On Friday, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (VP), together with EU Council President Charles Michel, invited five heads of state and government to a strategic mini-summit in Vienna. The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela, the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulidis came.
Michel said the Union must develop more military capacity and defense preparedness. This is the first point on the strategic agenda for the next five years. Austria’s neutrality should be respected.
For the round in Vienna, Nehammer named two Austrian priorities: the consistent fight against illegal migration and a stronger economy in order to maintain and expand prosperity. “It is important to me to have an active say at the forefront when it comes to the future of the EU and the priorities for the coming years,” emphasized the Chancellor.
Robust external border protection
At the top of his agenda is “the fight against illegal migration.” Nehammer’s demands are aimed at robust external border protection with procedures at the external border and the further goal of carrying out asylum procedures in safe third countries. He also wants consistent enforcement of returns and a determined fight against organized crime and smuggling.
With regard to the economy, Nehammer wants to make the EU internal market competitive with large global players, prevent unfair trading practices and reduce regulations and bureaucracy, including in agriculture.
