AUSTRIA 2022
INTERVIEW
H.E. CHRISTIAN EBNER, AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA
Serving In The Balkans Is A Dream Job I am convinced that Serbia will be a member of the European Union, which is our common goal. To realise this goal, we - both the EU and Serbia - need to show our full commitment ~ Christian Ebner
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oting that Serbia is at the centre of Austrian foreign policy, as one of its most important Balkan partners, Vienna’s new ambassador to Serbia says that coming to Belgrade is “a dream come true for any Austrian diplomat”. Ambassador Ebner says that his aim is to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries, and to do so in new fields like transport networks, logistics, energy transition etc. CorD’s interlocutor is convinced that Serbia’s future is in the EU, because – in terms
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of citizens’ connectedness with the EU and economic cooperation – “Serbia has already been a member of our European political community for a long time”. Your excellency, what will be the key objectives of your term as ambassador to Serbia? As Austrian ambassador, I will work to further deepen our bilateral friendship, improving our already excellent business and commercial relations and wholeheartedly supporting Serbia’s path towards the EU.
You arrived in Serbia from Madrid. However, given that you were an adviser to Sebastian Kurz, who developed close relations with the Serbian government - initially in his role as foreign minister and subsequently as chancellor, it could be said that you are very well acquainted with the situation in Serbia. It is true that Serbia is one of the most important partners of Austria in the region and is situated at the very heart of our foreign policy. So, every Austrian diplomat will always