Sobotka: Binding the Western Balkans to the EU is more important than ever

2023-10-20 19:14:24

President of the National Council in exchange with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic

Vienna (PK) – National Council President Wolfang Sobotka received Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Parliament today. In addition to bilateral relations and the situation in the Western Balkans region, the exchange focused on the attacks by the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel and the EU expansion towards the Western Balkans. Sobotka emphasized the high strategic importance of connecting the Western Balkan states to the EU.

Historically close relations with Croatia

Austria and Croatia have always maintained close and excellent relations, emphasized National Council President Sobotka. These would be expressed on many levels – from cooperation on economic, tourism and cultural levels to issues of security and migration. Since the war of aggression against Ukraine, the two countries have also been working intensively together in the energy sector. The planned LNG terminal in Croatia is strategically of great importance for Austria. The close connection is also evident in the large Croatian community in Austria, whose members are highly valued and well integrated.

Austria supports Western Balkan states on their way to the EU

National Council President Sobotka asked Prime Minister Plenković about his assessment of the current political situation in the Western Balkans region. Plenković was concerned about the enormous potential for conflict. Sobotka emphasized that the close ties between these states and the EU are strategically more important than ever. Austria will continue to fully support the expansion of the European Union towards the Western Balkan states.

Terror in Israel is a major global political challenge

The attacks by the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel are unprecedented in their brutality, emphasized Sobotka. Plenković agreed. The situation has a massive impact on every European country in several ways, said Sobotka. In addition to the economic consequences, it is important to prevent the conflict from spilling over into Europe as a result of migration, the National Council President expressed concern due to the recent acts of violence in several European countries. The EU must therefore find a common strategy for dealing with developments. Austria is deeply concerned and stands in full solidarity with Israel, emphasized the President of the National Council. (End) shhh

A NOTICE: Photos of this visit can be found in the Parliament web portal .

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