FPÖ – Vilimsky: “EU skepticism is homemade” | Freedom Parliamentary Club

2023-12-07 08:41:40

Many promises surrounding Austria’s accession to the EU were broken

Vienna (OTS) – “An above all home-made problem”: This is how Harald Vilimsky, head of the liberal delegation in the European Parliament, commented on the Eurobarometer survey published on Wednesday. According to her, only 42 percent of Austrians see EU membership as positive, which is the lowest approval rating of all EU member states.

The ever-increasing EU skepticism is not due to a negative portrayal of politics towards the EU, but rather because many promises have been broken since Austria joined the EU almost 30 years ago, said Vilimsky. “What did they promise the Austrians? The shilling remains as a stable Alpine dollar. The euro came and with it the failed policy of the European Central Bank with rescue packages and debt union. We were also promised that we would remain the delicatessen of Europe. Instead, Brussels’ policies are making us dependent on food imports by forcing us into free trade agreements that deprive small farmers of their livelihoods, but allow insects in food,” criticized the liberal MEP.

Above all, Vilimsky attributes the current skepticism of many Austrians to the EU’s current policy, which is directed more against the citizens than working for them. “The much-vaunted European solutions are not solutions, but part of the problem. Brussels has completely failed on the migration issue. Mass immigration to Europe through abuse of the right to asylum continues unabated. Commission chief von der Leyen is dragging the Union further and further into the war in Ukraine and wants more and more money for it. Inflation – also driven by the Green Deal – is putting a massive strain on citizens. At the same time, the centralists are mercilessly pushing forward their agenda at the expense of the member states,” said the liberal delegation leader.

Vilimsky also sees the results of the survey as a confirmation of the FPÖ’s policies at the European level. He emphasized that Austrians can initiate a change in the EU elections in June 2024 by voting for the Freedom Party: “The EU election will be a very decisive turning point: Can the states of Europe preserve their sovereignty and identity? Or will Brussels’ centralist course, which has long since become disconnected from the wishes of the majority of citizens, continue? You, dear voters, will decide that next year,” said Vilimsky.