"Statement to the National Council"

21.10.2004

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"Statement to the National Council"

Inaugural address by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs
Dr. Ursula Plassnik
on the occasion of her accession to office

Vienna, 21 October 2004

Mr. President, Federal Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor,
Colleagues on the government bench, Honourable Members of the House,

Let me begin by briefly sharing with you my motivation for accepting this high office. The actual foundation for this decision was in fact laid 25 years ago when I was studying in Belgium. This was the time of the Cold War, and the European Union - which then consisted of nine countries - was engaged in a lively discussion on its forthcoming enlargement by the accession of Portugal, Spain and Greece; a project, which was considered a very daring undertaking at that time. However, there in Bruges, one thing became very clear to me: fresh ground is being broken here, something completely new and unprecedented is happening in Europe. And then I asked myself: where is Austria in this process of European integration?

Today Austria is an appreciated partner within the European Union, a country which - thanks to the recent enlargement - has also moved away from the periphery towards the geographic heart of the new Europe.

Austria has steered a successful foreign policy course over the last decades and continues to do so today - a course that has brought this country security, stability and wealth. Paul Lendvai, who came to our country as a refugee and immigrant and today is a highly esteemed Austrian citizen, once said that "hardly any other country has made such a huge leap forward since 1945 as Austria, from a country that lagged behind to an economic role model that enjoys social harmony and an enviably high standard of living". Sometimes we share that view in private but then refrain from saying it out loud: but he is right!

Foreign policy requires continuity and trust. Foreign policy requires courageous approaches to new challenges, opportunities and responsibilities.

Next year Austria will have been a Member State of the European Union for ten years. After the signing of the State Treaty, joining the EU was Austria’s most important step in terms of setting its foreign policy course. The Austrian people's decision was courageous and correct. EU membership has done our country good. We are contributing to the peace project called Europe. We have a common currency, a common European Area of Security within which borders can be freely crossed. It was actually in my day-to-day work as ambassador to Switzerland that I again realized what it means not to be a member of the EU: from having to change money and constantly converting currencies in your mind to showing your passport at the border and thinking about how much you are allowed to buy and take home with you. These are precisely the moments when we truly become aware of the advantages we derive from EU membership in our everyday lives.

But Austria has benefited from being a member of the EU at the economic level, too:

• our exports have doubled,
• foreign investments in Austria have tripled,
• thousands of new jobs have been created.
• Since Austria joined the European Union 50,000 schoolchildren and students have participated in EU exchange programmes and studied abroad. And I have to admit very frankly that I envy the young people these opportunities, but much more, I am happy for them.

Austria has moved from the periphery back to the centre of Europe, which has also entailed a complete redefinition of the term Neighbourhood Policy, freeing it from any notion of provincialism. Since the first of May, the seed my predecessor sowed three years ago by initiating the Regional Partnership has been bearing fruit. Now that our neighbours joined the EU it can blossom and flourish to the full: we are no longer facing each other across the table but are sitting on the same side.

As partners on an equal footing we share a common interest in deepening regional cooperation and making it thrive. The lifeblood of neighbourhood relations is curiosity, being interested in getting to know one another, listening to one another and having an open ear for our partners’ concerns. In this spirit it will be possible to address also difficult issues, including the topics to which we Austrians attach importance such as transport and infrastructure, the environment, safety and security, border management and control, the struggle against illegal immigration, trafficking in drugs and trafficking in human beings.
Never before has our relationship with our neighbours been as good as it is today - both at the political and human levels. This is what I want to build on and deepen, because I believe that if you want peace in the world you have to start by living in peace at home and with your neighbours.
This is why our commitment to South East Europe is so essential, and likewise the support we are giving to Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia in their efforts aimed at joining the EU.

Today South Tyrol with its autonomy serves as a model for the successful resolution of a minority conflict. I will continue to undertake every effort to ensure that the South Tyroleans act as a bridge between Austria and Italy and safeguard the inviolability of their autonomy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
European policy plays a major role in Austria’s foreign policy. If you want to get something moving in Europe, you have to develop and offer solutions for the community at large. Our position within the European Union will always be equal to and measured against the contribution we make to resolving European issues.
Next week, my first journey abroad in my new function will take me to Rome to sign the European Constitution. For the EU citizens this constitution will bring basic rights enshrined in law which are binding on the European Union and directly actionable before the European Court of Justice. This new constitution will make the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union a reality, as demanded and expected by its citizens. Europe will then also have its own Foreign Minister.

The European Union has always been characterised by dynamism and motion. By taking over its Presidency in 2006, Austria will assume responsibility for moving Europe ahead. At the same time the EU Presidency offers us Austrians the opportunity to strengthen our sense of community and perform a high quality service for Europe. A task I see emerging in this context and one to which I attach importance is intensifying the transatlantic dialogue. In 2006 the EU will hold its summits with the USA, Canada and Latin America here in Austria. The European Union and the United States share many common values, interests and strengths, and they can achieve a lot by joining forces : improving environmental protection, enhancing security and promoting human rights - therefore it is so important to undertake efforts aimed at overcoming existing barriers.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
My central task is to represent Austria’s position in a convincing manner both in Europe and in the world at large. And the fact of the matter is that the broader the basis on which she can found her position, the better Austria’s position will be perceived. We only have one voice, but the more united this voice is, the better it will be heard.
Let me take this opportunity to invite all stakeholders in foreign policy, the political parties, the federal provinces, but also the social partners and the NGOs, to contribute in a results-oriented manner to achieving this objective. In a world characterised by international competition of interests and ideas we simply cannot afford to do without expert contributions and specialised knowledge. However, this also includes making clear what Austria can and cannot do. We are therefore required to demand of ourselves both a sense of proportion and a sense of reality.

 Ladies and Gentlemen, Honourable Members of the House,
Before the end of this year, the EU heads of state and government will decide whether to start accession negotiations with Turkey. We must face the question of what a European future might look like for Turkey, a question which is giving rise to justified concerns among the general public with regard to:

• the costs involved,
• the development of the labour market,
• and the impact on Europe’s agriculture,
• but also social policy issues like the absolute and unrestricted respect for human rights throughout the entire EU,
• the equal rights of men and women,
• and religious freedom.

I can understand these concerns and therefore plead for an objective discussion. From my point of view, three things have to be made perfectly clear:

• the fact that negotiations are started does not imply that Turkey will be able to join straight away;
• the fact that negotiations are started does not imply that there will be only one pre-determined conclusion; the objectives of the negotiations must remain open;
• the Austrian Parliament as the representative of the people will at any rate have the final say.

The role you and hence Parliament play in European matters is of essential importance. I therefore welcome your intention to hold more frequent and intensive parliamentary debates on European issues in future, and am pleased to be at your disposal in the House.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I equate good foreign policy with an early warning system that alerts us to approaching developments. Only if we can see what is coming up in good time are we able to adapt to these developments soon enough.
And the fact of the matter is that today’s huge global challenges cannot be tackled successfully by one country alone, nor even by the European Union alone. Issues like climate change, the threat of terrorism, pandemics like SARS or AIDS, the poverty in many parts of the world , drug trafficking or the question of a safe energy supply concern us all.
International organisations dealing with precisely these issues, like the United Nations or the OSCE, are based here in Austria. I therefore ask you to support me in my efforts to safeguard and further expand Vienna’s position as the official seat of the United Nations, the OSCE, OPEC and the European Human Rights Agency.

In my capacity as Foreign Minister I would like to lay a stronger emphasis on Austria’s contribution to ensuring peace in the world. With her peace corps, we already contribute to creating stability and security in crisis regions. Austrians are deployed on the Golan Heights and in Bosnia, and our contingent in Kosovo is to be doubled. These activities are also in Austria's immediate interest: stability prevents the unleashing of flows of refugees; stability is a pre-requisite for building up business and enables Austrian companies to open up and tap the markets in these regions for their exports.

The fight against poverty through Development Cooperation measures will remain another priority on my policy agenda. In my view these activities should achieve a two-fold objective: it is not only about alleviating the suffering, but at the same time contributing to the promotion of education, health and infrastructure. I am therefore underlining my commitment to increasing Austria’s Development Cooperation contributions as laid down in the government programme.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Foreign Ministry and its staff constitute a network which is at the service of Austrians worldwide - a network which is available to each and every one of our compatriots around the clock whenever and wherever they are faced with problems or emergencies abroad.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The promotion of women and women’s issues are a special personal concern of mine, and this applies to all spheres of foreign policy, because it is above all women who are affected by the consequences of war, violence and disasters. But also within the Foreign Ministry itself I want to encourage women to have self-confidence in their abilities and support them in their careers.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The strengths I can contribute to this office are my long years of experience as a diplomat, but also curiosity, enthusiasm and team spirit. Although a Foreign Minister has no armed forces at her disposal, she still needs comrades-in-arms - from the worlds of culture, science, politics, the civil society, business and the media.

I want to thank you for the many good wishes and the show of confidence many of you have given me in advance. I would like to thank my predecessor Benita Ferrero-Waldner for her excellent thematic work and for keeping the house which I am now honoured to take over so well. I look forward to cooperating with her in her new function in the European Union.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Honourable Members of the House,
I will work to the best of my capabilities to justify the trust and confidence you have placed in me, and I am looking forward to working in the government team and cooperating with all of you.

Let me conclude with a dictum I apply to my work and which I owe to Professor Egon Matzner, who sadly died much too early:

"For an Austria which is open to the world - for a world which is open to Austria".