Chancellor: Austria Is Bridge Between EU And Serbia, EU Must Take Clear Stance

Karl Nehammer (Photo: PrintScreen YouTube)

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated in Belgrade on March 17 that his country would continue to be a bridge between the EU and Serbia and other Western Balkan countries. 

Speaking at the joint news conference after the meeting with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Nehammer said that, due to the Russian invasion on Ukraine, it was important for Serbia and other countries of the region "that the EU takes a clear stance and gives a clear signal that these countries belong in the Union and in Europe." "As the EU, we must do everything for the process of accession (of the Western Balkans) to be accelerated. Austria views itself as a bridge in that process and it is very important for us that the process accelerates," Nehammer said. 

He stated that relations with Serbia were "of great significance" for Austria and that Serbia was "an important geostrategic and political partner for Austria, and thus for the EU, too." 

"It is important for Austria that we work together, because we are equally affected by the phenomenon of organized crime or that of illegal migration. It is the obligation and interest of an EU member state to give a clear signal that we should work together on finding solutions to problems," stated the Austrian chancellor. 

He underscored the "great concern" over Russia's large influence in the Western Balkans, and China's "great interest in positioning itself" in the region. Nehammer said that Austria "very much depends" on Russian gas and that the issue of how to approach that dependence was still open.