The last journey as President of the Council of the EU has led Federal Chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz to Romania. In Bucharest, at an average height of 83 meters above sea level, it was necessary to pass on rotational basis, the office of the presidency of the EU. It was a very factual matter, far from that summit of spectacle, with the Short in the summer, the Austrian Takeover on the Planai in Schladming was staged.

Six months between the two events, and a descent of about 1800 meters. The suggests that the Austrian high flyers are back on the floor of the facts. Because the balance of your EU-presidency is at best mixed.

Certainly, in terms of Shine, and Gloria, the Austria Turkish master of ceremonies have proven to be the Habsburg heritage as worthy. From the Salzburg Mirabell garden to the Viennese riding school, the Scenes were chosen perfectly. The Organisation ran like clockwork. But the substance was no less remarkable.

Frontex as a threat to the “Europe that protects”

are not to blame only the stormy times have been with a British Brexit-Chaos, Italian household on a rampage and the galloping Orban in Hungary. Blame the Austrian government, which has set up research and demanding, high sticks, and then at the end, ducked underneath it and slipped.

“A Europe that protects” as the Motto of the presidency of the Council issued. Coined the was, as with almost everything in this government of the ÖVP and the FPÖ, especially on the topic of Migration. The protection means in the Viennese reading of foreclosure, and, first and foremost, two projects were promoted: the so-called Landing platforms for refugees outside Europe, as well as the rapid strengthening of the EU border protection Agency Frontex. Both of which failed.

For the landing centers no consent to partners beyond the EU found – little surprise–. And the increase of border guards on 10’000 forces in 2020 was moved back to 2027, because of Austria’s other comrades-in-arms sense in the case of the migrant defense in the Frontex force, a threat to national sovereignty.

good omens

As the low point of the EU is allowed to this presidency will be but the refusal of Austria to the UN migration Pact. Because the government in Vienna, which was involved in the drafting of the Pact to be constructive, here the EU-the role of domestic political populism overgrow. It has not been shown as a bridge-Builder, as the Chancellor promises to be Short, always, but on the contrary, as a splitter. Encouraged by this example, other European States are care. The bottom line is, the EU stood back as the absent-questionable bunch.

In Bucharest had passed, therefore, heavy Luggage, and welcome he was. Because the Romanians are currently so busy with internal political crises that even their own President has declared the country unprepared for the presidency. For Europe, that is not a good sign. But at least, unlike in the case of Austria, a starting position, in the case of Romania, hardly fell short of expectations.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 23.12.2018, 21:04 Uhr