The European Parliament,

-  having regard to Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union, which recalls the principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights as the foundation for a modern, democratic, open and tolerant Europe,

-  having regard to Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union whereby certain rights of a member of the Union may be suspended in the event of a serious and persistent breach of the principles mentioned in Article 6,

-  having regard to the principles recognised in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights,

-  having regard to the result of the legislative elections in Austria on 3 October 1999 and the proposal of 1 February 2000 to establish a coalition government between the ÖVP and the FPÖ,

-  having regard to the statement made by the Portuguese Presidency on behalf of 14 Heads of State and Government on 31 January 2000,

-  having regard to the statement made by the Commission on 1 February 2000;

A.  whereas the objectives of peace and reconciliation have, in the aftermath of the Second World War, led to the emergence and achievement of the political project of the European Union,

B.  considering the very strict conditions imposed on candidate states as laid down in the conclusions of the European Council of Copenhagen in June 1993, according to which candidate states must meet political criteria on the existence of stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, primacy of the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities,

C.  whereas the EU cannot demand of candidate states standards which are not seen to apply with equal force to Member States,

D.  insisting on the promotion and defence of European democratic values on the part of EU and its institutions and recognising the integrity of the democratic rights and constitutional prerogatives of the Austrian people and state,

1.  Condemns all the insulting, xenophobic and racist statements issued by the leader of the Austrian Freedom Party, Jörg Haider, over many years;

2.  Believes that the admission of the FPÖ into a coalition government legitimises the extreme right in Europe;

3.  Believes that such sentiments can play no part in the evolution of the political relations between Austria and the EU and in particular alerts Mr Schüssel, as leader of ÖVP, to his profound political responsibility to ensure that any government which he might lead must respect the spirit and the letter of the fundamental principles of the Treaty;

4.  Welcomes the timely political intent of the statement of the Portuguese Presidency in so far as it reiterates Member States" common concern to defend common European values as an act of necessary heightened vigilance;

5.  Trusts in the large majority of the Austrian people who did not vote for the FPÖ, and calls on the Council and Commission to give their full support to activities in Austria organised to counter racist, xenophobic and anti-immigrant views;

6.  Welcomes the timely political intent of the statement of the Commission in so far as it reiterates Member States" common concern to defend common European values as an act of necessary heightened vigilance;

7.  Calls on the Commission and the Council, together with the Parliament, to monitor developments especially regarding racism and xenophobia in Austria and throughout Europe;

8.  Calls on the Council and Commission to be prepared, in the event of the existence of a serious and persistent breach by whatever Member State of principles mentioned in Article 6(1) of the Treaty on European Union, to take action under Article 7 of this Treaty and, following Parliament's assent, to suspend that State's rights deriving from the application of this Treaty;

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Austrian President and Government, the Council and the Commission.