Meinl-Reisinger: Trump's peace plan is a danger for Europe!

Meinl-Reisinger: Trump's peace plan is a danger for Europe!

The debate about current geopolitical tensions and Europe's role in the world is becoming increasingly intense. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) has spoken out clearly against US President Donald Trump's peace proposal, which envisages the cession of parts of eastern Ukraine to Russia. In her remarks, she described the situation as “very serious” and a “fateful moment” for Europe. “It is time for Europe to decide whether it wants to be a ‘plaything in world history’,” she stressed, while highlighting the need for a unified European position on foreign policy.

Meinl-Reisinger warns that the strategic withdrawal of the USA as a geopolitical actor could further destabilize the security situation. She therefore called on Europe to strengthen its own defense capacity and act with one voice. This is particularly important in view of the fact that the EU must act as a reliable actor in world politics, not least in order to meet the challenges resulting from the war in Ukraine.

Criticism of the US peace plan

Trump's proposal, which Meinl-Reisinger describes as "grotesque", is not only an expression of geopolitical shifts, but also shows the need for Europe to develop its own solutions to conflicts. “The role of the USA as a mediator is no longer sustainable,” said the minister. She calls the establishment of her own negotiating team for the talks in Geneva a crucial step and suggests Finnish President Alexander Stubb as a possible head of the delegation. Stubb has both good relations with Trump and experience on the international stage, especially as chairman of the OSCE, which also includes Russia.

The EU must also say goodbye to unanimity in foreign policy in order to become more capable of acting. Alternatives to Stubb could include EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa. She criticized the fact that currently only foreign policy advisors from the E3 states (France, Germany, Great Britain) are involved in the negotiations, while a European initiative is overdue.

Domestic political challenges

With regard to the domestic political situation in Austria, Meinl-Reisinger expressed the desire for comprehensive reforms, especially in budget policy. She called for a more transparent presentation of the budget figures and a contribution from the federal states to consolidation. This is necessary in order to adequately overcome the financial challenges arising from current government policy. The proposed savings plan of 7.5 billion euros as well as the handling of subsidies and pension costs were also discussed. She particularly sharply criticized the Vienna City Councilor for Social Affairs, Peter Hacker, for his demand to abandon the Maastricht criteria.

Meinl-Reisinger is aware that her dual mandate as minister and party leader is challenging. She also has to deal with reports that the FPÖ has increased its criticism of its stance on neutrality. Given the changing security policy framework in Europe, she sees broad support for an initiative to create a European security organization.

The urgency for action was also evident in the European Parliament, where two resolutions were adopted on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and on Security and Defence. In it, the MPs call for an increased EU presence in the international context as well as close cooperation with the USA in order to stabilize the European security architecture and support Ukraine.