NEOS for an "EU army"
Brandstätter wants to “redefine neutrality”
Neutrality does not protect Austria from security threats in the view of NEOS EU lead candidate Helmut Brandstätter. For this reason, the pink politician wants to "redefine" this part of Austria's self-image.
"Today, we are not as secure as we could be," was Brandstätter's verdict on Sunday's ORF "Pressestunde". A joint EU army "would make Europe so strong that Putin would not dare to attack us". We have to defend ourselves against Russia, "but we can only do that together", the former journalist emphasized. Because: "Russia is a terrorist state" and must therefore be sanctioned. Austria's dependence on Russian gas also poses difficulties.
"Mr. Schallenberg, what's going on"
Europe should also be aware of the "dramatic nature" of Russian spies. "We know that there are Russian spies here and we are not expelling them. Mr. Schallenberg, what's going on?", the NEOS politician asked the absent Foreign Minister. He criticized the FPÖ for rejecting the Sky Shield missile shield programme. "The FPÖ wants to hand us over to Putin."
Call for an "EU intelligence service"
The 68-year-old also spoke out in favor of an "EU intelligence service". At the same time, he rejected the monitoring of messenger services, as called for several times by ÖVP Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and the Director of the DSN (Directorate of State Security and Intelligence), Omar Haijawi-Pirchner. He did not see any contradiction in this, although the vast majority of European intelligence services have this competence.
A common European foreign policy with regard to the Middle East is also important. At present, it was not possible to present a united front because the various foreign ministers had different opinions. He does not want "a fortress Europe, but clear borders", with stronger external border protection.
Not discouraged by recent election setbacks
Brandstätter was confident that his party would achieve its goal of two seats in the EU parliamentary elections. He was not unsettled by the NEOS' recent election failures in Innsbruck and Salzburg, or previously in various regional elections. In view of the National Council elections in a good six months' time, the NEOS are "ready to finally create change for Austria".
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