National Council Approves Involvement in UN Application

Austria is applying for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the years 2027/2028. According to the proposal, the parliament should be actively involved in the candidacy. The initiative states that parliamentary international contacts could be utilized.

UN Application: Meinl-Reisinger for "Red-White-Red Unity"

Regular updates from the Foreign Minister to the National Council on the priorities and progress of the candidacy are also being initiated. Given the numerous international organizations based in Vienna and Austria's tradition as a neutral mediator, the deputies see a special responsibility for the country in multilateralism. Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger called for a "red-white-red unity" for the candidacy during the parliamentary debate, aiming to contribute to peace and security in the world. At the same time, she tempered expectations regarding the success of the candidacy. The application is "highly competitive" and "no walk in the park," especially since Germany is also running again. "It is a challenge," but "out of red-white-red pride alone," they want to make an effort.

FPÖ Against UN Application - Greens in Favor

No support for the proposal came from the FPÖ. An Austrian representation in the UN Security Council only makes sense if Austria could profile itself internationally as a neutral state, said FPÖ deputy Susanne Fürst. The neutrality, which has been gradually eroded, would only be "conjured up on paper" for the candidacy. The Freedom Party also criticized the application costs of 20 million euros. The Greens support the candidacy and the announced commitment to human rights and the rule of law, but the candidacy must be credible, said foreign policy spokesperson Meri Disoski. She saw a "stark contradiction" in printing brochures to promote the goals while simultaneously cutting funds for development cooperation (EZA).

Austria Last in UN Security Council in 2009/2010

The application is also important from an economic perspective, as the Vienna headquarters for international organizations is also a significant factor for the business location, said ÖVP deputy Andreas Minnich. As a small neutral country, Austria is also dependent on multilateralism and can make an important contribution as a bold defender in the Security Council. The foreign policy spokesperson of the SPÖ, Petra Bayr, echoed this sentiment and referred to the initiatives that Austria had played a leading role in when it was last a member of the UN Security Council in 2009/2010.

(APA/Red)

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