Austria will only agree to Ukraine’s candidate status to the EU under certain conditions. “We need to ensure that the same standards are applied as for other Western Balkan candidate countries. Against this background, it would be unthinkable for me to grant Ukraine candidate status while keeping countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina on the sidelines,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) shares the same view: “We should not fall into a geostrategic tunnel vision, but should also look to the south-east of Europe.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for accession in early 2016 and has only been considered a “potential candidate for accession” for many years. A recommendation from the European Commission is expected on Friday to grant Ukraine candidate status. The decision of the heads of state or government must be unanimous.
“EU must apply the same standards”
“As far as potential EU candidate status is concerned, I would argue that there are clear and established criteria to be followed without ifs and buts. There should be no double standards or even first- and second-rate candidates for membership,” Nehammer underlined statements to the “Krone” in the newspaper “Welt”. According to the chancellor, it is necessary to ensure that the EU applies “the same standards” to Ukraine as it does to other candidate countries from the Western Balkans.
According to “Kurier”, Foreign Minister Schallenberg also backs the chancellor’s words and points out that he should be careful about the signal effect that could be caused by Ukraine’s accession to the EU. According to him, the impression should be avoided that “some countries are on the hard shoulder, and have been for years, and that Ukraine is passing them”.
“Shouldn’t create false expectations”
In view of the accession negotiations that Kiev had demanded as soon as possible, Nehammer said: “In Ukraine, too, we must not raise false expectations, because the enlargement process is complex and lengthy. We must therefore urgently think about intermediate steps in the accession process, for example in the sense of a European preparation area.” According to Nehammer, this preparatory area should not replace the accession process, but should run parallel to it and facilitate approximation according to EU standards.
“Part of the European Family”
Nevertheless, there is no question that Ukraine is “part of the European family,” the chancellor said. “Austria, as a militarily neutral country, therefore supports Ukraine as best it can against the Russian war of aggression and all attempts to end hostilities.”
Minister of Europe Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) took the same line as the chancellor. “There is no question that Ukraine is a European country and defends our values. But there are no shortcuts on the way to the EU. There should also not be two categories of applicants,” Edtstadler told the “Kleine Zeitung”, also referring to Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo, which are waiting for the next step in the enlargement process.
“Bosnia is still waiting for candidate status and can be overtaken by Ukraine. We must not use double standards,” said the minister of Europe.
“Shouldn’t give any other treatment”
Whether Moldova or Georgia should be granted EU candidate status depends on “whether they meet the conditions. However, there is also another question mark, and that is the time component. This is the case with every applicant for membership. That’s right, there are no shortcuts. The contracts are clear. I am a big fan of European integration, there should be no other treatment,” said Edtstadler.
Source: Krone
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