Panel debate on Czech-Austrian relations

When Czechs endorsed the country's membership in the EU in June's referendum the first to send congratulations were the Czech Republic's immediate neighbours. Austria and Germany, the country's leading EU trade partners said the country's accession to the union would open up new possibilities and help to resolve existing problems in bilateral relations. The reference was of course to sensitive issues arising from the Second World War, the Temelin nuclear power plant in south Bohemia and, last but not least, environmental pollution in central Europe. This week the Forum for Czech-Austrian Dialogue and the Austrian embassy in Prague held a panel debate on Czech-Austrian relations. And since some Czechs harbour concerns regarding the sensitive Sudeten German issue and the possibility of compensation for the 2.5 million Sudeten Germans who were expelled from the country after WWII, we began by asking Karel Kuhnl, a Czech parliament deputy for the Freedom Union how the Czech Republic's accession to the EU could affect this problem.

Panel debate on Czech-Austrian relations

"Actually, our position will improve inside of the European Union, because we will have -on our side- the European court of justice which has never decided -in similar cases- to the disadvantage of a country like the Czech Republic. Problems like the Benes decrees precede the very existence of the European Union and European courts have always ruled that such problems are not a matter for the European Union. Our position will improve also because until we join the EU Austria still has some instruments with which to exercise pressure on us. Once we become EU members we will be equal partners and there will not be any instruments in Austrian hands to step up the pressure. On the contrary, Austria and the Czech Republic will be required and practically forced by the rules of the EU to find common ground and I am quite certain that we will."

Gregor Schusterschitz, press attaché at the Austrian embassy in Prague, shares the view that as EU members Czechs and Austrians will take their cooperation much further.

"It was good to see in Thessaloniki how common these interests are especially in relation to the institutions in the EU which is a problem especially for smaller countries now. And we are very confident that this common interest will lead to political cooperation."

You mentioned three things that are important in the process of improving bilateral relations -can you tell us what they are?

"This was in reference to regional partnership. It is surely very important that when you want to work together it has to be very concrete. There have to be concrete projects, people have to see it. It does not help if politicians meet and hold speeches which are then printed somewhere -or not printed somewhere - the people have to feel what is going on. Secondly, the states have to acknowledge that in bilateral cooperation the other is an equal partner and act accordingly. And lastly I believe that the smaller states in the EU should cooperate closely together in a very sober manner."