Sweden with Austria on one line in migration
The new EU Council Presidency, Sweden, sees itself on the same page as Austria on migration issues. “It is definitely true that we are like-minded in this area,” said Swedish Ambassador Annika Markovic in an APA interview. The fact that her country is currently registering a single influx of migrants is also related to the “homework” done by Austria. The top priority of the Presidency is Ukraine, which should be supported by all means.
“I jokingly say that we have three priorities, the first being Ukraine, the second being Ukraine and the third being Ukraine,” Markovic said. “Our first priority is the security of the European Union, and our security currently depends heavily on how the situation in Ukraine develops,” argued the head of the Swedish embassy in Vienna.
Ukraine is also linked to the second priority of the Presidency, namely driving forward the green transition and increasing dependence on (Russian) gas. In addition, they want to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy and ultimately the rule of law and common values in the European Union. “But first and foremost we want to be a good chair and move things forward as well as we can,” the ambassador promised.
“We will also put pressure on the migration issue,” said Markovic when asked. In this regard, she shows understanding for Austrian sensibilities. “I find it very normal that you are discussing this when you look at these numbers,” she said, referring to the high number of asylum seekers in Austria. Sweden knows from the migration crisis of 2015 what it means “to be a bit overwhelmed by the numbers”. The fact that the Scandinavian country is currently less affected by the flow of migrants than Austria is also related to the fact that “Austria is doing its homework”. The asylum system works in this country. “The people who arrive and seek asylum are registered in Austria and guided through the local system.”
When it comes to Schengen, the country that holds the presidency is striving to overcome the Austrian veto, but wants to give the deliberations the necessary time. “When the question is ready for a decision, we will submit it to the ministers for a decision,” emphasized the diplomat. “We don’t want to put this on the agenda of a meeting just because a meeting is happening.” An agreement will “hopefully” be possible under the Swedish presidency, she added.
Markovic also tried to allay fears about the role of the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats in the new centre-right government. The government agreement provides for practically no influence of the party on Swedish foreign policy. The party has made a change in European policy and no longer advocates a “Swexit”. In other areas, the Sweden Democrats have not changed their policies so much, but their success in the elections shows “that they have to be taken seriously because that’s what the population wants,” said Markovic, alluding to the migration issue. In the parliamentary elections in October, the Sweden Democrats came in second. They now have a stake in government business for the first time by supporting the centre-right minority government.
Markovic expressed confidence that her country will soon be a NATO member, despite Turkish reservations. Stockholm is “100 percent” committed to the agreement reached with Ankara at the NATO summit last year and is implementing it. However, the government cannot intervene in the decisions of independent courts, said the ambassador, with regard to the extradition of people whom Turkey would like to get hold of, which was refused at least in one case.
The diplomat stressed that Sweden’s NATO ambitions have a longer history. According to this, when it joined the EU in 1995, it was already established that one “cannot be neutral” with regard to the EU states. After that, they “systematically wrote about having a close relationship with NATO.” What changed after the Russian attack on Ukraine was the approval of the population. “We just came to the conclusion that as a neutral state we are no longer safe in the face of this large, aggressive neighbor and that our best security option would be to join NATO,” said Markovic, who also emphasized the importance of consonance with the Eastern Neighbors Finland stressed. “It wasn’t a particularly heated debate either. It was actually a natural progression for us.”
Asked about the role of the remaining neutral states within the European Union, Markovic pointed out that EU defense policy is currently developing very rapidly and that Austria could also be involved in many ways, for example in aid to Ukraine. But it would have “a certain advantage” if all EU members were also in NATO, she conceded. Sweden is a stronger cooperation between the EU and NATO. Austria should “decide for itself how to contribute and remain neutral. And if one day you come to the conclusion that this is not the best security policy framework for you, we would be very happy to share our experience with you,” she added added added. When asked whether Austria would have to fear a Swedish veto against NATO accession, she said with a laugh: “I don’t think so. I don’t think we would likely do that in the case of Austria.”
In the Ukraine war, Markovic clearly supported Kyiv. “I hope that 2023 will be the year when Ukraine will win. And we will do everything we can to support that,” she said. Also, it was up to Ukraine alone to decide what it considers a victory. “They are the only ones who should decide what territorial concessions they make to the Russians,” she said.
Russia will also have to be dealt with after the war, but a return to the status quo is not possible before February 24, 2022. “That won’t happen,” Markovic wrote in the register of those who would like to “quickly negotiate a ceasefire and a peace treaty.” However, she is also skeptical about Kiev’s calls for Russia to be expelled from the UN Security Council. “I can’t imagine how that could be implemented,” she said.
(The interview is conducted by Stefan Vospernik and Edgar Schütz /APA)