Belgian Foreign Minister Met Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib met with Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg for working talks in Vienna. The subsequent discussions focused on bilateral relations between Austria and Belgium, the EU enlargement process and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Hadja Lahbib is a Belgian journalist, TV presenter, director and political figure, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium since July 15, 2022. / Picture: © Wikimedia Commons, RemyEsquilicheEsquinas, CC BY-SA 4.0
At the outset, Foreign Minister Schallenberg congratulated his counterpart on her appointment in July 2022.
Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg stressed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine brought to the fore once again a special geopolitical significance of the EU enlargement process." To prevent Russia from destabilizing the region, the European Union must offer the countries of the Western Balkans a credible prospect of accession, according to Schallenberg. Schallenberg and Lahbib say concrete progress is urgently needed by the end of 2022. For example, granting EU candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina and visa liberalization for Kosovo are long overdue, according to Schallenberg.
Honoré d’accueillir mon homologue
— Alexander Schallenberg (@a_schallenberg) September 28, 2022
Ministre @hadjalahbib à Vienne. Un échange approfondi sur les défis communs à l‘ & la comme la migration, la crise énergétique & la guerre d’aggression de la Russie en Ukraine. La Belgique est un partenaire central pour une Europe unie. pic.twitter.com/tgI3ygBjwn
In the conversation, Foreign Minister Schallenberg emphasized the excellent relationship between Austria and Belgium and suggested increased cooperation in the field of asylum and migration. Both countries would face similar challenges in this regard. About the state of EU enlargement in the Western Balkan states, Foreign Minister Schallenberg underlined the need to achieve visible progress this year.
Had an excellent meeting with @a_schallenberg. Shared our views on the latest developments in the war in Ukraine and their implications, e.g. on energy. Also exchanged on the geopolitical importance of the Western Balkans for Europe and the situation in the Sahel. pic.twitter.com/sE4nwugLxm
— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) September 28, 2022
In addition, the Foreign Minister suggested continuing the discussion on the model of gradual integration of EU candidate countries proposed by Austria. Given the changed geopolitical framework conditions, the enlargement process had to be relaunched and not remain stuck in familiar templates, he said.
Uitstekende meeting met @a_schallenberg. We wisselden van gedachten over de meest recente ontwikkelingen in de oorlog in Oekraïne en de gevolgen ervan, bv voor energie. Hadden het ook over het geopolitieke belang vd Westelijke Balkan voor Europa en de situatie in de Sahel. pic.twitter.com/YkKsFIB0R6
— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) September 28, 2022
In his exchange with Foreign Minister Lahbib, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg also addressed the speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 21, 2022. The two foreign ministers condemned the unprecedentedly explicit nuclear threats, which make a diplomatic solution increasingly remote.
The foreign ministers also underlined that Austria and Belgium strongly condemned the holding of illegal sham referendums to justify Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories. The sham referendums lack any legitimacy under international law and, like the annexation of Ukrainian territories, will not be recognized by Austria.
BMEIA Federal Ministry for Europe Integration and Foreign Affairs