European Minister Plakolm to Address Council Meeting
The Austrian Minister of European Affairs, Claudia Plakolm, has reiterated Austria's position on enlargement policy and outlined key demands ahead of the upcoming European Council meeting.
On Tuesday, Minister Plakolm participated in the General Affairs Council in Brussels, where she addressed the recent events in Poland and Romania regarding the violation of their airspace, expressing full solidarity with both countries. She also emphasized that the violation was completely unacceptable.
In her visit to the six West Balkan accession candidate countries at the beginning of October, Plakolm aims to support their European integration and accession process. She will meet Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and two other countries to encourage reform progress and gradual integration with the EU single market before formal accession.
Plakolm has been vocal about the importance of competitiveness for Austria in the upcoming European Council meeting. She also highlighted the need for a balanced climate policy, with awareness of the implications for the country's location. Affordable energy prices are another key demand from Austria, with a focus on the expansion of renewables and network expansion.
A reduction of bureaucracy and reporting obligations for small and medium-sized enterprises is another significant demand from the Austrian side. Plakolm has been advocating for this, emphasizing the need for action at the European level.
Another negotiating cluster has been opened for Albania today, marking another step closer to the European integration of the states of the Western Balkans. Austria is a great supporter of the performance-based accession process for the six Western Balkans states.
Minister Plakolm will once again emphasize Austria's position in enlargement policy during the discussions with the ministers of European affairs of the EU-27. The ministers are currently preparing for the two EU summits in October.
Photos from the Brussels meeting can be obtained free of charge via the Foto-Service of the Federal Chancellery.
As the European Council meeting approaches, Minister Plakolm concludes her demands, emphasizing the need for a supportive and performance-based approach to the accession of the Western Balkans states.
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