92000E0812

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0812/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 March 2000)

Subject: Remarks by the Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel on the Austrian Government

At last, on 27 February, the Belgian Foreign Minster Louis Michel described his outspoken remarks on the Austrian Government as foolish and withdrew them. The international press agencies reported that he had described his call on Belgian tourists not to travel to Austria because of the new government coalition as incredible and verging on bad taste. But anybody looking for a Belgian reappraisal of its strategy of isolating Austria had their hopes dashed two days later.

In the interview in the Belgian weekly Le Journal du Mardi published on 29 February Michel expressed his hope that the sanctions imposed on Austria by the 14 Member States would topple the Vienna Government. Asked the goal of his strategy towards Austria, he answered: I should like to bring down the present Austrian Government. Haider is undoubtedly a neo-Nazi, but Wolfgang Schlüssel is his accomplice out of pure personal ambition. Louis Michel, with his contradictory pronouncements, in blatant contrast with the European ideal of dealings between the Member States on the basis of partnership and responsibility, has set a precedent for relations between the countries in the European Union. The European project for peace and stability based on responsible economic, political and social cooperation on the basis of trust is being jeopardised by reckless and insensitive remarks such as Mr Michel's.

What does the Council intend to do to halt the process of disintegration in the Union since the strategy of isolating Austria began?

Reply

(25 May 2000)

The Council has not taken a view on this subject, and cannot therefore comment on the issues raised in the Honourable Member's question.