Schallenberg: Austria Committed to Concept of Gradual Integration

Before the meeting of Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg, on Monday, Austria’s Alexander Schallenberg said security and stability were a geostrategic goal of the EU, which was why the enlargement idea had to be pushed forward.

As the Austrian Foreign Minister also pointed out, his country is committed to the concept of gradual integration.

“So, it doesn’t always have to be full-fledged membership, but one can move towards it step by step without sacrificing the final goal of full-fledged membership. So far, we have had a way of thinking – ‘either full-fledged membership or nothing’. And I am saying, for example, that that prevents us from including some Western Balkan countries in the Trans-European Network,” he stressed.