PM remarks in Austria: 21 May 2024
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's remarks ahead of a bilateral meeting with Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Vienna, Austria.
Chancellor Nehammer, Karl. it바카라 사이트檚 so wonderful to be here in Austria, especially after our very warm meeting we had together last year where, as you say, we built a very strong friendship and a partnership.
And it has been good to continue that dialogue with you this morning.
And Austria is an important partner and an important friend for the United Kingdom.
Last year we signed new bilateral agreements바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트o build that partnership, to strengthen our security and to tackle illegal migration.聽
We grew our bilateral trade to 拢10 billion last year.
And today we바카라 사이트檝e taken steps to deepen that relationship even further.聽
Now as Karl mentioned we see eye-to-eye on many of the big challenges before us.聽
And we바카라 사이트檙e committed to addressing them together.
We바카라 사이트檙e unwavering in our support for Ukraine.
Austria has rightly called out Russia for breaking international law바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트xpelled Russian diplomats바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd given vital humanitarian support to the Ukrainian people.聽
And now, we바카라 사이트檝e discussed what more we can do together on the economic front to ensure that Russia바카라 사이트檚 war machine is not supported.
Now we바카라 사이트檝e also discussed, as you heard, the Middle East바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트here we바카라 사이트檝e been working closely together already to urgently get the aid in and get the hostages out.聽
We touched on our concerns in the Western Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd the work that both our nations are doing to preserve stability in the region.
And again, I very much welcome Austria바카라 사이트檚 leadership in this area and I바카라 사이트檓 grateful to all the engagement that Karl has put into that part of our continent.
And of course, in conclusion, we discussed illegal migration.
This has become truly one of the defining issues of our time.聽
We face criminal gangs that are growing in strength across our European continent and beyond, and they바카라 사이트檙e exacting a terrible human toll.聽
People are losing their lives as they are exploited by these criminal gangs.
And it is of course a threat to our stability, to the rule of law 바카라 사이트� and rightly our citizens are demanding that their leaders, their politicians, tackle it.聽
And that바카라 사이트檚 what both Karl and I are doing.
And I really do want to congratulate Karl on his leadership here because he바카라 사이트檚 been right on this issue for a long time, and has led the charge in Europe, in making sure this is a topic that gets the attention that it deserves.聽
In our joint statement today we have committed to deepening our cooperation to end this vile trade.
And what both of us have agreed is that business as usual won바카라 사이트檛 solve this problem.
We have to think creatively바카라 사이트�
We have to pursue new ideas, solutions, and deterrents 바카라 사이트� removals to safe third countries 바카라 사이트� like the UK바카라 사이트檚 pioneering Rwanda scheme.
And as Karl said, it바카라 사이트檚 increasingly clear that many other countries now agree that that is the approach that is required: bold, novel, looking at safe country partnerships.
Karl was right on that a while ago and I바카라 사이트檓 delighted that now 15 European countries together have joined in supporting that position.
So we will keep increasing our shared ambition and urgency, bringing others along with us on the journey as we have바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ncluding when we meet at the European Political Community, which I am proud to be hosting in Blenheim Palace in July.
That will be a moment to take further action on all of the issues we바카라 사이트檝e been discussing today.
And I바카라 사이트檒l close on this last point.
As you know, there is an interesting echo of history here.聽
Because Blenheim Palace is named after the Battle of Blenheim in 1704바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트hen Britain and Austria came together under the Grand Alliance to protect Vienna.聽
Now, the circumstances are somewhat different today바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ut it is a reminder that our relationship, our friendship, our partnership, has deep roots.
And today바카라 사이트檚 discussions show that it also has a very bright future.聽
Karl, thank you very much.