Also security for the markets. We must abandon barriers, reduce administrative burdens, and a decisive matter here is the supply of energy, electricity. In Europe, we have structural problems and, like other countries, we are also suffering from high gas prices, for example. And this, in turn, also affects other areas. We in Austria are very advanced when it comes to producing electricity from renewable energy sources. But as long as the merit order effect is in place, we in Austria will pay for renewable energy the same as we pay for electricity from gas power plants. And that is why we need appropriate measures at the European level to lower gas prices.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear Donald, cooperation with neighbors is a very important topic of Austrian foreign policy. We would like Poland and Austria to cooperate even more bilaterally, but also within regional frameworks and with other Central European countries. And it is clear to us that when we combine our forces, when we speak with one voice, we will also find allies in Brussels and globally in terms of politics, culture, economy, and history. This entire region is closely linked. Our countries face similar challenges and have similar goals to achieve. We must use this potential and coordinate our actions, and our neighbors are our closest logistical allies.
And allow me, gentlemen, to say a few more words about migration, because this is a topic that interests us. Legal protection of European Union borders is a condition for a fair and consistent migration policy. Yes. The external border of the European Union, also as the host country of Frontex, Poland has a special role here. And here I wanted to thank you for your cooperation, dear Donald. Protecting external borders is not just a national task. And here you can also count on cooperation with Austria and rely on our solidarity.
Today I will also visit the headquarters of Frontex in Warsaw to get a view on border protection and combating crime. What I would also like to emphasize is that we must work together on admission issues and the creation of return centers, and we simply assume that if someone does not have the right to stay in Europe, they must leave Europe. And we saw shocking images from Ceuta, and we simply must be better prepared for such events.
And we also spoke about the fact that we live in times where instruments of hybrid warfare appear. You also notice this on the Polish border, and it is about member states also having the right to suspend the right to file asylum applications. Of course, this is related to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and dangerous information is reaching us here. Hybrid attacks do not stop at the national borders of individual countries. This leads to the destabilization of our democracy. This means that we will also cooperate on this issue, and we must be in solidarity. And here Poland can rely on Austria's support, just as among friends. Russian attempts to destabilize European Union member states and intimidate them will not succeed. Also, even though Austria is a militarily neutral country, we must consider such issues and will also contribute to strengthening European resilience.
Dear Donald, the last official visit of a Polish Prime Minister to Austria took place 15 years ago, and you were already in office then. And I am happy that I can return the invitation to come to Vienna, and I would be pleased if you could visit me in Vienna as soon as possible. Once again, thank you for the friendly welcome, for the exchange of views, the good conversations, and I look forward to further cooperation and dialogue. We have time for a few questions. Please indicate who they are addressed to and ask the first one. Paula Jcler.
Chancellor, how specifically do you envision strengthened security cooperation? You are already talking about cooperation, and Poland is actively arming itself against Russia here. What do you expect from Austria as a contribution?
Thank you very much. As for the question about cooperation, we have many areas where we could work more closely together. These are economic topics, but also the issue of security. The front, border security—this is also a question of this hybrid war against us. Everything that destabilizes Europe, that destabilizes the European community. Austria is, after all, a member of the European Union. We have made a contribution and will continue to do so. We stand in solidarity with Ukraine. We supported the sanctions packages because we knew this is Russia's war against Ukraine, which threatens our security. And it's not about whether we support it, but that we do, and we need to talk about that. In what form, we have found a way in the past. I am convinced that in specific situations in the future, we will do so as well.
Austria's status as a neutral state. This is a special status at a time when the threat of war is real. This war is taking place right beyond our border. And we have more and more signals that escalation from Russia will continue. Therefore, we hold in the highest regard the commitment of Austria, a neutral state, as I have already emphasized, to maintaining full European solidarity around Ukraine and assisting Ukraine in the war against the aggressor. And this is not just about words regarding solidarity, but about very concrete undertakings. If Poland is a country that, under the SAFE program, received 44 billion euros for defense, that required full cooperation and solidarity from member states to reshape European policy very clearly toward security, protection of the land border against illegal migration, but also securing this border against potential aggression. All of this was possible thanks to Austria's solidary stance. If a neutral state does this, it means in some sense even more, that on the most important matters we are together and can count on each other.
From my point of view, the commitments of allies are obviously crucial. Article 5 in the event of aggression, and well, a consistent policy of sanctions. We have many instruments, and we have always been able to count on Austria here as well in applying certain instruments of pressure on Russia. For now, it is not working in the sense that the war continues, but it is working in the sense that Ukraine also continues thanks to this aid, including Austrian and Polish aid. So I do not have a feeling of a deficit on the part of Austria regarding actions and support for this line. Next question, please.
Maciej Adamek, Polish Television. I would like to ask you what your positions are today regarding the EU budget for the years 2028-2034, and have they converged, given that Poland has so far spoken mainly about increasing this budget, while Austria about limiting it?
It is in the nature of things that we have 27 countries in the European Union, and they have different positions. When it comes to financial frameworks, I also have three different parties in my coalition government. In fact, Austria proposed consolidation for the national budget, and we also spoke about this in the case of the European budget. We pointed out that we must spend an additional 10 billion euros on our defense, and therefore we will have to join the European security landscape. When it comes to the European Union budget, the situation is indeed such that we assume the volume is too large, and we must also look at the priorities within this budget. And these are times where, when it comes to finances, we have shortages, and this must also be taken into account in the budget for future years. When it comes to Austria, we have such important points. There are matters that unite us, but also those that divide us, also when it comes to the budget. We want to reduce its volume. In Austria, too, agriculture is of great importance, and simply, if a lot of money is allocated to various fields, this money cannot be missing for agriculture as well.
And well, when Poland becomes a net contributor soon, there will be more elements connecting us, because it will also concern the rebate in the framework of negotiations of the Chancellor, especially the latter ones. Yes, I am preparing my country for this new situation, that is, for the situation where Poland will be a net contributor. If we develop at such a pace, and thus at the fastest pace in Europe as we are at the moment, it may happen even sooner than anyone expects. And okay, we are talking about money and interests. When we become a net contributor, we will probably also adjust some of our views, but for now we need money for both agriculture, where we will surely find common ground, and for cohesion policy.
I would like to, and I know that Chancellor Nehammer understands this very well. I want everyone in Europe to know that the cohesion funds Poland received and used well also directly contributed to the innovation and competitiveness of the Polish economy. Some have a tendency to claim that money for agriculture and cohesion is just financial aid, that it is some kind of social benefit for the new member states. And I would like to—and thank you for the words of appreciation, as the very first words I heard from the Chancellor were that he came to a land of success, that Poland has become a symbolic place in Europe, that it is possible, that we are succeeding, and that the heart of Europe is beating here in Warsaw right now. And indeed, European funds were used very well in Poland; not everywhere in Europe, but in Poland this money transformed the country and truly made Poland a part—and today, a very attractive part—of Europe.
So, I have no doubt that the context of security and the threat from Russia's aggressive policy will influence our discussion on the multiannual financial framework. Only the blind and deaf could pretend that we can talk about European money without seeing what is happening across our eastern border. And I also thank you for that understanding, because not everyone in Europe has realized this yet. If we are pursuing a very strict asylum policy, if we have spent billions of euros on strengthening and protecting the eastern border, we are doing it, of course, for ourselves, but we are also doing it for all of Europe. Our border is very demanding. Poland is the only country that borders Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Three completely different responsibilities fall upon us, and we do all this in our own interest and in the interest of the entire European Union.
If investments focused on military border security are underway right now, that also amounts to billions of euros. The East Shield is our major project to strengthen the border with Russia and Belarus, but above all with Russia. And I am proud that our arguments have found recognition across Europe and that the East Shield has been acknowledged as a project for the security of the Union, not just Poland. I want to tell you honestly, when we discuss money, we are already bearing the greatest financial burdens due to the war, aid to Ukraine, the threat from Russia, and the necessity of rearmament. I absolutely do not expect Austria or other states to suddenly change their strategy or policy, and as I said, we respect Austria's neutrality. But I expect everyone to understand that since Poland is bearing the direct burden of Europe's security on its shoulders, this must also be reflected in financial negotiations, because it is in the interest, as I said, of all of Europe.
Today, funds spent in Poland—whether for cohesion, agriculture, or broadly understood security—are funds spent for Europe, not just for Poland. I don't have the ambitious intention of de facto deducting everything Poland receives and claiming it's not for Poland, but for Europe. But there is some truth to it. We really do allocate a very large portion of European money and resources not to our own well-being, but to security and, for example, the security of supply regarding agriculture for all of Europe. And I thank you for the full understanding here. No, not full support, not in everything. Okay, but for the full understanding of this new situation. I now invite the Austrian side to ask the next question.
