New Austria Govt 'Unlikely to Change Balkans Policy'

Austria's new government, made up of the centre-right People's Party and the far-right Freedom Party, has already been the subject of warnings that it might stray from European values, but analysts said they don't expect major shifts in the way the country treats the Balkans.

Milos Solaja from the Centre for International Relations from Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina told BIRN that he's not expecting visible changes in Austria's policy towards the Balkans, where it is politically and economically active.

"First of all, they provided support in the process of Euro-integration both in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. But they are also extremely active financially in this region. Austria is the largest investor in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Solaja explained.

"What we can expect is that Austria pledges to accelerate the path to the EU for the countries of the Western Balkans," he said.

Austria's People's Party and the far-right Freedom Party agreed this weekend to form an administration, meaning that, according to Politico, Austria is the only Western European state with a government that includes an anti-immigrant, populist force.

The Freedom Party is Eurosceptic as well as being known for its anti-Muslim views.

"The Freedom Party, whose last foray into government in 2000 sparked censure from Austria's EU partners, has flirted with anti-European positions for years and considers France's National Front a close ally," Politico said.

But Solaja noted that the head of the People's Party, Sebastian Kurz, is well-known for his stances on foreign affairs, so surprises should not be expected.

"So I do not believe he will let them [the Freedom Party] get out of a pre-arranged, broad political...