ForeignAußen- undand EuropeanEuropapolitischer PolicyBericht Report 2018 ReportBericht bydes the Bundesministers Federal Minister für for EuropeanEuropa, Integration and International und Äußeres Affairs Foreign and European Policy Report 2018 Report by the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Proprietor and Publisher: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Minoritenplatz 8, 1010 Vienna, Austria Printed Edition: ISBN 978-3-902965-20-2 Epub: ISBN 978-3-902965-21-9 Edited and coordinated by: Dr. Johannes Strasser, Natalie Raidl, MA and Belinda Schenk English translation coordinated by: Sabine Hübler Production: Druckerei Berger, 3580 Horn Based on Außen- und Europapolitischer Bericht 2018. Bericht des Bundesministers für Europa, Integration und Äußeres. Wien, 2019. Table of Contents 1. Challenges and Developments on Five Continents ................................... 1 1.1. Europe and its Neighbouring States .................................................. 1 1.1.1. European Union ................................................................... 1 1.1.1.1. Introduction...................................................................... 1 1.1.1.2. Austria in the Institutions of the European Union .......... 1 1.1.1.3. The Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union.. 5 1.1.1.3.1. CFSP ........................................................................... 5 1.1.1.3.2. CSDP .......................................................................... 6 1.1.1.3.3. Fighting International Terrorism ............................... 8 1.1.1.3.4. Cyber Security and Hybrid Threats ........................... 9 1.1.1.4. The Enlargement of the European Union ......................... 11 1.1.1.5. The Initiative “Europa fängt in der Gemeinde an” (Europe starts at a local level) ......................................... 14 1.1.2. Austria’s Neighbourhood ..................................................... 15 1.1.2.1. South Tyrol ....................................................................... 15 1.1.2.2. Austria’s Neighbours ........................................................ 17 1.1.3. South East Europe / Western Balkan Countries .................. 28 1.1.4. Cyprus .................................................................................. 32 1.1.5. Turkey ................................................................................... 33 1.1.6. The EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood ........................................ 35 1.1.6.1. Russia ................................................................................ 35 1.1.6.2. Eastern Partnership States ............................................... 37 1.1.6.3. Central Asia ...................................................................... 43 1.1.7. The EU’s Southern Neighbourhood ..................................... 46 1.1.7.1. North Africa (Maghreb) .................................................... 46 1.1.7.2. The Middle East ................................................................ 49 1.2. The Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula ...................................... 51 1.3. Sub-Saharan Africa and African Union ............................................... 53 1.3.1. EU-Africa .............................................................................. 53 1.3.2. Developments in the Regions .............................................. 54 1.3.3. African Union and Other Regional Organisations ................ 61 1.4. America .............................................................................................. 63 1.4.1. USA ....................................................................................... 63 1.4.2. Canada ................................................................................. 65 1.4.3. Latin America and the Caribbean ........................................ 67 1.5. Asia ..................................................................................................... 68 1.5.1. EU-Asia ................................................................................. 68 III Table of Contents 1.5.2. General Developments ........................................................ 69 1.5.3. China .................................................................................... 70 1.5.4. North East Asia .................................................................... 71 1.5.5. South and Southeast Asia .................................................... 72 1.6. Australia and Oceania ........................................................................ 77 2. Priority Topics .......................................................................................... 78 2.1. Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union .............. 78 2.1.1. Priorities ............................................................................... 78 2.1.2. Activities ............................................................................... 79 2.1.3. Summary .............................................................................. 81 2.2. Effective Multilateralism and the Role of Austria .............................. 86 2.2.1. United Nations and its Specialised Agencies ....................... 86 2.2.1.1. Introduction...................................................................... 86 2.2.1.2. General Assembly ............................................................ 88 2.2.1.3. The UN Security Council .................................................. 97 2.2.1.4. The International Court of Justice .................................... 100 2.2.1.5. The United Nations Specialised Agencies ........................ 102 2.2.2. OSCE ..................................................................................... 106 2.2.2.1. Introduction ..................................................................... 106 2.2.2.2. Regional Issues and Field Activities ................................. 107 2.2.2.3. Election Observation ........................................................ 109 2.2.2.4. The OSCE’s Human Dimension – Human Rights ............... 109 2.2.2.5. The OSCE’s Security Policy Dimension ............................. 109 2.2.2.6. The OSCE’s Economic and Environmental Dimension ...... 110 2.2.2.7. The OSCE’s Regional Policy Dimension – Chair of the Asia Contact Group .......................................................... 111 2.2.3. Council of Europe ................................................................. 111 2.2.3.1. Introduction...................................................................... 111 2.2.3.2. Key Political Issues ............................................................ 112 2.2.3.3. Monitoring Respect of Commitments by Member States 114 2.2.3.4. The Council of Europe and Austria ................................... 115 2.2.4. Austria as Host Country of International Organisations and Institutions ................................................................... 116 2.2.4.1. Headquartered in Austria – an Overview ........................ 116 2.2.4.2. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ..................... 118 2.2.4.3. Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) ..................................... 119 2.2.4.4. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) ............................................................................ 119 IV Table of Contents 2.2.4.5. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ...... 119 2.2.4.6. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) .. 120 2.2.5. Human Rights ....................................................................... 121 2.2.5.1. Introduction...................................................................... 121 2.2.5.2. Human Rights in the United Nations ............................... 121 2.2.5.3. Human Rights in the European Union ............................. 127 2.2.5.4. Human Rights in the Council of Europe............................ 129 2.2.5.5. Austrian Priorities in the Field of Human Rights .............. 130 2.2.5.6. The International Criminal Court ..................................... 138 2.2.6. Global Environmental and Climate Policy as well as Energy Issues ................................................................................... 140 2.2.6.1. Introduction...................................................................... 140 2.2.6.2. Climate Change and Climate Policy .................................. 140 2.2.6.3. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ............ 140 2.2.6.4. Global Environmental Protection Agreements and Initiatives .......................................................................... 141 2.2.6.5. Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) ............................... 143 2.2.6.6. Nuclear Safety .................................................................. 144 2.2.7. Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation ............ 145 2.2.7.1. Introduction...................................................................... 145 2.2.7.2. Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction ........................................ 145 2.2.7.3. Arms Control and Disarmament in the Field of Conventi- onal Arms ......................................................................... 149 2.2.7.4. Export Control Regimes ................................................... 151 2.2.8. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ......................... 153 2.3. Efficient Austrian Development Cooperation