Program for EU elections

ÖVP for border protection and against over-regulation

(Bild: APA/Eva Manhart)

The ÖVP is propagating a Europe with protected borders and without "over-regulation" ahead of the upcoming EU elections. More Europe is needed when it comes to the internal market, for example, and less when it comes to "small stuff" such as the wolf issue, said its lead candidate Reinhold Lopatka on Monday at the presentation of the program and posters at the People's Party's Political Academy.

In the election campaign, the People's Party wants to clearly distinguish itself from the FPÖ, which Lopatka sharply criticized as an opponent of the EU. A poster shows the turquoise top candidate next to the words "Europe. But better". The others are intended to motivate voters to vote for the ÖVP on June 9 with slogans such as "Protect Europe's borders" and "Improve Europe instead of destroying it" - in black lettering on a white background.

"The Austrian People's Party is the European party," said General Secretary Christian Stocker, adding that it represents a "constructive centrist policy". The election program was developed in a "broad participatory process", for which Lopatka "toured Austria for weeks."

Top candidate Reinhold Lopatka presented the ÖVP's program and posters for the EU elections on Monday

(Bild: APA/Eva Manhart)

Call for money for external border protection
Lopatka sees illegal migration as an "undesirable development" that needs to be corrected. Extensive funding for external border protection should be used to create fences and border surveillance measures, for example. Asylum procedures should take place in safe third countries, and the ÖVP also wants to deport people to these countries if they cannot be returned to their home countries with a negative asylum decision - even if they have no connection to the third country.

The procedures in third countries must meet "all legal criteria", emphasized Lopatka, who would like to see agreements with third countries at EU level. The People's Party also wants stricter rules on family reunification.

No end to combustion engines from 2035
With regard to the "Green Deal", Lopatka wants a "continuation with common sense" that takes into account the interests of industry and the business location. The ÖVP wants to revoke the ban on the registration of new combustion engines from 2035, which Lopatka sees as a "dictate of politics".

More Europe is needed when it comes to the internal market, for example, and less when it comes to "small stuff" such as the wolf issue, said its top candidate Reinhold Lopatka (pictured).

(Bild: APA/Eva Manhart)

According to the program, they even want to actively campaign for Europe's car industry to become the world market leader in combustion engines. "Let's leave that to the car manufacturers," said the top candidate, as they are also researching e-fuels. However, he wants to stick to the EU's climate targets. The ÖVP also wants to continue its efforts with regard to technologies that absorb and store CO2 from the air.

ÖVP for "more Europe" in the internal market
Not every problem is also an EU problem, Lopatka said, citing "minor issues" such as the wolf, whose protection status the ÖVP wants to lower. When it comes to agriculture, the ÖVP wants less bureaucracy. Additional charges for telephone calls within the EU should be abolished. Lopatka emphasized the importance of Austria's exports to the eurozone, saying that "more Europe" is needed in the internal market.

He advocated shifting transport to rail and standardizing the railroads' electricity system. Lopatka also wants to increase support for research and innovation - the "most important raw material in the EU". Energy suppliers are to be diversified and an energy infrastructure strategy drawn up at European level.

Expand the eurozone and strengthen the euro
Austria should continue to play a mediating role in Europe and the world, according to the program. The ÖVP wants to advocate for a "just and sustainable peace" in Ukraine; there should not be an accelerated process as an EU accession candidate. However, the People's Party would like to see more speed in the EU accession negotiations in the Western Balkans. The eurozone should also be expanded, thereby strengthening the euro.

The ÖVP wants to differentiate itself from the FPÖ with its program and posters. According to Lopatka, the election will decide whether the EU can continue to develop or whether those who see the project as a failure and are seeking a return to nation states will gain influence. "A vote for the Freedom Party is a lost vote for Austria, but also for Europe."