{"id":5438,"date":"2018-06-30T23:05:11","date_gmt":"2018-06-30T23:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan.thatscommunication.de\/its-about-europe\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T19:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:04:08","slug":"its-about-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan.thatscommunication.de\/en\/its-about-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s About Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the third time, Austria is now taking over the Council Presidency of the European Union for six months. This entails several challenges that need to be overcome. A commentary by Karl von Habsburg<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A Council Presidency is not intended to push through national interests within the EU. The holder of the presidency is more of a moderator who cannot lead the EU in the sense of the old leadership principle, but can only guide it through substantive competence and diplomatic skill. Apart from that, the Austrian government will, of course, try to present itself domestically with appropriate staging, and at one event or another \u2013 just think of the gigantic celebration for the handover of the Council Presidency<\/a> on the Planei \u2013 provide something akin to bread and circuses for officials and the public. <\/p>\n

Anyone stating today that the EU is not exactly in its best condition will not be delivering any news. At the same time, various ideas for EU reform are emerging from different directions. Much of this, such as the proposal for an EU unemployment insurance, leans towards more European bureaucracy and contradicts the principle of subsidiarity. A separate budget for the Eurozone would introduce an additional administrative layer, and would likely divide the EU rather than unite it. <\/p>\n

It will therefore be up to the skill of Austrian politics, diplomacy, and administration in the coming months to push forward the major issues that require a European solution, and to put aside individual special requests. Of course, a European solution is needed for the so-called refugee question. The further closure of national borders would mean further fragmentation and would also have negative economic consequences. However, the economy secures our prosperity. Therefore, it would be very sensible to establish border protection as an EU competence, as was already envisioned when the Schengen system and open internal borders were created. <\/p>\n

Expectant gazes will be directed towards Vienna from Southeast Europe over the next six months. Bulgaria, which has now concluded its Council Presidency, was able to take some important steps here. However, there are still countries that say a loud ‘No’ to enlargement, want to block individual countries, or \u2013 and this game is as bad as it is old \u2013 want to play enlargement against deepening<\/a>. The question of enlargement is primarily about extending a zone of stability and the rule of law. This benefits the current EU just as much as it benefits the accession candidates. <\/p>\n

Politics is a dynamic process; the world changes, and if Europe does not act, other powers will step into this void. This, in turn, would bring instability to Austria’s immediate neighbourhood. <\/p>\n

Often the objection is raised that enlargement is too expensive, that it costs something. This is a very one-dimensional view that ignores essential aspects. Even if one only considers the economic side and the costs, one must consider the costs of a zone of instability. The higher the democratic and rule-of-law standards, the better it is for Europe, and the more attractive it becomes to invest in the region and thereby create prosperity. Politicians in Southeast European countries also know that they are undertaking reforms not for the EU, but for their own countries. <\/p>\n

If, in addition, it succeeds in bringing the Central European dimension to the forefront in the next six months, then Austria would have achieved a great deal by the end of this year.<\/p>\n

The article originally appeared on the website of Karl von Habsburg<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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