Stocker wants to strengthen the European Council

Vienna (APA) – Austria’s Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) wants to strengthen the body of EU heads of state and government. The European Council should be granted the right of initiative for legislative proposals, Stocker said on Friday at the ÖVP’s New Year kick-off in Vienna. He wants the European Council in future no longer to have to wait to see whether and when it receives a proposal from the Commission, but to be able to take action on its own. The Federal Chancellor declared his support for Ukraine “in full substance.” At the same time, Stocker also emphasized that channels of communication toward Moscow must be found in order to be able to make a contribution to peace.

Stocker wants the Austrian population to decide on a reform of military service, as he further announced. At the same time, he made it clear that the result of a referendum would be binding for the government. For him it is also certain that a militia system without mandatory exercises cannot meet the requirements of the armed forces. In Austria there is general compulsory military service. As an alternative to the six-month basic military service, a nine-month civilian service can be performed. (30.1.2026)