TheThe TheAustrian Austrian Austrian Ministry Ministry Ministry for for for EuropeanEuropeanEuropean and and and International International International Affairs: Affairs: Affairs: WorldwideWorldwideWorldwide at at Your at Your Your Service Service Service Worldwide Worldwide Worldwide assistance assistance assistance for for Austrians for Austrians Austrians in incritical incritical critical situations, situations, situations, disasters disastersdisasters and and emergenciesand emergencies emergencies European European European Union: Union: Union: Managing Managing Managing the the financial the financial financial and and economicand economic economic crises crises crises Neighbourhood Neighbourhood Neighbourhood policy policy policy – Southeast– Southeast– Southeast Europe Europe Europe – Danube– Danube– Danube region region region – – – Black BlackBlack Sea Sea regionSea region region Austria Austria Austria in inthe inthe UN the UN Human UN Human Human Rights Rights Rights Council Council Council Austria Austria Austria in inthe inthe UNESCO the UNESCO UNESCO Executive Executive Executive Board Board Board Development Development Development cooperation cooperation cooperation – humanitarian– humanitarian– humanitarian aid aid and aid and disasterand disaster disaster relief relief relief International International International cultural cultural cultural policy policy policy Austria, Austria, Austria, a platforma platforma platform for for dialogue for dialogue dialogue Environmental Environmental Environmental and and sustainabilityand sustainability sustainability policy policy policy Austria Austria Austria as asa centreasa centrea centre of ofcompetence ofcompetence competence for for security for security security and and disarmamentand disarmament disarmament The The AustrianThe Austrian Austrian Foreign Foreign Foreign Service Service Service Country Country Country information information information – from– from– fromAfghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan to Vietnamto Vietnamto Vietnam ForeignForeignForeign and and and European European European PolicyPolicyPolicy Report Report Report Foreign and European Policy Report Policy and European Foreign Report Policy and European Foreign Report Policy and European Foreign 201120112011 201120112011 ReportReportReport by bythe bythe Federal the Federal Federal Minister Minister Minister for for for ReportReportReport by bythe bythe Federal the Federal Federal Minister Minister Minister for for for EuropeanEuropeanEuropean and and Internationaland International International Affairs Affairs Affairs 2011 2011 2011 EuropeanEuropeanEuropean and and Internationaland International International Affairs Affairs Affairs Jahresbericht_e_2011.inddJahresbericht_e_2011.inddJahresbericht_e_2011.indd 1 1 1 17.12.1217.12.1217.12.12 13:59 13:59 13:59 Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Minoritenplatz 8 A-1014 Vienna Telephone: During office hours on work days between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (01) 90 115-0 / int.: (+43 1) 90 115-0 Toll-free service: (0800) 234 888 (not available for calls from outside Austria) Fax: (01) 904 20 16-0 / int.: (+43 1) 904 20 16-0 E-Mail: [email protected] Internet: www.bmeia.gv.at www.facebook.com/aussenministerium Citizens’ Help Desk In case of emergency abroad the Citizens’ Help Desk can be reached 24 hours a day: Tel: (01) 90 115-4411 / int.: (+43 1) 90 115-4411 Fax: (01) 904 20 16-245 / int.: (+43 1) 904 20 16-245 E-Mail: [email protected] Assistance services available to Austrian citizens abroad are detailed on the website of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs at www.bmeia.gv.at under “Service”.  Foreign and european policy report 2011 Report by the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs  Media owner and publisher: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Minoritenplatz 8 A-1014 Vienna Austria Edited and coordinated by: Christoph Weidinger Production: Berger Crossmedia GmbH & Co KG Annexes VII et. seq. prepared by Statistik Austria The German original is available at: www.bmeia.gv.at or in printed form in the Information Management, Documentation and Knowledge Department at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs  Foreword The year 2011 was characterised by two main events that also constituted a major challenge for Austrian foreign policy and the team of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs: the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan and the revolutions in the Arab world not only affected Austrians who live and/or work in these regions but also had mas- sive consequences for Austrian tourists. This constituted a major challenge both for our network of representatives and our head office. In short, these events put our crisis management system severely to the test. The speedy dispatch of crisis support teams from the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, supported by the Ministry of the Interior and the Min- istry of Defence, proved highly efficient during the evacuation of thousands of Austrians from Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Japan: Not a single Austrian was harmed during these crises, and we have fulfilled our promise of being “At Your Service Worldwide”. The efficient and professional attitudes displayed during the crisis management procedures highlighted the skills and commit- ment of our staff and are a result of our ongoing efforts to provide the best possible level of consular protection. From the very beginning, Austria has taken a very clear stance on the devel- opments of the Arab Spring. We have left no doubt whatsoever that we are on the side of those who demand freedom, democracy and rule of law. During my visits to Egypt and Libya, I have always emphasised that there can be no successful political transition process without proper protection of social, religious or ethnic minorities. Both on a bilateral and an international level, we have thus emphatically supported respect for human rights and the full, equal participation of women. The current transition phase in the Arab world is not just about securing and consolidating the newly-won freedom, but also about creating stability in the relations with the southern European neighbours of these countries. The new governments require our support in this process. Austria was quick to offer assistance by contributing towards the resolution of the refugee crisis in Libya, by providing medical treatment for the wounded or by offering to assist with the training of policemen and women and diplomats. Austrian III Foreword companies that have been active in North Africa for many years also have an important role to play in the economic development of the reform countries. The disastrous consequences of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima have caused a shift in international attitudes towards energy policy and have caused several of Austria’s neighbouring countries to phase out their nuclear energy programmes. Austria has vehemently spoken up in favour of an agree- ment to carry out stress tests for all nuclear power stations in Europe, which constitutes a concrete step towards improved nuclear safety. Together with our partners in the European Union, we have thus succeeded in reacting in a timely manner to the justified fears among the population with regard to the utilisation of nuclear energy. In 2011, the handling of the economic and financial crisis increasingly put European solidarity to the test. The excessive debt of some countries endan- gered the stability of the entire European region and demanded speedy action on the part of all member states. We succeeded in creating appropriate cri- sis instruments that enable a closer monitoring of public finances. However, more needs to be done. There is more at stake than simply overcoming the debt and economic crisis. We have to ask ourselves how the European Union can emerge from this crisis stronger than before. In addition to the crisis instruments, we are therefore pursuing initiatives that aim at bringing about sustainable growth and promote employment. European politics need to be more than mere crisis management, and the positive dynamics of European integration are particularly evident in the area of EU expansion. The completion of accession talks with Croatia consti- tutes yet another important step in the stabilisation and integration process in our immediate neighbourhood and sends a signal to the entire region that political and economic reforms are ultimately worth the effort. Both in Brus- sels and among our partners in Southeast Europe, Austria is perceived as a strong voice and driving force behind EU expansion on the Western Balkans. With the proposal of candidate status for Serbia on a trial basis, Austria was able to assume a mediating function during a delicate phase of the Serbian EU rapprochement process in the European Council in December 2011. In the meantime, Serbia has been granted candidate status, something I per- sonally worked for together with my French and Italian counterparts. This is an encouraging sign of the ongoing expansion dynamics on the Western Balkans. Within the EU, we are increasingly putting an emphasis on regional coopera- tion as a tool for strengthening the ties with our neighbours. The EU Strategy for the Danube Region that Austria has initiated together with Romania pro- IV Foreword vides a basis for intensive cooperation among the countries of the Danube Basin, mostly in the areas of transport, energy and environment. Our goal is to fully utilise