Society 379

SOCIETY
From the very beginning, Austria, together with other EU Member
States, has chosen a multilateral approach when it comes to access
to vaccines.
negotiated two-state solution, based
on international law, as the only viable
option for a just and lasting peace.
Palestinians and Israelis alike have the
right to live in peace and security – and
they should do so as good neighbours
to each other and to all other states
in the region. Austria clearly shows its
stance, based on open and democratic
values – for me, this is a meaningful
foreign policy.
This global virus makes
it clear to all of us
that no country – no
matter how large and
prosperous – can solve
crises of this dimension
on its own.
Portugal is holding the EU-presidency
until the end of June 2021. Could
you summarize the past six months?
And what do you expect from the
forthcoming EU presidency of Slovenia?
Portugal took over the presidency at
a very challenging time. Almost all
EU Member States were still facing
the effects of the second wave of the
COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the
Portuguese Presidency‘s motto: `Time
to deliver: a fair, green and digital
recovery‘, we all have joined our efforts
to overcome the crisis and rebuild our
economies. One recent success of
the current presidency has been the
agreement on an interoperable digital
COVID-19 certificate. It will be applicable
as of July 1 and will be particularily
important to get tourism going again.
We have been very vocal in favour of
such a certificate from the outset. EU
recovery and resilience will remain on
our agenda during the Slovenian Presidency
in the second half of the year.
Austria has been consistent with its
commitment to the Western Balkans
and EU enlargement. We welcome that
the incoming Slovenian Presidency
has underlined the EU perspective and
the need for progress in this regard as
one of its presidency priorities. Here
we need EU credibility to have stability
in the region. I think we have a common
goal: 2021 must not be another
lost year for the Western Balkans.
Would you say that the diplomatic
work in general has shifted towards
a more multilateral approach, rather
than a bilateral one? At the same
time EU members are confronted
with national regulations in the CO-
VID-19 crisis.
The pandemic knows no nationalities.
Climate change also does not stop
at national borders. That‘s why we
need functioning international organizations
and a strong multilateral
approach now more than ever. For the
first time in recent history, all states
and all societies across the world are
confronted with one and the same
challenge. This global virus makes it
clear to all of us that no country – no
matter how large and prosperous –
can solve crises of this dimension
on its own. After an initial moment
of egoistic shock in spring, solidarity
has quickly established itself as a
principle for action, especially in the
European Union. The pandemic has
brutally shown us how global threats
affect us all in the same way and how
dependent we are on each other. Only
if all countries pull together do we
have a real chance of actually overcoming
such challenges. From the
very beginning, Austria, together with
other EU Member States, has chosen
a multilateral approach when it comes
to access to vaccines. Yes, I still firmly
believe that this was and is the right
Health policy is primarily
a national responsability.
But there
is a greater awareness
that we are better off if
we work together and
pull together.
approach: `No one is safe until everyone
is safe.´
Health policy is primarily a national
responsibility. But there is a greater
awareness that we are better off if we
work together and pull together. One
of these joint projects was certainly
the procurement and distribution of
vaccines against COVID-19, where we
have developed a clear, joint strategy
at the European level. In addition, it
has become clear very quickly that
the European Union is a community
of solidarity, for example in the mutual
admission of intensive care patients,
the provision of medical protective
equipment or the very close exchange
on border management.
On a more personal note: You have
been growing up as a diplomat’s
child. How did this upbringing influence
you and your career choice?
How do you – as the current Foreign
Minister – still profit from these early
international experiences?
I spent part of my childhood and
youth in India, Spain and France
where my father was posted. Growing
up in different countries and learning
so much about different cultures has
of course enriched my life extremely.
Still, it took me many years to make
the decision to become a diplomat
myself.
Fotos:Dragan Tatic, Michael Gruber/BMEIA
COVERSTORY
016