Brussels, 12/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - At the press conference that followed the meeting between the European Commission and the Austrian Chancellor, Romano Prodi and Wolfgang Schuessel made some significant statements. In particular:
The Austrian Chancellor said: "I'm sure that the report by the three wise persons will constitute a way out and render the referendum on the sanctions unnecessary";
In answer to a question, the President of the Commission said: "A priori, I do not believe that sanctions in this type of case can provide better results than serious, open and in-depth dialogue". He did, however, add (while stipulating that he had already told the Chancellor): "the referendum being envisaged represents for me an element of concern, as it increases tensions. I hope it can be avoided"
In his introductory speech, President Prodi first set out the different subjects that had been broached with the Chancellor: institutional reform, transport, "bank accounts", enlargement, etc.. Regarding the "Austrian problem", he recalled that it was a question of bilateral issues between Austria and the other Member States, as at Community level the Commission had said from the outset that it would pursue normal relations with the current government. He took note of the statement by the Austrian Chancellor, by which the process leading to the referendum could be stopped if the prospects opened up by the report of the wise persons is favourable.
The Commission considers it is important for the report to be serious, objective and presented as soon as possible. At any rate, the dispute should not end up of Community dimensions, as the Community must continue to operate smoothly.
Chancellor Schüssel stressed that he represents "a small country that hopes to be fully integrated in Europe, with all the resulting rights and, of course, duties. He presented to the Commission the report on action by his government, that he judged "impressive": ambitious at budgetary level and mainly comprising projects (submitted to Parliament) on the rights of minorities, etc. This said, Austria has the need to be a part of "dialogue with the EU and with the Fourteen" as one cannot make a radical separation between what comes under Community competence and what is decided bilaterally. The Austrian people has confirmed the faith it has in Europe: despite the difficult moment it is going through, nearly two-thirds of the population said they were "in favour of Europe". The Chancellor then spoke in favour of EU enlargement, explaining the specific problems of his country (which has longer borders with candidate countries than even Germany), and in favour of safeguarding institutional balance.
Having raised the problem of transit across the Alps, the Chancellor broached the issue of sanctions. He first welcomed the appointment of the three wise persons: two he knows personally, and with the appointment of Mr. Oreja, former European Commissioner, "the Commission is there anyway". He recalled that, at the outset, Austria had not been in favour of that procedure: which government would willingly agree to its country being placed under examination? He had accepted, as for him what was important was to have his hands untied again, without sanctions, and in dialogue with all Member States. For the procedure, the Austrian Government will cooperate to its utmost with the three wise persons and place at their disposal all the documents they would like, concerning notably minority rights, the integration of immigrants, etc.. As to substance, he is confident that that Austria will be able to demonstrate that all the principles that form the basis of the Union are respected and that for several aspects (notably the reception of immigrants) "Austria is in with the leading group". He spoke the aforementioned sentence expressing the certainty that, in the light of the report by the wise persons, the "referendum" will not be necessary. Anyhow, any questions that may be put to the people have not yet been defined: Parliament will provide the details in September of October.
Anyhow, according to the Chancellor's interpretation, the referendum does not represent a threat in any way. Its goal is to prove that the Austrian people and government are on the same wavelength regarding the desire to secure the abolition of sanctions (see above for Prodi's assessment, less sure and more concerned).
In the end, the aim of the Chancellor is to "break the spiral of silence" between his country and the fourteen: "The people of Europe must hear us. The sanction system is always negative, as it saps the energy Europe needs so much".
Positions on some institutional and economic points
Below are the main elements of the other issues raised during the press conference:
a) Institutional reform. Mr. Schüssel insisted on the need to protect the "Community method" (thus, the Commission's powers, which must not be transformed into a double of the Council Secretariat) and to respect the balance between Member States present and future, by avoiding creating three categories of countries: the large, the small and the candidates. The Chancellor feels it also necessary to have a clear division of tasks between the European authorities, national and regional, and cites as example of the required "European level" nuclear security;
b) Bank accounts. Mr. Prodi welcomed the new Austrian legislation on anonymous accounts and announced that the Commission would withdraw the infringement proceedings;
c) Transport through the Alps (Brenner affairs). Mr. Schüssel said that his government wants to ensure the transit, but while guaranteeing the protection of the environment and the duration of solutions. The Commission has not retained all the Austrian wishes, but a good section, and satisfactory solutions will no doubt be defined;
d) Enlargement. Austria is favourable towards enlargement, said the Chancellor, but taking into account its specific geographic situation. The Commission announced a programme for the peripheral regions and Austria welcomes it.