The FPÖ speaks out against an EU membership application from Ukraine. “Ukraine is far from meeting the requirements of a candidate for EU membership,” explain MEP Roman Haider and FPÖ Europe spokeswoman Petra Steger. Ukraine has been inundated with EU aid for nearly two decades with no lasting change in its grievances, most notably corruption.
Austria must therefore clearly “speak out against Ukraine’s application for EU membership”, the FPÖ demands on Wednesday in a broadcast on the occasion of the upcoming EU summit. The conflict in Ukraine and its implications for food security, membership applications from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, as well as the outcome of the EU conference on the future are expected to be discussed.
FPÖ Europe spokeswoman Steger calls “huge concerns about the rule of law and corruption at the highest levels” and the weak economic performance. Given the enormous internal problems of the EU, according to Steger and Haider, it is highly doubtful whether enlargement makes sense at the moment.
FPÖ also against Russia sanctions
The attitude of the PVV is not surprising, their support for Ukraine is coming to an end. Although they condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they repeatedly spoke out against sanctions against Russia. In addition, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl said in May that heavy weapons should not be supplied to “break the spiral of escalation”. Kickl also repeatedly demanded “understanding” for Russia.
A few days ago, the European Commission recommended that Member States grant Ukraine candidate status. Austria will only agree to this under certain conditions. “We must 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 out of the picture,” Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) recently told krone.at. Rapid full accession is in any case not a topical issue.
Source: Krone
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