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Vienna (APA) – Austria’s federal government on Tuesday underlined the communication taken the previous day by Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) regarding the blackmail policy of US President Donald Trump on the issue of Greenland. The Austrian Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (ÖVP) said Europe must “not stand idly by” in view of Trump’s ambitions. Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) emphasized that it was also necessary to make Europe’s economic strength clear.
On Monday, Chancellor Stocker had told APA that the EU must “respond confidently and with unity.” Hanke spoke on Tuesday of the need for a “dual strategy”: On the one hand, it was necessary to show that Europe still has an interest in economic cooperation, but on the other hand also to make its economic strength clear.
“I do believe that it is good to show that we are very strong in many areas – and that it could indeed hurt if we are left with no other option than to use tariffs and other means to demonstrate that Europe is willing to go its own way,” Hanke said in the press foyer after the Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday.
At the same time, he stressed that it was also important to have a strategy based on “coordination, communication and the best possible inclusion of partners.” “We should not abandon too quickly what has been built up over decades” – but rather try to show in the USA, beyond Trump as well, “how Europe thinks.”
Hattmannsdorfer: Europe must “not stand idly by”
Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (ÖVP) spoke of a “Darwinist world order” that is emerging. “Europe must not stand idly by.” Europe has the largest internal market and the “aspiration to play a leading role in geo-economics and geopolitics.” Of course, everything should be resolved through dialogue.
Hattmannsdorfer also pointed out that Austria generates a trade surplus of four billion euros with the USA. “That means the USA is the key market after Germany and extremely important for our prosperity.” However, Europe must “not die in beauty,” the minister emphasized. The continent must “present a united front.” “The greatest danger would be if individual actors break ranks,” he said.
Europe needs a “common line”
Asked whether the statements by Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who had said the previous day that his country would not participate in a joint EU declaration on the future of Greenland, already constituted such a breaking of ranks, Hattmannsdorfer did not wish to judge. It was “wise and sensible” that the European heads of government are now meeting on these issues and then representing a “common line.” It is obvious that there will be an exchange of views in this discussion, he said. Szijjarto had previously said during a visit to Prague that the matter was a bilateral issue and not a topic for the European Union.
Trump had previously – after the deployment of troops to the Danish island by several European states – announced punitive tariffs over the weekend against the states involved if Denmark did not agree to sell the island to the USA. The threats prompted sharp reactions from the European states. EU Council President António Costa announced a special summit of heads of state and government to discuss a concrete response. Massive economic retaliation measures such as punitive tariffs are on the table. (20.01.2026)