CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 02/2020

L’AUTRICHE INTERVIEW
„Message control“ als Markenzeichen
“Message control” as a brand
Video-Konferenz mit Regierungschefs in Europa und Israel
Video conference with heads of state in Europe and Israel
Das deutsche Höchstgericht in Karlsruhe hat in
einem aufsehenerregenden Urteil Einwände
gegen das Anleihen-Aufkaufprogramm der
Europäischen Zentralbank (EZB) erhoben.
Welche Konsequenzen könnte dies für die EU
haben?
Wir haben dieses Urteil des deutschen
Verfassungsgerichtshofs mit großem Interesse
zur Kenntnis genommen, und unsere
Experten, insbesondere im Verfassungsdienst,
analysieren die möglichen Implikationen
nun sehr genau.
Unser Magazin wird ja vorwiegend von Entscheidungsträgern
der internationalen Gemeinschaft
– von der Diplomatie bis zur Wirtschaft – gelesen.
Haben sie eine besondere Botschaft an
diese Zielgruppe?
Wir werden als Bundesregierung alles
unternehmen, damit die International
Community, die in Wien einen wichtigen
globalen Dienst leistet, das auch weiterhin
bestmöglich machen kann. Wir werden alles
tun, um sicherzustellen, dass man weiterhin
in Österreich in Sicherheit und mit hoher
Lebensqualität arbeiten und leben kann.
Chancellor, the EU Commission recently organised
a donors’ conference to fund research for a
vaccine and medications against Covid-19. 7.4
billion euro were gathered. Is the EU going to be a
leader in the fight against Covid-19, while the US
has decided to go its own way?
Kurz: I am very grateful to Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen for this
initiative, because the development of a
vaccine is of the utmost importance right
now. Not just in terms of health, but also in
terms of the EU member states’ economic
perspective. And this is why the states have
contributed so generously to it. I am very
pleased with this.
At the beginning of the corona pandemic, the EU
seemed nowhere to be found. There was a lack of
early warnings and directives, especially from the
European Centre for Disease Prevention and
Control in Sweden. Were you upset about this?
We were surprised. The fact that we received
criticism from the EU Commission
for closing our borders to Italy was also unexpected.
This was an absolutely necessary
measure to fight the pandemic. There were
also tensions early on among some of the
European states, such as when France and
Germany decided to issue export bans on
medical goods. European cooperation is
now relatively stable again. We are also looking
at the Commission President’s initiative
to research a vaccine as a very positive
development.
Which lockdown measure was the most difficult
for you personally?
The most difficult thing was the resistance
from some decision-makers to institute
the lockdown in the first place, because
Austria still had relatively few cases at that
point. There was no appreciation of the impending
difficulties and the potentional
growth of the virus yet at that point.
Why was the reaction to Italy’s cry for help so
delayed? According to surveys, a majority of
Italians now views the EU very sceptically.
All EU member states struggled with
their own protective equipment supply
problems in the beginning. Once possible,
many member states immediately began to
offer aid. Austria, for example, took in several
intensive care patients from Italy and
also provided disinfectants. After the end
of the crisis, we will definitely have to come
together in the EU and discuss what we can
learn from this and how we can make Europe
more self-sufficient again.
Critics and populists are already spelling out the
end of the EU, calling the pandemic its death
knell. We have seen a return to nation states.
What should the EU now prioritise in order to
stop it from losing its significance?
There is no point in badmouthing the
European Union. Not only do I find these
apocalyptic fantasies uncalled for, but also
far removed from any reality. Of course,
any crisis should also be a time to reflect
critically on what was done right and what
could have been done better. Generally
speaking, my government’s goal has been
clear: We want a strong European Union
under the principle of subsidiarity which
cooperates even more strongly and more
deeply when it comes to the big questions,
and where member states act independently
in matters where they are best equipped
to make their own decisions.
Ms von der Leyen has already explained that a
higher EU budget will be necessary after the end
of the coronavirus pandemic to jumpstart the
economy. You have always spoken out against
increasing the joint EU budget and were in favour
of a limit of 1.1 percent of total GDP. The former
head of the Eurogroup Working Group, the
Austrian Thomas Wieser, has called for increasing
expenses – between 1.6 and 2 percent of GDP
across the EU – otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible
to make it out of the shutdown. Will it take more
money?
No, this is a difficult debate that is taking
place on the European level right now.
Countries such as France, Italy and Spain
are demanding a lot of money from EU
partners including Germany, Austria or the
Netherlands. We, of course, want to show
solidarity and make a contribution. The
“Frugal Four” (editor’s note: the Netherlands,
Denmark, Sweden and Austria) and
Germany would prefer to make this contribution
in the form of loans, though not
with additional payments and definitely
not with a shared debt burden.
Thomas Wieser, however, explained that it
wouldn’t work without non-repayable grants.
Different approaches are being discussed
as part of the negotiations. I understand
that some countries are trying to get
the best deal possible for themselves. But
PHOTOS: ARNO MELICHAREK
the fact that those who will ultimately have
to pay are trying to hit the brakes should
also be understandable.
There is concern about a possible second wave of
the coronavirus this autumn. Will your government
have to return to the measures in that case?
Your advisor, Antonella Mei-Pochtler, spoke of
“tools on the edge of democracy” – among them a
mandatory app to trace infection spreads.
Experts have presented different perspectives.
As the government, our position
on the app is clear. Here, the Ministry for
Health will decide what’s permissible and
what isn’t. What’s crucial, however, is to
keep the infection rates low, while, at the
same time, getting the economy back on its
feet. We are currently doing this quite well
in Austria and are hoping that it will continue
this way.
Austria’s tourism sector has been affected severely
by the virus. Are you still expecting a – though
probably limited – summer season? The German
government and Bavarian politicians are not
planning on reopening the borders any time soon.
We are working intensively with our
neighbours to reopen the borders once it is
possible and safe to do so. This is also part
of our pro-European approach. I would
consider it problematic if the borders remained
closed despite the security situation
permitting a reopening.
A new EU law on the acquisition of key businesses
through non-member states is being prepared for
this autumn. This is meant to prevent China in
particular from acquiring companies that have run
into trouble during the crisis for little money.
Should key industries such as the pharmaceutical
industry be brought back to Europe as well?
If there is one lesson that we should all
draw from the crisis then it is that the EU
countries must return to local and self-sufficient
industries. This begins with the food
supply and ends with medicine production.
Does this also apply to infrastructure? China
recently purchased the ports of Piraeus and Trieste.
That’s a sensitive topic. In a globalised
world, investment protection is, of course,
necessary today.
You regularly consult with heads of state from
Israel, Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark and
Greece on questions concerning the coronavirus.
Will this cooperation be extended to other areas
as well?
We’re having positive exchanges with
other countries who, similarly to us, have
made it through the crisis well. Countries
that reacted quickly and thoroughly and
now look better because of it. We have discussed
the best way to bring countries back
on their feet again, jumpstarting the economy
and, at the same time, keeping the virus
in check. We discuss how we can combine
our strengths, for example, when it comes
to researching a vaccine and medicines.
And it’s been a very important exchange,
because these are countries like Israel, Australia
and New Zealand, or the Czech Republic,
Greece, Norway and Denmark in
Europe, with whom we have also cooperated
very closely in the past few weeks and
months, and where we can learn a lot from
one another.
The media has also come under a lot of pressure
as a result of the coronavirus, despite the fact
that people have an increasing need for
trustworthy information. Should this sector also
receive financial aid from national governments
and the EU?
The coronavirus crisis has resulted in
enormous challenges for many industries,
including the Austrian media. In order to
allow for journalistic work to resume and
to secure jobs, the government has created
a special fund that will link back to existing
criteria to support the press. This assistance
will help preserve an independent, pluralistic
and diverse media landscape.
German’s highest court in Karlsruhe has, in a
controversial decision, objected against the
bond-buying programme of the European Central
Bank (ECB). What consequences is this going to
have for the EU?
We have taken note of the decision of
the Federal Constitutional Court with
great interest. and our experts, especially in
the Constitutional Service, are analysing
the possible implications very closely for
the time being.
Our magazine is primarily read by decisionmakers
from the international community – from
diplomats to business people. Do you have a
special message for them?
As the government, we will do everything
to enable the international community,
which is rendering an important
global service in Vienna, to continue to do
their work as optimally as possible. We will
do everything to ensure that we can continue
to live and work safely and with a high
quality of life in Austria.
62 Cercle Diplomatique 2/2020
Cercle Diplomatique 2/2020
63