Schengen and nuclear power

Red lines: ÖVP wants to block EU election program

The People's Party under Karl Nehammer is currently not in line with its EU group, the EPP - fierce debates now await the delegates.

(Bild: AP)

The ÖVP is going into confrontation with its group in the EU Parliament. There are several red lines in the EPP's EU election program that it does not want to cross - such as the demanded approval of nuclear energy or the Schengen expansion.

The European People's Party (EPP), to which the ÖVP also belongs, will meet on Wednesday and Thursday in Bucharest, Romania, to elect its lead candidate for the EU Commission presidency and adopt its election program. According to Secretary General Christian Stocker, the delegates of the ÖVP will not agree to the EPP manifesto.

"There are some red lines for us"
"We have clear positions and a clear stance as a people's party in Europe too, we stand by this and we cannot deviate from it. The manifesto contains many good proposals and important points, but at the same time there are some red lines for us," said Christian Stocker, Secretary General of the People's Party.

The People's Party under Karl Nehammer is currently not in line with its EU parliamentary group, the EPP - fierce debates now await the delegates.

(Bild: AP)

"We cannot agree to nuclear energy in Austria. We are and remain against nuclear power." The ÖVP is also clearly against the abolition of the unanimity principle in the area of foreign and security policy.

The ÖVP will "not deviate" from the red lines, Stocker explained - the ÖVP is therefore going into the EPP Congress with a frontal position.

(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

Once again a fuss about Schengen
The ÖVP also rejects the full inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area as demanded by these countries: "The Schengen system is broken. We must repair the system and not gloss over it", Stocker said in a statement. On a positive note, he emphasized that some of the ÖVP's demands, for example in the fight against illegal migration, were included in the concept of a safe third country.

According to the program, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) will speak for Austria in Bucharest on Thursday afternoon. Minister for European Affairs Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) and MEPs Othmar Karas, First Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Christian Sagartz will be present on Wednesday, followed by ÖVP top candidate Reinhard Lopatka on Thursday.

Defense overshadows everything
The election manifesto to be adopted on Wednesday by around 2000 delegates from 44 countries will be based on the two pillars of prosperity and security. According to EPP leader Manfred Weber, the focus will be on strengthening competitiveness and the economy as well as securing peace and strengthening Europe's military power.

According to the EPP, numerous opposition leaders and EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola are expected in Bucharest alongside twelve current EPP heads of government. The congress starts on Wednesday afternoon with debates on the three topics of defense and security, intergenerational solidarity and the economy and jobs.