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The newly formed Austrian coalition has made its commitment to the European Union and supporting Ukraine clear.<\/p>\n
“Austria’s actions will continue to be characterized by cooperation and solidarity within the European Union,” said the programme presented on Thursday by the conservative Austrian People’s Party (\u00d6VP), the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SP\u00d6) and the liberal NEOS.<\/p>\n
The new coalition also supports the EU’s course on Ukraine and plans to appoint a Ukraine coordinator, according to the programme.<\/p>\n
The three-way alliance emphasized, however, that Austria’s neutrality would not be shaken. Austria is not a member of NATO and its support for Ukraine is limited to humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n
News of the coalition put an end to Austria’s longest ever period of government formation, after the far-right Freedom Party (FP\u00d6) won September’s parliamentary election.<\/p>\n
Coalition talks between the \u00d6VP and the FP\u00d6 – which is seen as eurosceptic and Moscow-friendly – collapsed earlier this month, in part because the parties could not agree on a foreign policy line.<\/p>\n
NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger is expected to be appointed foreign minister in the new coalition, though the list of ministers is only to be published in the coming days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n