Brussels, 30/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - A recent IMAS poll has confirmed the Austrians' scepticism in the face of a European Union that over half of them believe should concentrate on economic issues. Only 33% of those surveyed want a political union and 43% expect there to be a Europe operating at two speeds. For 38% of those surveyed, enlargement is a mistake. This is mindset the candidates will have to face, whilst the number of seats decreases from 21 Austrian ministers in the outgoing Parliament to 18 after the June 2004 European elections.
For now, the main parties are holding their breath and the lists, which are national in Austria, will not be known until March for the Christian-Democrats (ÖVP) and the far right (FPÖ). The socialists of the SPÖ will present their list around 1 May. At the head of the SPÖ list, the names generally quoted are the outgoing MEP Johannes Swoboda or minister Caspar Einem who has been a member of the Convention. Outgoing ministers Paul Rübig, Hubert Pirker and Agnes Schierhuber should be found on the ÖVP list. On the far right, outgoing ministers Hans Kronberger and Daniela Raschhofer hope to find a place on the FPÖ list. For the Greens, the list will be run by outgoing Johannes Voggenhuber (former “conventionner”). Evelin Lichtenberger is in second place. The former transport minister of the Land of Tyrol is currently a member of the Nationalrat. She was deputy in the European Convention.