2023-08-30 16:38:24
At the opening of the “Austria in Europe Days” at the European Forum Alpbach on Wednesday, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen came up with an ode to Europe and a warning against “populists”. He described Europe as a “constructive and benevolent world power” that must “defend everything that could weaken our position.” Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar, meanwhile, would like the Western Balkan countries to make more efforts to join the EU.
Van der Bellen made a veritable declaration of love for Europe, suggesting that Europe could be a “role model” proving that “there is a way forward.” And this “in a time of rampant nihilism and fatalism”. The Federal President did not see Europe’s future in the “path of extremes. It is not the path of ruthless, exploitative capitalism” and not that of “blind nationalism that only looks backwards.” Instead, the head of state wanted the continent’s future to be something like “educated, confident, compassionate, inclusive and feminist.”
Once again he condemned Great Britain’s exit from the European Union, saying that a “Dexit or Öxit” were “not just bad ideas, but also harmful and dangerous.” This is just the “agenda of the populists” who want to “weaken the European community”. Therefore it is important to work together.
The EU must now also consider how it can “oppose attacks by a powerful foreign aggressor,” he said, apparently referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In this context, he justified his goodwill towards Austria’s accession to the European air defense system Sky Shield. Europe must be “taken seriously in the world”.
Van der Bellen opened the “Austria in Europe Days” in the presence of Slovenian President Pirc Musar. He referred to the floods in Slovenia, where the “climate emergency” had become visible. The catastrophe could have been overcome through “European solidarity,” he said. Europeans would have helped “with their hands, and hopefully sooner rather than later, with money.”
Pirc Musar also appealed to European cohesion on climate change. “We need the European Union to show the way. We need to step up our response to climate change – it’s neither easy nor cheap.” Far-right parties would provide simple answers to complex problems – “we need a stronger Europe and more trust,” said Van der Bellen’s counterpart in the same horn.
With regard to a possible EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, both Van der Bellen and Pirc Musar spoke out in favor of the states being admitted. However, these states must first ask themselves whether they really want to join the EU, the Slovenian President stated. “Sometimes I have the impression that they don’t want to, they don’t make enough effort,” she said. Van der Bellen admitted that admission requirements are stricter today than they were when Austria joined the EU. However, an EU enlargement of the western Balkan states is important in order to avoid a “power vacuum”.
The Forum Alpbach had already been opened on August 19th, followed on August 20th by the traditional “Tyrol Day” with representatives of the federal and state governments as well as the European region of Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino. Tyrol’s governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) was also present in the “Village of Thinkers” on Wednesday. In addition, representatives of the federal government – such as Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens), Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler, Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig and State Secretary Florian Tursky (all ÖVP) – were present in Alpbach. The European Forum Alpbach lasts until September 2nd. “Bold Europe” was proclaimed as the motto.
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