On 16th February 2022, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg travelled to Berlin for an initial bilateral work meeting with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. In addition to the tense situation in Ukraine, they also discussed their close collaboration on the Western Balkans and on climate protection. During the one-day visit, Foreign Minister Schallenberg also met with former president of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble, Transport Minister Volker Wissing, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag Michael Roth, as well as the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt.
We have an infinite amount in common – human, cultural, economic. Germany is not only our largest neighbour, but also our most important economic partner. We recently broke the 100-billion-euro sound barrier for our bilateral trade volume for the very first time – despite the pandemic. That shows how important we are for each other. And another thing that is especially close to my heart: we have a shared responsibility in Europe,
said Foreign Minister Schallenberg, emphasising the close connection between the two countries and their common efforts to bring about European unity.
Particularly with regard to the situation in Eastern Ukraine, he said, “Austria and Germany are working in concert.”
The Russian President, Putin, has managed to create unique consensus at a European level and in the free world. We will continue working to make sure it stays that way. We stand for an open , serious dialogue with Moscow. That has always been the policy of both our countries. But the other side must also send a clear signal that it is prepared for dialogue,
said the Foreign Minister.
In this way, Foreign Minister Schallenberg acknowledged the German dialog effort. Every channel must be utilised to prevent military conflict, he said. At the same time, however, he also stressed that further aggression towards Ukraine would not be accepted, and that a “very extensive and tough sanction package” is being prepared at an EU level for this eventuality.
The common European responsibility of both countries is also lived in other areas, such as in the Western Balkans:
The Western Balkans are a region where Austria and Germany work closely together, and where the next lines of conflict could arise. If there is one area where Europe needs to present a unified front, it is there. The Western Balkans must never become a playing field for other, non-European actors,
said Foreign Minister Schallenberg, who met with Christian Schmidt, the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, to discuss the current situation there.
Another issue that unites Austria and Germany is climate protection, particularly their opposition to the latest proposal by the European Commission to include nuclear energy in the taxonomy.
That is unacceptable for us. In our opinion, nuclear energy can never, not even temporarily, be a ‘green’ form of energy. Nuclear power cannot be given a green seal of approval. We will exhaust every possibility to oppose this misguided path. We are also prepared to take every necessary legal step. We would be pleased if Germany considered such steps as well and take them together with us,
emphasised Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
