Vienna, 09/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - Speaking to a group of European reporters in Vienna on 8 January, the Austrian foreign minister Ursula Plassnik said the accession negotiations with Croatia and Turkey would follow their normal course in the first half of 2006 and the Austrian Presidency would do all it could to be 'a fair partner' in the process, despite strong reluctance about Turkey joining the EU. Western Balkans countries will take pride of place in the Austrian Presidency's programme, said Plassnik, explaining that with the enlargement-weariness predominating in the EU, it is more important than ever to point out and confirm that at the Thessalonika European Council of June 2003, the Balkan States were given the prospect of joining the European Union and it is important not to backtrack.
At a press conference alongside European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, in Vienna on 9 January (see other articles), the Austrian Chancellor, Wolfgang Schussel, made similar noises. He replied to a reporter who asked whether an interruption in the accession talks with Turkey was on the cards that it was not very constructive to raise such ideas. The Commission is in the process of screening Turkey's adoption of EU acquis (laws) and Austria would be running the talks in a very objective and professional manner. On future enlargement of the EU, Schusses said future rounds of enlargement would have to meet the pledges that have been made and should not be taken lightly, even when they are possible and the door to the EU remains open. He said the question of the EU's absorption capacity would be crucial in the future.