| Author (Person) | Davies, Eric | |||||||||
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| Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning | |||||||||
| Series Title | In Focus | |||||||||
| Series Details | 5.2.00 | |||||||||
| Publication Date | 05/02/2002 | |||||||||
| Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus | |||||||||
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On 4 February 2000 a new coalition government was inaugurated in Austria. Concerns about the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) had earlier caused EU Member States to threaten action against Austria if the FPÖ were included in the government alongside the moderate-right People's Party. Concerns were based on anti-EU and pro-Nazi sentiments expressed by the leader of the FPÖ, Jörg Haider. Never before has the EU reacted in such a way to a democratically-elected government taking office, and the actions taken have steered the Union into uncharted waters. Background On Monday 31 January 2000 Austria was told by Portugal - holder of the EU Presidency - that if the Austrian Freedom Party was included in the new government, the other 14 Member States would take the following actions:
On 1 February, the European Commission issued a press release responding to the Presidency statement and setting out its own position:
On 2 February 2000 the European Parliament debated the Austrian issue (summarised in the European Parliament's Daily Notebook, 02.02.00). The Portuguese Minister for European Affairs, Francisco Seixas Da Costa, said that the inclusion of the Freedom Party in the Austrian government would indicate a failure to respect the common values of the EU. Responding to criticisms that the EU was interfering in Austria's internal affairs, he said that the majority of Austrians were opposed to the Freedom Party and that fundamental human rights were not simply part of the internal affairs of member states. In his Address at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament, President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, emphasised that the Commission - like Parliament - is a supranational institution of the EU and has no bilateral diplomatic relations with the Member States. He also reminded MEPs that the Treaty of Rome does not contain any clause providing for the withdrawal or expulsion of a Member State. Mr Prodi went on to say that European history has been marked by an unremitting sequence of wars and conflicts, and has witnessed the most terrible atrocities ever known in human history. "In recognition of this, as the first public act of my Presidency, I chose to visit Auschwitz". (The day before, Official Journal of the European Communities C 28, included a Call for proposals for projects to preserve the sites of Nazi concentration camps as historical memorials). During the debate that followed, MEPs spoke both for and against the Council's actions. Some argued that the EU should not interfere in the policies of elected national governments. Others felt the EU was justified in voicing its concern. Views of Austrian MEPs were mixed: Peter Sichrovsky, argued that people were passing judgment before anything had happened; Ursula Stenzel told MEPs that Austria is a stable democracy with no place for xenophobia; and Hannes Swobada spoke of a "bleak day for Austria and Europe". When it came to voting, Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the "insulting xenophobic and racist statements" made by Mr Haider (Austria - Haider's views condemned 03.02.00). An amendment to the resolution calls on the Council and the Commission to support anti-racist activities in Austria. On 3 February 2000 the Portuguese Presidency issued another statement, in which it regretted that the FPÖ had been included in the newly formed Austrian Cabinet and stated that "as a consequence, Portugal will henceforth enforce the three decisions made by the 14 Member States of the European Union, announced on 31 January" (Prime Minister's Office Press Release on the constitution of the new Austrian Cabinet). The following day, Franz Fischler, Austria's Commissioner, made a statement on the situation, in which he said that:
On 4 February the new Austrian government formally took office. Mr Haider is not in the cabinet. (New Federal Government Sworn In By Federal President Klestil). Reactions The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) is an independent body of the EU located in Vienna. It was established in 1997, and will be officially opened on 7 April this year. The opening event is scheduled to include a forum on 'Politics and Racism'. The EUMC has issued a number of press releases on the current situation, including a Statement on the current political situation in Austria (undated) in which it "applauds the historic statement of principle, and the actions announced on 31 January 2000 by the Prime Minister of Portugal on behalf of the 14 Members States of the EU as a strong re-affirmation of the ethical values on which European union is based". The Centre recalled that the Charter of European Political Parties for a non-racist society obliges political parties "to refrain from any form of political alliance ... with any political party which incites or attempts to stir up racial or ethnic prejudices and racial hatred". The EUMC is clear that "The well-documented activities and statements of the FPÖ are in total opposition to what the Charter represents" (Proposed Austrian Coalition sets dangerous precedent for Europe, 04.02.00). In another statement, the EUMC claimed that EU action is "not directed against the Austrian population and it should not be interpreted as interference in the internal affairs of Austria. Austria on becoming a member of the family of the European Union signed the Treaty on European Union. By doing so it made the decision to uphold fundamental principles and values. If these values or principles are in a position to be undermined, the Member States have a duty to show their concern" (Fundamental values must be upheld, 02.02.00). Further information within European Sources Online:
Further information can be seen in these external links: Eric Davies On 4 February 2000 a new coalition government was inaugurated in Austria. Concerns about the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) had earlier caused EU Member States to threaten action against Austria if the FPÖ were included in the government alongside the moderate-right People's Party. |
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| Countries / Regions | Austria | |||||||||
