Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on "The governmental coalition in Austria"

(2000/C 156/08)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the elections held in Austria on 3 October 1999 and the constitution of a coalition government by the ÖVP and the FPÖ on 4 February 2000;

having regard to the Portuguese presidency's statement of 31 January 2000;

having regard to the European Commission's statement of 1 February 2000;

having regard to the European Parliament's resolution adopted on 3 February 2000,

having regard to the statement "Responsibility for Austria - the future at the heart of Europe" signed by the Presidents of both coalition parties (Vienna, 3 February 2000);

having regard to the letter sent on 7 February 2000 by EU Commission President Prodi to the new Austrian chancellor;

having regard to the fact that the President of the FPÖ, by virtue of his position as Governor of Carinthia, has been a member of the Committee of the Regions since May 1999,

A. whereas the foundation of the European Union is based on the pursuit of peace, political stability and of solidarity between peoples after the Second World War,

B. whereas the Treaty on European Union is based on respect for basic rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and as enshrined in the constitutional traditions common to the Member States,

C. considering, on the one hand, the COR's opinion of 13 June 1996 (COR 156/96 fin)(1) on "the proposal for a Council Decision proclaiming 1997 European Year against Racism" and, on the other hand, the COR's own-initiative opinion of 12 June 1997 (COR 80/97 fin)(2) on "racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism",

D. considering the statement adopted in Graz (Austria) on 9 November 1998 (COR 427/98)(3),

E. whereas the Committee of the Regions, as a body of the European Union representing local and regional authorities, has a crucial role to play in promoting European citizenship and therefore must, in particular, campaign against racism and xenophobia,

F. considering that these local and regional authorities, which are the tier of the government nearest to citizens, have a concrete and irreplaceable role to play in this campaign,

G. considering the Charter of the European political parties for a non racist society adopted in Utrecht on 28 February 1998,

1. resolutely condemns any form of extremism,

2. deplores the participation in the Austrian government of a party which advocates intolerance, xenophobia, nationalism and inequality,

3. condemns all the insulting anti-European statements made by the members of the FPÖ and, in particular, its President,

4. fears that the ideas conveyed by this party may become commonplace,

5. will take particular care to ensure that the principles expressed in the statement "Responsibility for Austria - the future at the heart of Europe" are respected,

6. urges all democratic forces in Austria and elsewhere and, in particular, all local and regional authorities, whether represented or not in the Committee of the Regions, to join together to combat opinions contrary to the founding principles of the European Union and welcomes the numerous expressions of support for common European values in all the Member States,

7. exhorts all political parties to show more courage in their campaign for a more open, transparent and honest political culture at all levels of power in Europe,

8. will display increased vigilance within its own walls regarding the deeds and words of any member which are contrary to the fundamental values of the European Union,

9. stresses that sound, trusting cooperation on the basis of democratic, European values between Austria and the EU is in the interest of Europe and of advancing European integration, requiring joint efforts to make a success of the reforms and the major challenges of the future,

10. stresses the need at local, regional and national level to better inform citizens and therefore to anchor the European idea more strongly in citizens' daily lives,

11. underlines the special role of members of the Committee of the Regions as brokers between the European level and grassroots politics and is ready to assume its responsibility in the European integration process in the regions, cities and municipalities, thus making an essential contribution to the Union's democratic process,

12. instructs its President to convey the present Resolution to the President and to the Government of Austria, to the Austrian local and regional authorities, to the Council of Ministers, to the European Commission and to the European Parliament.

Brussels, 16 February 2000.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Jos Chabert

(1) OJ C 337, 11.11.1996, p. 63.

(2) OJ C 244, 11.8.1997, p. 58.

(3) COR 369/98 fin Appendix, OJ C 198, 14.7.1999, p. 48.