Vienna - Austria's finance minister, a member of the far-right Freedom Party, yesterday renewed a threat to delay EU reforms unless member-states ended his country's political isolation.
In an interview with Der Standard newspaper, Mr KarlHeinz Grasser said Austria could use its veto to block decisions requiring unanimity. That would scupper efforts to complete reforms that are vital to EU expansion plans during France's presidency of the union in the second half of this year.
"I believe France would not be particularly happy if there were no treaty of Nice but rather a Stockholm accord. That is in Austria's power," Mr Grasser said. Sweden will take over the EU presidency from France.