In the “Krone”, Chancellor Karl Nehammer argues for taking the emotions out of the current debate and applying the same standards as for other candidate countries – for example in the Balkans.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer spoke again with the “Krone” in favor of an intermediate step between cooperation and full accession to the EU for states like Ukraine or Moldova. In this context, the Chancellor speaks explicitly of a “European preparatory area” for alignment with EU standards.
full membership nnot realistic
“We are united by the same goal, we all want a strong, independent and economically successful Ukraine,” Chancellor Karl Nehammer told the Krone. “Currently, Ukraine is fighting for its political and territorial survival. All our efforts are primarily aimed at ending the Russian war of aggression. In such a phase, rapid full accession to the European Union cannot in any case be an issue.”
Instead, one should “take the emotions out of the current debate and apply the same standards used by other applicants from the Western Balkans. In my opinion, a full accession of Ukraine as soon as possible is unrealistic.”
The EU must create a “European preparedness area” that will allow step by step to strengthen cooperation and increasingly adapt to EU standards. Austria did this for decades with European free trade agreements until it joined the EU in 1995.
“The current debate is very much about either-or,” the chancellor said. “Little thought is given to practical options that would enable close ties with the EU in many areas and strengthen Ukraine economically. But that is exactly what is needed now. I therefore also supported French President Macron’s interesting idea of creating a ‘European Political Community’.”
Gradual collaboration
According to the Federal Chancellery, close and gradual cooperation between the EU and Ukraine in several areas is possible, similar to what the French proposals would envisage. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and European Minister Karoline Edtstadler have already approached their EU partners with these proposals.
To be specifically mentioned: trade, in addition to goods traffic, especially in the service sector; energy and climate policy, such as gas storage, renewable energy and hydrogen technology; traffic, for example cross-border road construction; in the field of science and education; food security and the common foreign, security and defense policy.
According to the Chancellor’s Office, progress in these areas would also make it possible to better fight corruption. This would also allow greater access to EU funding. Ultimately, the cooperation could be comparable to that with the EFTA countries, ie with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway.
The upcoming European Council at the end of June will also consider whether the EU should grant Ukraine candidate status. In particular, former Eastern bloc countries such as Poland or Lithuania are pushing in this direction en masse. Countries such as France, Germany and Austria are very concerned. Rightly so. Opening this window against your better judgement would be incorrect, but unfair.
Source: Krone
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