Foreign Policy Yearbook 2008.Pdf

Foreign Policy Yearbook 2008.Pdf

Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Minoritenplatz 8 A-1014 Vienna Tel: During office hours on work days between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 0 50 11 50-0 / international: +43 50 11 50-0 or: (01) 90 115-0 / int.: (+43-1) 90 115-0 For general information: 0800 234 888 (toll free number, cannot be dialled from outside Austria) Fax: 0 50 11 59-0 / international: +43 50 11 59-0 or: (01) 904 20 16-0 / international: (+43-1) 904 20 16-0 E-Mail: [email protected] Internet: www.bmeia.gv.at Citizens’ Help Desk In case of emergency abroad the Citizens’ Help Desk can be reached 24 hours a day: Tel: 0 50 11 50-4411 / international: +43 50 11 50-4411 or: (01) 90 115-4411 / international: +43 1 90 115-4411 Fax: 0 50 11 59-4411 / international: +43 50 11 59-4411 or: 0 50 11 59-245 / international: +43 50 11 59-245 or: (01) 904 20 16-245 / international: (+43-1) 904 20 16-245 E-Mail: [email protected] Assistance services available to Austrian citizens abroad are detailed on the homepage of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs at www.bmeia.gv.at under “Service”.  Austrian Foreign Policy Yearbook 2008 Report by the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs  Proprietor and Publisher: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs A-1014 Vienna, Minoritenplatz 8 Austria Edited and Coordinated by: Thomas Schlesinger Christoph Weidinger Clemens Geelhaar Monika Lemmerer English translation coordinated by: Sabine Hübler Printed by: Manz Crossmedia GmbH & Co KG A-1051 Vienna, Stolberggasse 26 Austria The original German version is available at: www.bmeia.gv.at, or in printed form in the Information Management, Documentation, Knowledge Management Department at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Preface In 2008, the international community faced a number of very special challenges, ranging from the global economic crisis and the problems of the European energy supply at the beginning of the year to the conflicts in Georgia and Gaza. It was against this difficult backdrop that Austria submitted its candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, and in October the General Assembly expressed its confidence in our country in the very first round of voting. Austria will thus serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2009-2010. Our work in the Security Council will focus on issues that have always been at the heart of our active involvement within the United Nations: the consis- tent and systematic commitment to human rights and the rule of law, to intercultural and interfaith dialogue as well as to disarmament and non- proliferation. In 2008, Austria hosted the international conference “Europe and the Arab World - Connecting Partners in Dialogue” that convened in Vienna. In a joint initiative with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa, I invited representatives of the 27 EU Member States, the 22 nations of the League of Arab States and Turkey as well as experts from the fields of politics, civil society, science and culture to discuss among other topics the role of young people and women as well as ways of dealing with the dynamic pluralism of society today. During difficult times in particular, the vital importance of Austria’s membership in the European Union becomes manifest. Indeed, our citi- zens positively acknowledged the decisive and coordinated approach taken by the Union and its Member States to meet the economic crisis. Nevertheless, a certain scepticism towards the EU is still perceptible in Austria. I therefore intend to get to the bottom of this scepticism and am thus planning to travel across Austria on an “EU listening tour” in 2009. Developing responsible policies for the future calls for far-sightedness, focussing on the aftermath of the current crisis. In the Danube and Black III Preface Sea regions, for instance, an area with huge potential for dynamic develop ment is opening up for us. With this in mind, deepening existing political, economic, cultural and interpersonal ties with this region represents one of the priorities on Austria’s foreign policy agenda. Through its international cultural policy Austria is engaged in cultural dialogue with many states on a daily basis. We have a global network of 30 cultural forums, 54 Austria Libraries, nine language institutes, spe- cial cooperation offices in Lviv, Sarajevo and Washington as well as our embassies and consulates general, which also play an active role in our cultural activities abroad. With its missions and goals, Austria’s interna- tional cultural policy has long ceased to merely represent the past, but is, quite on the contrary, an important window to the future. In order to shape a common, peaceful future, Austria also plays an active role in the framework of Austrian Development Cooperation and Co operation with Eastern Europe. The most important goals of these activities are combating poverty in developing countries, safeguarding peace and human security as well as protecting the environment and pre- serving natural resources. The fundamental principles on which this work is based are recognition of the partner countries’ responsibility for their own development, respect for cultural and social parameters, gender equality, the involvement of women in decision-making processes and consideration of children and persons with disabilities. Ensuring the safety and security of Austrians abroad as well as providing them with the best-possible support is a matter of particular concern to me. The Citizens’ Help Desk at the Ministry and some 100 embassies and professional consulates worldwide provide our fellow citizens with a widespread international safety net. Ministry staff are available around the clock to offer assistance in the event of consular emergencies. In 2008, we helped Austrians in more than 117,000 such cases, handling up to 1,000 calls a day during peak times. To help citizens prepare for a stay abroad, the Foreign Ministry’s homepage offers detailed and constantly updated travel information on every nation in the world. In addition, the Foreign Ministry is offering a list of emergency telephone numbers for travellers abroad. This “emer- gency card” can be ordered from the Foreign Ministry or printed from the Ministry’s homepage. Like a passport, it should be carried by every Austrian during foreign travel. IV Preface I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to my pre- decessor, Ursula Plassnik, who has left her positive and lasting mark in many areas, and to State Secretary Hans Winkler, for his outstanding achievements especially in furthering international law and in develop- ment cooperation. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Johannes Kyrle as well as all the employees at headquarters in Vienna and at the Austrian missions and representations abroad for their dedication and hard work on a daily basis in the service of their country and their fellow citizens. Dr. Michael Spindelegger Federal Minister for European and International Affairs V Table of Contents Preface ...................................................................................................... III List of Acronyms ...................................................................................... XV A. Austria in the European Union ........................................................ 1 I. The Financial Crisis and the Response by the European Union 1 1. The Origins of the Crisis ........................................................ 1 2. The European Union’s Rapid and Coordinated Crisis Management ........................................................................... 2 3. The Coordinated Stimulation of Europe’s Economy ............ 3 II. The Enlargement of the European Union .................................... 3 1. Croatia and Turkey ................................................................. 4 2. Bulgaria and Romania ............................................................ 5 3. The European Perspective of the Western Balkan Countries 5 4. The External Aid Programmes and Administrative Partner- ships of the European Union ................................................. 6 5. Regional Cooperation in South Eastern Europe .................... 7 III. The Ratification Process of the Treaty of Lisbon ......................... 7 1. The Ratification Procedure in Austria ................................... 7 2. The Ratification Procedure in the Other EU Member States 9 IV. European Information Activities ................................................. 10 V. The Policies of the European Union ............................................ 12 1. Austria’s Role in the European Institutions .......................... 12 2. National Cooperation between Government, Parliament and Federal Provinces............................................................ 14 3. Economy and Finance ............................................................ 16 4. Employment and Social Policy ............................................. 16 5. Structural and Cohesion Policy ............................................. 17 6. Single Market ......................................................................... 18 7. Common Agricultural Policy ................................................. 18 8. Transport................................................................................. 19 9. Environment ........................................................................... 20 10. Energy

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