Austrian Minister for Europe Claudia Plakolm emphasized the positive developments in the enlargement of the European Union (EU) to incorporate six Western Balkan nations.

In an interview with Austrian public broadcaster ORF, Plakolm, a member of the Conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP), stated that the gradual integration of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia is essential.

When questioned about the significant resistance among Austrians to accepting new members, despite the known benefits of enlargement for the EU, Plakolm’s answer was not definitive, noting that “numerous bridges still need to be built.”

As a minister in the Chancellor’s office—not directly responsible for European affairs—Plakolm asserted that the EU must uphold the right of individual member states to veto specific areas, primarily concerning common foreign and security policy, finances, and the admission of new states.

“On these crucial matters, the EU should adhere to the principle of consensus,” commented the 30-year-old minister.

Discussing “problematic” countries within the EU and among candidates, she advocated for dialogue. She highlighted Hungary, governed by Viktor Orban’s right-wing populist administration for nearly 15 years, as an example of a nation frequently at odds with the EU over issues like media freedom violations.

Nevertheless, Plakolm emphasized that Hungary is Austria’s neighbor and that fostering bilateral cooperation is essential. She argued for Hungary’s reintegration into EU discussions, particularly regarding its relationship with Russia and recent sanctions, pointing out that this alignment is crucial for maintaining the principle of unanimous decision-making.

She also expressed that EU member states should enjoy greater flexibility, criticizing the requirement for small businesses to submit compliance reports related to the EU’s Green Deal directive on restoring ecosystems and biodiversity as burdensome.

Plakolm praised the Rearm Europe/Reinforcements 2030 initiative as both an industrial strategy and a necessary response to Europe’s reduced reliance on the United States for security matters.

She conveyed confidence that the upcoming Austrian legislation to ban the hijab for individuals under 14 could be tailored to align with constitutional mandates, while noting ongoing discussions with experts.

“As the Minister of Youth, this issue is significant to me, as eight-year-old girls should not be concealed under a headscarf,” Plakolm remarked, mentioning two potential legislative pathways for this law: through a constitutional amendment or a simple majority in parliament.

The OVP minister also supported the decision to temporarily revoke the right of asylum seekers to reunite with their families in Austria. She indicated that this policy responds to challenges in education, healthcare, labor markets, and housing, asserting that Austria’s system is currently “overburdened.”

Regarding increased immigration, she stated, “we are importing unemployment and creating a parallel society,” emphasizing that the separation of families is not Austria’s responsibility, as “the fathers themselves have embarked on a long journey through many safe countries.”

While acknowledging the importance of religious freedom, Plakolm asserted that tolerance should not be misinterpreted, stressing the importance of fostering “good coexistence.”

She concluded by mentioning the challenges to coexistence, remarking, “the fact is that these issues often correlate with Islam,” according to the Austrian state news agency APA.

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