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Ambassador Isabel Rauscher : Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU prioritises the protector role of the European Union
The Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU prioritises the protector role of the European Union, Ambassador of Austria in Bucharest Isabel Rauscher stated on Monday.
She participated, alongside Romania's Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu in the conference for launching the Austrian presidency, at the headquarters of the Representation of the European Commission to Romania.
Rauschae talked about the challenges that her country is confronted with at the helm of the Council of the EU, namely establishing the Multi-annual Financial Framework, the migration crisis and the climate prior to the European Parliament elections. She pointed out that the Austrian presidency focuses on security - "security in the classical sense, but also from an economic perspective."
"For this reason, the Austrian Presidency prioritises the protective role of the European Union, the security and fight against illegal migration and the guarantee of prosperity and regional stability," the Ambassador highlighted.
The motto of the Austrian Presidency is ‘A Europe that protects’. In order to achieve this objective, Austria’s approach will be based on enhancing the principle of subsidiarity. The European Union should focus on big issues which require a joint solution and take a step back when it comes to smaller issues where member states or regions are in a better position to take decisions. This approach aims at taking seriously the motto of the European Union, ‘United in Diversity’.
To that effect, the Austrian Presidency will prioritise the protective role of the European Union, in particular concerning three priority areas:
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Security and the fight against illegal migration
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Securing prosperity and competitiveness through digitalisation
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Stability in the European neighbourhood – EU perspective of the Western Balkans/South Eastern Europe
Austria views its role during the forthcoming Council Presidency as that of a neutral broker. Given its geographic location in the heart of the EU, its obligation of neutrality and in line with its traditional role as bridge builder, Austria will endeavour to contribute to the unity within the EU during its Council Presidency.
The Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union as a ‘Green Presidency’
The Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union attaches great importance to sustainability and environment protection. For many years, Austria has played a pioneering role in Europe in sustainable event management. As early as Austria’s previous Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2006, the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism (BMNT) initiated a sustainable event organisation scheme under the title ‘Greening the Presidency’.