Austrian President Thomas Klestil this week accused EU governments of criticising his country out of “ignorance, superficiality and with deliberate intent”

Date: 09/03/2000

Speaking in Brussels after a meeting with Commission President Romano Prodi, Klestil said the decision by the Union's 14 other member states to freeze bilateral relations with Vienna raised questions about the "legal relevance and the future of such decisions" and insisted the new government should be judged on its actions.