Free warnings: EU strategy threatens Austria's sovereignty!

Free warnings: EU strategy threatens Austria's sovereignty!

Österreich - On March 27, 2025, the EU Commission presented the "EU Preparedness Union Strategy", which was designed in Europe in response to the complex, cross-border threats. Critics such as Harald Vilimsky, the delegation manager of the freedom in the European Parliament, express concerns about the implications of this strategy. Vilimsky accuses the EU to use this initiative of Natioal skills from the Member States and intervene in sensitive areas. In particular, he sees this as dangerous for the national sovereignty and neutrality of Austria, since he is convinced that the EU uses crises as an excuse to expand its power.

According to a report by the former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, who was presented in October 2024, the urgency is emphasized to strengthen Europe's willingness to crisis and defense. This happens particularly in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The strategy provides for the strengthening of forward -looking and anticipating skills as well as the treatment of new threats in the field of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear security. In addition, measures to support popular medical countermeasures against health threats are to be developed.

criticism of the EU and the GSVP

Vilimsky not only criticizes the strategy presented, but also the fact that the EU has not actively worked on the crisis prevention in the past, but instead approved an escalation of conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine. In his allegation to the EU, he calls for a return to its original mandate, peace, security and cooperation. For him, de -escalation and diplomacy is the key to maintaining the sovereignty and independence of the Member States.

The context of this debate can also be considered within the framework of the common security and defense policy (GSVP), which is part of the EU's common foreign and security policy (GASP). This policy aims at the development of a European security and defense culture and has developed significantly since the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022. The GSVP along the fixed legal basis of the Lisbon (2009) contract has enabled the EU to strengthen its defense and security structure.

The GSVP also provides for close cooperation with international partners, including NATO. With regard to the military and non-military threats, the 2023 annual report on the GSVP emphasizes the need for comprehensive preparation for a wide variety of challenges such as disinformation, cyber attacks and economic means of pressure. These threats underline the relevance of the new strategy and the need to further develop the EU's defense skills.

outlook and future measures

As part of the 2025 work program, the EU Commission plans to implement measures that are intended to strengthen a Europe-wide willingness to crise. This includes, among other things, the introduction of a "security and ambassage checks" and the development of common standards for coping with the crisis. In addition, a European civil protection mechanism is sought that promotes coordination between military and civilian services.

Vilimsky and other critics fear that the measures mentioned above could significantly change the EU security policy and endanger the independence and sovereignty of the Member States. Future debates will have to show whether the EU is able to find a balance between the necessary willingness to defend and the preservation of national sovereignty.

For more detailed information on the ongoing development of the EU strategies, you can report the reports on the websites of European Parliament and Eu Factsheets Read.