Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union:

1. Priorities of the Austrian Presidency: ‘A Europe that protects’

The Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will focus on security and the fight against illegal migration, securing prosperity and competitiveness through digitalisation, and stability in the European neighbourhood.

The motto of the Austrian Presidency is ‘A Europe that protects’. In order to achieve this objective, Austria’s approach will be based on enhancing the principle of subsidiarity. The European Union should focus on big issues which require a joint solution and take a step back when it comes to smaller issues where member states or regions are in a better position to take decisions. This approach aims at taking seriously the motto of the European Union, ‘United in Diversity’.

To that effect, the Austrian Presidency will prioritise the protective role of the European Union, in particular concerning three priority areas:

• Security and the fight against illegal migration
• Securing prosperity and competitiveness through digitalisation
• Stability in the European neighbourhood – EU perspective of the Western Balkans/South Eastern Europe

Austria views its role during the forthcoming Council Presidency as that of a neutral broker. Given its geographic location in the heart of the EU, its obligation of neutrality and in line with its traditional role as bridge builder, Austria will endeavour to contribute to the unity within the EU during its Council Presidency.

2. Program

On 6 June 2018, the Austrian Federal Government presented in Brussels the programme for the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

A Europe that protects

In recent years, the EU has  had  to deal with several crises that have  shaken citizens’ confidence in the European Union as a Union that guarantees peace and  security. Austria will therefore choose the following motto for its Presidency: A Europe that protects.

This is in accordance with EU citizens’  expectations. Austria’s efforts  will be aimed at strengthening the European Union, helping it to get closer to its citizens and re-establishing trust  – citizens’  trust  in the EU’s capacity to act,  mutual  trust  among the Member States, and trust in the EU as a reliable and stabilising force in the world.

In order  to achieve this objective, Austria’s approach will be based on enhancing the principle of subsidiarity. The European Union should focus on big issues which require a joint solution and take a step back when it comes to smaller issues where Member States or regions are in a better position to take decisions. This approach aims at taking seriously the motto of the European Union, “United in Diversity” as well as the ongoing debate on the future of Europe, in particular the scenario “Doing less  more  efficiently”. As often shown in the past, the EU’s strength derives also

from the diversity of its Member States and  regions. Only if there  is sufficient  room for finding local solutions to smaller  issues, will it be possible to credibly  promote unity in the face of big issues. In this context, Austria will place a strong emphasis on the involvement of EU citizens in issues concerning the future development of the European Union.

In light of the big challenges mentioned above, the EU is in a position to provide an indispensable added value for its citizens and its Member States. To that effect, the Austrian Presidency will prioritise the role of the European Union as a Europe that protects, in particular concerning three priority areas: security and migration, main- taining competitiveness through digitalisation, and stability in the neighbourhood.

Areas of work:
1. Security and the fight against illegal migration
2. Securing prosperity and competitiveness through digitalisation
3. Stability in the European neighbourhood – EU perspective of the Western Balkans / South Eastern Europe

Download the entire Programme of the Austrian Presidency here

3. Trio Program:

The ‘Trio Presidency’ is the name given to the cooperation that takes place over an 18‑month period between the three EU member states that successively hold the 6‑month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Close cooperation between these states ensures that particular topics receive continuous attention over an extended period.

Austria and its predecessors Estonia and Bulgaria make up the ‘Trio Presidency’ from 1 July 2017 to 31 December 2018. The three states have agreed upon a joint 18‑month programme that focuses on the following five topics:

• a Union for jobs, growth and competitiveness
• а Union that empowers and protects all its citizens
• towards an Energy Union with a forward-looking climate policy
• a Union of freedom, security and justice
• the Union as a strong global actor

The next ‘Trio Presidency’ is made up of Romania (first half of 2019), Finland (second half of 2019) and Croatia (first half of 2020).

COUNCIL 18-MONTH PROGRAMME, 1 JULY 2017 TO 31 DECEMBER 2018

You can read more about the presidency of the Council of the EU here.