Europe Day: Brunner Emphasizes Importance of EU

The European Union is "more important today than it has been since its founding." This was stated by EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) at the ceremony on the occasion of Europe Day and 30 years of Austria's EU membership on Friday in the Parliament in Vienna. Security is threatened in the East and must be rethought in the West, said Brunner in view of the changed geopolitical situation. Europe must now ensure its own security and be capable of defense.

Brunner Praises EU Accession

"We could not have made a better decision 30 years ago than to join this European Union," said Brunner. Austria is an example that not only large member states shape the fate of the EU. Austria has set important impulses, Brunner cited the commitment to the Union's eastern expansion and rural development as examples.

The EU Commissioner advocated for more free trade as a driver of prosperity in light of the unpredictable tariff policy of the US government. Barriers should also be removed within the EU, he said. "If we were to dismantle all trade barriers in the internal market, we could increase our economic output by up to ten percent." The EU now also wants to position itself as an attractive location for scientists, said Brunner in view of President Donald Trump's US research policy aimed at savings.

According to Brunner, the added value of European cooperation is particularly evident in EU migration policy, for which he is responsible in the European Commission. "After years of blockade, we have adopted the Common European Asylum System. And our latest proposal for faster returns is receiving great support throughout the EU." The European way is not always the easiest, "but in the end always the better," said Brunner.

"Criticism is Not an Attack"

At the ceremonial event in the plenary hall of the National Council with former Chancellor Franz Vranitzky (SPÖ), former Foreign Minister and former EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner (ÖVP), as well as former State Secretary for Europe and chief negotiator of the EU accession, Brigitte Ederer (SPÖ), the Representation of the European Commission in Austria and the Austrian Parliament had invited. National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) said in his opening speech that the EU must be capable of learning and open to constructive criticism. "Criticism is not an attack, but part of the democratic dialogue." Especially in times of enormous challenges, Europe as a whole must become more resilient, closer to its citizens, and more democratic.

Vranitzky, Ferrero-Waldner, and Ederer appealed to the EU states to show unity in light of the great challenges and geopolitical upheavals. "We simply have to stick together, if we stand together now, we are strong," said the former EU Foreign Commissioner. "Europe cannot survive in a giant struggle" between China, the USA, and the global South, said Vranitzky. "We need a well-coordinated domestic European policy," said the former Chancellor.

Ederer said she was worried about the European Union and feared that the integration steps and cohesion necessary were not happening. For her, it was always clear: If you trade together, you cannot wage wars against each other. However, this is now suddenly all being questioned. Federal Council President Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler (ÖVP) emphasized: "Only if we stand together can we defend our values."

Stress Test Identified

The representative of the EU Commission in Vienna, Patrick Lobis, said Austria benefits enormously from EU membership: "Over a million jobs in Austria depend on the common internal market. 150,000 young Austrians have participated in the Erasmus program and gained invaluable experiences." A strong European Union, capable of acting on an equal footing, is also of immeasurable value to Austria. Lobis called on the students present at the ceremony to engage in an intensive discussion about Europe, allowing for different opinions. A respectful debate is also the foundation of the European idea.

The FPÖ delegation leader in the European Parliament, Harald Vilimsky, called in a statement to use Europe Day for an honest assessment of the EU's mistakes. "The EU interferes in foreign policy conflicts like the war in Ukraine and thus endangers peace in Europe - the fundamental idea of its own founding," said Vilimsky. The SPÖ members of the EU Parliament emphasized that the European Union is a guarantor of peace, freedom, prosperity, and social security. However, the EU is currently undergoing a stress test. "The answer to this cannot be less EU, but on the contrary: The European Union must assert itself and show strength - internally and externally," emphasized the SPÖ delegation according to the statement.

(APA/Red)

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