A Straw Threat

The threat of Austrian retaliation against Austria could block anti-discrimination measures.

(B2 archives) Not even afraid! This could be the response of the Fifteen to Jörg Haider's threat to boycott the European authorities. The insinuation of the extremist reminding the European Union that it needed the voice of Austria in its decision-making mechanism has, in fact, not moved one iota in Brussels. Certainly the European Commission stay alert “, assures a spokesperson for the institution.

But, politically, this position goes against the spirit of all the declarations of the new Austrian government which is doing its best to reassure its European partners ". Moreover, the Europe of 2000 is no longer the Europe of 1957. Many European decisions today must be approved only by qualified majority. Each country having a number of votes proportional to its importance, Austria therefore weighs only slightly in this type of vote. With only 4 votes out of 87, it needs the contribution of at least three other States, two of which are "large" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) or 7 other "small" States to block a decision. And, any Austrian opposition could have the opposite effect to that intended. States that are not reluctant to vote for a text, however, could be led to reverse their vote to avoid being lumped together with Austria.

The fact remains that unanimity voting continues in certain important areas. And faced with such a deadlock, the European Commission can do nothing. The sanctions provided for by the Treaties do not in fact concern the functioning of the Community institutions but only the "serious and persistent" attack on fundamental freedoms.

Any new foreign or defense policies could thus suffer from this boycott. As well as certain decisions on tax harmonization or the free movement of workers. But it is above all several Commission proposals that must be discussed at the next Council of Ministers: in terms of visas and immigration, or to fight against racial and sexual discrimination which could thus be delayed. Symbols that the new Austria of Schlüssel would do without.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

(article published in France-Soir)