Orbán and Austria’s Kickl sign Vienna declaration for ‘patriotic’ European reform

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Herbert Kickl, the leader of Austria’s Freedom Party, signed a joint declaration in Vienna on Thursday.

Hungary and Austria wanted to reaffirm their commitment to their friendly and neighbourly ties as well as their unwavering historical and cultural relations.

The sides expressed their joint will “to work on preserving and developing the diversity of our wonderful European continent as an alliance of positive reforms”.

“We are especially proud that we have concluded an alliance at a European level, with successful partners from Europe’s great nations, that is aware of the special responsibility arising from the Western character of our continent,” the declaration says. “It is our intention to become a force serving Europe and bringing positive change as equal partners and friends. Patriotism is a form of pride for our own country and its culture. And only those who appreciate their own country can understand and respect others’ patriotism.”

The signatories believe that reforming Europe and the European Union does not call for forced centralisation and making institutions even more complicated, but for “returning power to the people and to the MPs elected by member states”.

The key to a successful reform of Europe lies in appreciating and preserving the diversity of the continent’s peoples, national cultures and lifestyles. The political weight of Brussels needs to be reduced and at the same time, member states’ direct and parliamentary democracy should be strengthened.

“We believe that the greatest danger to European culture is extensive illegal migration and the organised abuse of asylum rights,” the declaration says. “These do not just lead to conflicts between various cultures, but also to the decline of native cultures, thereby threatening the character of Europe itself. All available tools of the rule of law must be used to tackle illegal migration and the abuse of asylum rights.”

The signatories take a firm stand against “the absurd idea that there are other genders besides men and women, and against our children losing their identity already at a young age through left-wing sensitisation efforts”.

The signatories actively support ending the wars going on in the world as soon as possible through ceasefire and negotiations, calling on Europe to provide a venue for peace negotiations and thereby for a return to the original idea that regarded the European Union as a peace project, the declaration says.

“We, the Patriots for Europe, want the European Union to focus on its actual goals, that is to ensure peace, freedom, security and prosperity for as many citizens as possible. We affirm our intention to further consolidate and strengthen our successful alliance internally, as well as to expand it externally,” the Vienna Declaration states.

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