Feira, 19/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - Chancellor Schüssel told the press on Monday that during the lunchtime meeting at the European summit, he called for the EU 15 to try to find a solution to the problem of sanctions against Austria. "Time is working against us and above all against the European ideal," he said to those who assert that they need more time. Mr Schüssel hopes a solution will be found "here and now, if possible in Feira, otherwise in the next few days". But he repeated that "this has to be done as Fifteen, and cannot be a diktat". And he added: "Mr Guterres answered that by the end of the month, he would be making contact with the other Member States. And I told him that if that happened as Fourteen, it would not be a dialogue."
Mr Schüssel added that the Portuguese Prime Minister had replied a second time, confirming that he would try to reach a new common position by the Fourteen. "We took another step forward today but we have not yet found a solution", concluded the Austrian Chancellor.