AUSTRIA, September 27 - On 28 September 2022, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib for a working meeting in Vienna. The foreign minister congratulated his counterpart on her appointment in July 2022. The subsequent discussion focussed on bilateral relations between Austria and Belgium, the EU enlargement process, and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. 

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Schallenberg emphasised the excellent relationship between Austria and Belgium proposed further cooperation in the area of asylum and migration. He noted that both countries faced similar challenges in this area. With regard to the status of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, Foreign Minister Schallenberg stressed the need to achieve visible progress before the end of the year. 

The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has once again shown us the geopolitical significance of the EU enlargement process. In order to keep Russia from destabilising the region, we must offer the Western Balkan countries credible accession prospects. Concrete progress is urgently needed by the end of 2022. For instance, EU candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina and visa liberalisation for Kosovo are long overdue, 

said Foreign Minister Schallenberg. 

Moreover, the foreign minister encouraged a continuation of the discussion about the model proposed by Austria for gradual integration of the EU candidate countries. Given the changed geopolitical framework conditions, he said, there was a need to set up anew the enlargement process rather than sticking to familiar templates. 

In his discussion with Foreign Minister Lahbib, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg also talked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech on 21 September 2022. He condemned the nuclear threats - stated more explicitly than ever before - that make a diplomatic solution more and more difficult to reach. Foreign Minister Schallenberg also noted that Austria decisively condemned Russia’s holding of illegal sham referendums to justify its annexation of Ukrainian territory. Such referendums lack any legitimacy under international law and like the annexation of Ukrainian territory, they will not be recognised by Austria.