CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 03/2018

LE MONDE CZECH REPUBLIC | INTERVIEW
LE MONDE EXPERT´S VIEW
“For the time being, everthing goes
well economically and the Czech
intend to proceed that way.
We‘re safe and sound right at the
moment.“
One of our most important
business partners
Christian Miller, Commercial Counsellor in Prague
linked to democratic and western principles,
a fully respected and successful member
of the European Union.
Do you feel there are any serious dangers on the
horizon that might challenge or even defy the
successeful Czech economy in the upcoming years?
Of course nobody knows about the future
and you can‘t eliminate the possibility
that some day there might be any kind of
new crisis coming to Europe again – or
even to my country. But for the time being,
everything really goes well and the Czech
intend to proceed that way. We‘re safe and
sound right at the moment ...
Europe is not safe and sound at all when it comes
to migration problems. Facing the many
challenges that current flows of refugees are
provoking in Europe, your country stands aside
with states like Hungary or Poland, that refuse to
integrate migrants with open arms.
That topic is of daily occurence in the
Czech Republic and I know that the Visegrad
states originally took a position that
was not in accord with the German position
for instance. But look what happened,
the situation has changed and as I understand,
Austria and even Germany were reviewing
and reconsidering their position.
Of course, the Czech Republic is a save haven
within the European Union. But let‘s
take the fact that Czech people, maybe due
to decades under communistic regimes,
are not prepared to cope with something
like multicultural societies. One has to take
that in account, one has to respect this.
Remember that our society has been locked
behind a fence for decades. Besides,
we do take lots of immigrants from Ukraine
and Vietnam. But those are in one way
or another similar cultures or at least cultures
not completely alien to what Czech
people are used do. Ukranians and Vietnamese
integrate very well into our society.
Isn‘t it somewhat surprising that especially the
Czech people, who did benefit in such a
tremendous way from the Austrian willingness to
integrate refugees in the year 1968, now are that
dismissive against refugees from Syria,
Afghanistan or similar countries?
People simply suffer from fear when
they hear about those terrorist attacks all
over Europe. Besides, there have been
many people coming to the Czech Republic
as refugees not even wanting to stay with
us. There are many cases in which we took
refugees and helped in many ways only to
find out that they didn‘t even want to stay
with us but simply wanted to transfer to
Germany.
The Czech Republic is also engaging in
Europe‘s Frontex activities, we have sent
more than 300 Czech police agents to
Frontex over the past years to serve there
and help secure the European borders. And
not to forget that there are lots of immigrants
coming not as refugees but only for
economic reasons and therefore are falling
for tractors. The whole subject matter is
very complex.
So how to proceed?
The European governments and the EU
are currently trying to find new solutions
to strengthen the European solidarity and
deal with the subject in a more efficient
way. Especially Austria, that as you know
holds the presidency of the EU at the moment,
is pushing that forward.
Does the Czech republic fulfill the guidelines of
the EU regarding the Dublin agreement?
No, that was a big problem, we have
been taken to court together with Hungary
because of that. But now, as I said, the whole
situation is changing, we are looking for
a new general solution to the problem on a
European level.
If you were granted with a wishing well regarding
the relations between the Czech Republic and
Austria, what would that be?
The two states of ours have been living
in cohabitation for so many years, not to
talk about the former monarchy, we have
so many things in common, we do share so
many historic events – and I am glad being
able to say that our bilateral relations right
at the monent are at an all time high, better
than ever, with just some minor challenges
to discuss. So there is only one thing left
that I might point out as a personal wish: I
would be glad if the traffic links between
our countries would finally be put to a better
status. If you could drive from Prague to
Vienna by car, using an uninterrupted
highway, that would be great.
Ivana Červenková, the Ambassador of
the Czech Republic, during the interview
with Cercle Diplomatique, in the
beautiful Czech Embassy in Vienna‘s 14 th
district.
PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA
PHOTO: WKÖ
Christian Miller
serves currently as
Austria‘s Commercial
Counsellor in the Czech
Republic and is
delegated by the
Austrian Economic
Chamber to its Prague
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The Czech Republic is a country with extremely close ties to Austria
The Czech Republic has always been a country with
extremely close ties to Austria.
In the past, it was the industrial heart of the Austrian
Hungarian Empire and today it is one of our most important
business partners.
Since 1993, when Czechoslovakia split into the two
o ffi c e . independent states Slovakia and the Czech Republic bilateral
trade developed extremely dynamic. The trade volume grew
nearly eightfold from 1,5 bn. EUR to 11,6 bn. in 2017. This puts
the Czech Republic into the sixth position of our most
important trade partners; just behind China.
Austrian exports increased from 0,8 bn. EUR to 5,3 bn. and imports from the
Czech Republic rose from 0,7 bn. to 6,3 bn in 2017. EUR. From the point of view
of our exports the Czech Republic is Austria´s sixth most important export destination
worldwide, its fourth most important within the European Union and the
most important in Central and Eastern Europe.
The kind of commodities exported and imported are quite similar.
On both sides, the share of machinery, transport equipment and industrial
supplies is extremely high. They cover more or less 70% of all goods exchanged.
Speaking of foreign trade, trade in services is often not mentioned.
Compared to trade in goods they are lower, but their development has been even
more dynamic during recent years and reached a volume of 2,8 bn. last year.
Besides tourism and transport, corporate services are the main items exchanged.
Both of our countries are not only highly interconnected in the area of bilateral
trade but also in foreign direct investment.
During my assignment here in Prague, I have the pleasure to participate at quite
an impressive number of 20 or even 25 years anniversaries of Austrian
companies. 20 or 25 years is not only an impressive period but also a clear
indication, that Austrian companies were early movers and one of the first to
invest.
They saw the potential the country and its people had and put trust into their
ability. Today there are 1.800 operational Austrian businesses in the country
employing about 100.000 people.
Besides some large investments in the banking, insurance and real estate sector
there are numerous Austrian investments in production and trade. Austrian FDI
in the Czech Republic amounts to approximately 14,4 bn. EUR making it our third
most important FDI destination.
For quite some time it seemed, that foreign direct investment is a one-way road
from Austria to the Czech Republic. However recently more and more Czech
companies expand their activities to and in Austria. They open branch offices or
invest in existing enterprises.
The development of bilateral economic relations between our two countries can
be best described as a success story.
I am nevertheless convinced that it will continue to prosper and intensify even
more in the future.
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