In the EU top statement, the European Council called Brussels on Thursday to “accelerate the work in all areas to significantly increase the willingness to defend in Europe in Europe in the next five years”. Neutral states such as Austria are also explicitly mentioned.
The summit refers to the EU committee’s plans for purchasing the community and massive investments in defense to fight for growing war risks.
“The European Council is reminiscent of the fact that a stronger and more powerful European Union in the field of safety and defense will make a positive contribution to global and transatlantic safety and a supplement will be for NATO,” says the text.
For the EU countries, who are also members of NATO, they remain the basis of their collective defense. The measures mentioned on the special defense stop on 6 March must be implemented immediately and the work on the corresponding financing options must be continued. The top asked the Council and the Co -Legislators to quickly promote work to the recent proposals of the recent committee.
Special status for neutral states
With a view to neutral states such as Austria, it is emphasized that this is not influenced “the special nature of the safety and defense policy of certain Member States” and taking into account the safety and defense breaks of all Member States in accordance with their contracts. At the beginning of March, the EU Statish heads and the government had already welcomed suggestions from the committee on the special TOP to mobilize the 800 billion euros for upgrading projects.
Austria will take a look at planned EU instruments for financing the expenditure for increased armament and “wherever it suits us”. Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) said on Thursday before the EU top in Brussels. In particular, the intended exceptional clauses in the EU debt rules are essential for Austria.
In any case, a contribution to Europe’s defense capacity will be made “as part of neutrality,” says Stocker. At the same time, the Chancellor confirmed the goal of Austria to increase defense expenditure to two percent of GDP in 2032. In view of the conversations of Ukraine between the US and Russia, Europe should not make itself smaller than it is, Stocker continues. The European Union could make a “good and essential” contribution to these discussions.
Two sections in the last explanation are also devoted to migration. For example, the top requires a quick examination of the regulation proposed by Commissioner Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) for faster and more efficient returns of illegal migrants. The top also had a first exchange for the next multi-year EU budget. The negotiations are officially launched in the fall.
Source: Krone
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