The EU committee of the Federal Council discussed the white book “European willingness to defend 2030” presented by the European Commission. The Weißbuch serves to translate political guidelines into concrete actions and also to initiate legal proposals in a variety of areas. According to the Federal Chancellery’s expert, the Member States keep full sovereignty over their armed forces and about investment decisions in the area of defense. The aim of the white book is to close military ability gaps, support of Ukraine, strengthen the European defense industry and corresponding financing options.
Federal Councilor Andreas Arthur Spanring (FPÖ/N) joined debts against a communality. With an application for a statement, he asked the Federal Government to refuse any consent to financing models at the EU level. The application remained in the minority.
Expert: “It’s about making willingness to defend until 2030”
With regard to the geopolitical developments and the changed security situation, it is about creating full willingness to defend until 2030, an expert at the Federal Chancellery said. The Weißbuch builds on the current EU threat assessment, according to which Russia is classified as a fundamental threat to European security (16710/EU XXVIII.GP). The European Commission also provided a draft for the Safe financing instrument and a proposal to relax the Maastricht debt limit of 3 % of GDP for defense spending. The white book sees joint European efforts in air defense and missile defense, artillery, supplies to ammunition and rockets as necessary, explained the expert. In addition, the need for drones, military mobility and artificial intelligence are seen.
Austria supports Weißbuch
Austria supports the white book as an important step towards strengthening European willingness to defend it and will constructively contribute to the implementation of measures. The Federal Chancellery’s expert also generally evaluated the planned flexibility of the budget rules and the expansion of the financing options for defense spending. To include a loan from the Safe financing instrument is out of the question for Austria due to the good Austrian creditworthiness and therefore low interest rates. In order to become defensive and competitive, the expertise of Ukraine is required. This should also be used.
“We will have to invest fully in defense,” emphasized the Federal Chancellor’s Office expert. EU grants to invest it was possible. EU money would not affect arms. “No European army is planned,” said the expert. Rather, it is ensured that the Member States can work together to protect themselves.
Commercial Chamber expert: Weißbuch serves as a “toolbox”
With the white book we get a “toolbox” available, says an expert from the Chamber of Commerce. Each Member State can take care of the tool he claims. Not only Austria has saved in recent years. “Saving the broken thing is a European phenomenon”, which is why the European Commission is now working to make up for what has been missed. The Weißbuch addresses the security and defense economy. It is important that Austria remains competitive.
The Chamber of Commerce’s expert recognized the expertise of the Ukrainian companies, but expressed legal concerns about cooperations. “Since we are not allowed to deliver to Ukraine, it makes little sense for our companies”.
Federal Council: Interior in exchange about community procurement, debts and neutrality
Andreas Arthur Spanring (FPÖ/N) spoke out against a “European central state”. In the white book he saw a centralization that was rejected by the FPÖ. “Austria is a neutral country,” he emphasized and “neutrality must be defensive”. In recent years, too, it has been saved. Now it is important to continue to support the Austrian Armed Forces more financially. Due to corruption, Spanring thought Ukraine did not consider a reliable partner. As long as joint procurement is made on a voluntary basis, this is okay, according to Spanring, who also had joint exercises positively.
Many countries lack the budget, said Manuela-Anna Sumah-Vospernik (Neos/W). She was interested in community procurement. Elisabeth Kittl (Greens/W) shared the urgency of matter and spoke out for an EU-wide procurement. It is important to observe the flows of money strictly, she insisted on parliamentary control. The production of her own energy in the country as a further safety factor.
Daniel Schmid (SPÖ/T) did not fundamentally spoke out against common debts. The white book does not change the neutrality, he emphasized. In order to implement urgent investments in the army and the national defense, the program should be used. The application of the FPÖ was therefore not supported.
On the part of the ÖVP, Christoph Thoma (ÖVP/V) emphasized: Austrian neutrality is not questioned. The white book is constitutional. Due to the geopolitical situation, it must be traded to strengthen security. Therefore, there is a clear commitment to this paper from the ÖVP. The ÖVP does not support the application of the FPÖ, explained Günther Ruprecht (ÖVP/st). Active participation in common security and defense policy is of central importance, he emphasized. Ruprecht spoke in favor of a survival of debt. (Continued EU Committee of the Federal Council) GLA