but a functioning democracy. My fellow-countrymen, as the sovereign people of an independent state, naturally have every right to make up their own democratic mind. This is what has taken place, whether one likes the results or not. What would not be acceptable is any policy running counter to the essential and fundamental values of the European Union.
I personally expressed myself clearly in December towards the head of the Freedom Party when I said that nationalism, anti-foreign feeling and intolerance have no place in our common Europe. I still stand to what I said then and would not take back a single work. My own membership of the Austrian People's Party, whose values are the same as those of all Christian Democrat parties in Europe, is a reflection of this. It goes without saying that I would be the first to reconsider my membership in the Austrian People's Party, if these principles would not be upheld. I have read the introduction of the programme put out by the new coalition government very thoroughly and have found no passage in it which would clash with these high requirements. It contains a definite "no" to discrimination, as well as to xenophobia and intolerance. It also contains a clear commitment to eastward enlargement, to European integration in general and to shared responsibility among Austrians for the darkest chapter of our history, the holocaust. This is an important step towards gaining international acceptance which I welcome. I can only hope that this is an unambiguous signal that the Freedom Party has broken with its past. But words alone are not enough. This Austrian Government, as no other, will be judged by its deeds".
Mr Solana: Insitutions each react within the limit of its powers
Speaking before the European press on Friday, EU Council Secretary General/High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana said he was "very very pleased at the manner in which the European institutions have reacted" to events in Austria. Each institution - Council, Commission, European Parliament - has reacted "very fast, in the context of its competences" showing that, when the fundamental values and principles are at stake, there is "no possibility of compromise". Mr Solana recalled the importance of the decisions taken during the Helsinki summit, mainly concerning the IGC and CFSP. He felt the year 2000 will be a "year of action, but also of reflection for us all", and said he hoped "things will unfold rapidly" in order to keep the Helsinki promises.
Mrs Sickl invited to informal meeting of social affairs ministers
The spokesman's service for the European Commission stated on Friday that the Commission noted that: - the political declaration by the new Austrian government is coherent with the fundamental values and principles set out in the Community Treaty; - it is not at all in harmony with the many declarations and positions taken by Mr Haider. This lack of coherence between the official language and the language used in political life encourages the Commission to maximum vigilance.
The spokesperson added that the Ministry of Social Affairs of the new Austrian government, Mrs Elisabeth Sickl (from Mr Haider's party) was invited by the Council president to take part in the informal meeting of social affairs ministers on 11 and 12 February in Lisbon, in conformity with the principle of regular working of the institutions. He recalled, moreover, that the Council has had referred to it a Commission proposal "against all discrimination" based on race, religion or anything else (see EUROPE of 26 November, p.11). Examination by the Fifteen in the context of the Council will begin on 13 February, and the Commission is confident that this proposal, which requires unanimity, will be rapidly approved by the Council.
Mr Kahn tells Mr Schüssel of concerns expressed by Observatory on Racism
The European observatory on racist and xenophobic phenomena (EUMC), an independent EU agency based in Vienna, expressed in a declaration its concerns regarding the situation in Austria, and its chairman, Jean Kahn, told Wolfgang Schüssel of his concern on 3 February. On 4 February, speaking to the press, Mr Kahn said the Observatory would "remain the eyes and ears of the EU as far as racism and xenophobia is concerned" an that, examining "in detail any action carried out by the EU governments" that runs counter to the Treaties, it would provide "objective information and recommendations for action" on this subject.