EU-XIV sanctions against Austria

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EU-XIV sanctions against Austria, sometimes also EU sanctions against Austria, is the term coined by representatives of the governing parties of the Austrian federal government Schüssel I , a coalition of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), for the reaction of the Governments of the then fourteen other member states of the European Union on the government participation of the FPÖ, led by Jörg Haider , at the beginning of 2000.

The fourteen governments decided to reduce bilateral relations with the Austrian federal government at the governmental and diplomatic level to the bare minimum. Apart from these measures, which were expressly limited to reducing contacts with the ÖVP-FPÖ government and its representatives, there were no actions against Austria. These measures were triggered by fears that xenophobic and racist statements by leading FPÖ functionaries could rub off on government policy. After the establishment of a council of wise men under Martti Ahtisaari and its report, they were ended in September 2000.

Participating Governments

The European governments involved in the measures at the time were:

The term "sanctions"

The widespread use of these measures in Austria as “EU sanctions against Austria” is controversial in several respects. The designation of the measures themselves as "sanctions" does not correspond to any of the official documents and statements about them. The governments of the EU-14 wanted the measures to be understood explicitly as " bilateral " and limited to the government level, not as measures "by the EU against Austria".

Political scientist Anton Pelinka describes it as the “first major success of the Schüssel government” that the word “sanctions” was able to establish itself as a name for the measures and as a battleground . Johannes Voggenhuber ( The Greens ) described it as Schüssel's greatest success that he had succeeded in reinterpreting the “questionable 'measures' of the EU member states against his black-blue government as 'Union sanctions against Austria'”.

FPÖ / ÖVP called on all other parties and all citizens to stand behind the government in a “national alliance”.

background

Austria joined the EU in 1995 , which was also seen as a personal achievement by Schüssel, who was involved in the accession negotiations at the time and a staunch European. The central political concern of this time was, on the one hand, to dispel the resentments and concerns that existed in the Austrian population and to make the great value of membership tangible in everyday life, and, on the other hand, to advance European integration and consolidate Austria's position.

After the parliamentary elections on October 3, 1999 beginning of 2000, Joerg Haider (FPOe) and Wolfgang Schüssel (ÖVP) coalition government ÖVP agreed after several months of negotiations on the formation of a FPO / ( black-blue coalition), the Federal Government dish I . Due to the appearance of leading FPÖ proponents reminiscent of right-wing extremism and a number of anti-minority and racist statements made by them, the governments of the other 14 EU states decided to take action against the Austrian government. These were published in a statement by the then Portuguese EU Council Presidency:

“The governments of the 14 member states will not engage in or accept any official bilateral contacts on a political level with an Austrian government involving the FPÖ. There will be no support for Austrian candidates seeking positions in international organizations. Austrian ambassadors are only received on a technical level in the EU capitals. "

The measures were thus limited to reducing bilateral relations at government and diplomatic level. The fourteen governments of EU member states then also joined the Czech Republic, Canada, Israel and Norway.

Ways report

Before the end of the measures, a so-called wise report should be drawn up in which the political situation in Austria should be assessed. The former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari , the German international law expert Jochen Abraham Frowein and the former Spanish EU Commissioner Marcelino Oreja were commissioned with the preparation .

The authors received the mandate to compile a report on July 12, 2000 from the President of the European Court of Human Rights from the other 14 EU states (referred to as the (EU) XIV in the wise report ). You should clarify the following points in your report:

  • the advocacy of the Austrian government for European values
  • the rights of minorities, refugees and immigrants in Austria
  • the development of the political nature of the FPÖ

Findings of the wise men’s report:

  • There are some problems with the treatment of asylum seekers in Austria. The legal situation of asylum seekers in Austria is similar to that in other EU countries.
  • With regard to the rights of immigrants, the Austrian government advocates common European values.
  • The Austrian government stands up for the fight against racism, discrimination, anti-Semitism and xenophobia. In addition, however, reference is also made to an ambiguous use of language by high-ranking FPÖ functionaries that reflects positions of right - wing extremism . The FPÖ did not take any action against these officials, it neither condemned nor prevented these statements or apologized.
  • The FPÖ election campaign of 1999 (slogans such as “We guarantee: Stop foreign infiltration - Austria first!” ) Was viewed as xenophobic by local observers. This campaign style made openly expressed xenophobia acceptable again.
  • The Austrian bishops are concerned about a threatening deterioration in the social climate. Other denominations also made statements.
  • There are attempts on the part of the FPÖ to silence political opponents or even to criminalize them.
  • It is emphasized that some statements and opinions of the Austrian Justice Minister Dieter Böhmdorfer are not compatible with the principles of the EU.
  • It is criticized that the use of libel suits by the FPÖ for the purpose of deterrence is excessive. In this context, shortcomings in the Austrian legal system are pointed out.
  • The behavior of the FPÖ ministers in the government since February 2000 can essentially not be criticized.

In summary, the authors found that the Austrian government advocates European values ​​and the legal situation corresponds to that of the other EU countries. The FPÖ is characterized as a right-wing populist party with radical elements, but at the same time it is stated that the FPÖ ministers have essentially complied with the government's obligations since they began their government activities.

In the wise men’s report, the authors therefore recommended:

  • The measures taken by the 14 Member States would be counterproductive if they continued.
  • Introduction of preventive and monitoring procedures in Article 7 of the EU Treaty.
  • Creation of a human rights office in the European Council.

Repeal of the measures

The wise men’s report was adopted in Paris in September 2000 as an exit strategy . Shortly after this report became available, the measures against the Austrian government were lifted by the other EU governments, with the restriction that they continue to closely monitor developments in Austria.

literature

  • Waldemar Hummer , Anton Pelinka : Austria under "EU quarantine". The "Measures of the 14" against the Austrian Federal Government from a political science and legal point of view. Chronology, commentary, documentation . Linde, Vienna 2002, ISBN 3-7073-0351-9 .
  • Margaretha Kopeinig , Christoph Kotanko : A European Affair. The sage report and the sanctions against Austria . Czernin, Vienna 2000, ISBN 3-7076-0105-6 .
  • André Hau: Sanctions and preliminary measures to safeguard fundamental European values. Legal questions on Art. 7 EU. Baden-Baden 2002. NOMOS, IUS EUROPAEUM series , volume 19. ISBN 978-3-7890-8310-5 .

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Rosa Winkler-Hermaden: When Austria was the EU's scapegoat . In: The Standard . January 21, 2010
  2. ↑ Johannes Voggenhuber: Politics: An embezzled continent . In: The time . No. 13, March 19, 2009
  3. ↑ Chronology of Austria's relations with the EEC / EU , parlament.gv.at.
  4. ↑ 26th Canadian Cabinet under Jean Chrétien ( LPC )
  5. ^ Armin Thurnher in Heimniederlage , p. 98. (Paul-Zsolnay-Verlag, Vienna, 2000, ISBN 3-552-04975-4 )