On 16 April 2021, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg represented Austria at talks between five German-speaking countries in Lugano, Switzerland. The meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland, as well as Liechtenstein’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs. The discussion focused on further strengthening regional cooperation between the German-speaking nations, and the coronavirus pandemic was again high on the agenda. As Foreign Minister Schallenberg commented,
The last twelve months have been an involuntary rollercoaster ride for all of us, but I am among those who believe there are some positive aspects to this crisis.
Alexander Schallenberg noted that our societies have proven much more flexible than expected, and that we have turned out to be more resilient than we thought; after an initial shock, European solidarity has again come to the fore. Foreign Minister Schallenberg also stressed that the crisis has provided more proof of the importance of regional cooperation and helping one’s neighbours.
We have seen that load-bearing, trust-based, friendly relationships built up over decades have proved essential during this crisis,
he said, while also expressing his support for the establishment of a new ‘Lake Constance Dialogue Platform’.
Alexander Schallenberg said the aim now was to return to normal life as fully and quickly as possible. The ongoing vaccination programme and the EU’s proposed ‘Green Pass’ vaccination passport would both contribute to this aim. The return to normality would also mean re-establishing the Schengen Area, a task in which the Schengen associate states would play an important role. Foreign Minister Schallenberg was delighted that they would be involved in the relevant discussions from the start, and noted that:
I am very pleased that the states associated with Schengen will be here from the outset. It would be nonsensical to re-establish the Schengen Area without its closest partners, including Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
In concluding his remarks, he went on to allude to upcoming challenges regarding how best to engage with the European neighbourhood in the months to come.
