The European Union in Search of Itself: An Interview with Amb. Dr. Wolfgang Petritsch

When I entered the renowned Viennese café Prückl to interview Austrian retired diplomat Wolfgang Petritsch, he was already sitting at a small table. Hidden behind a large newspaper, he was surrounded by people absorbed in their laptops or phones. In the midst of the sea of screens, our conversation began with something very close to home: our shared Slovene mother tongue.

Petritsch was born in the Slovene-German-speaking village of Glainach/Glinjein, Carinthia, while I am the son of two Carinthian-Slovene parents in Graz. Our childhood memories of speaking Slovene could hardly have been more different: for me, a bilingual upbringing was admired; for Petritsch, it carried complications amid post-war tensions that still shape Carinthia today. Over his distinguished career, Wolfgang Petritsch has served as the European Union’s Special Envoy for Kosovo, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria’s ambassador to Belgrade, the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) respectively.

How do you interpret the current evolution of European identity?

Ambassador Petritsch’s response was straightforward. He explained that European identity and its values are no longer taken for granted globally, and that this worries him, especially as the United States retreats from the rules-based international order. Europe and the US were long embedded in a system built on cooperation and shared interests in the aftermath of the Second World War. As the American political tradition was already rooted in European values, their alliance grew deep. From Ambassador Petritsch’s perspective, however, this foundation now appears to be shifting: a country that once relied strongly on soft power increasingly turns toward hard power. He pointed out the subtle but crucial distinction between past US violations of international law, carried out while still recognising its authority, and today’s open neglect, effectively declaring it as dead.

For Europe this is of high importance, Ambassador Petritsch continued. The continent’s identity is rooted in the idea of a “peace project”; not merely as a memory of the past, but as a living commitment to its morals and ethical values. Yet, the European Union has never been static. Therefore, we should not declare everything the EU has achieved as obsolete and bad purely because it is slow in its processes. It has always evolved, sometimes deepened, sometimes broadened, fostered cooperation or encouraged neighbouring countries who were willing to come closer to its core principles. And this is exactly its strength in the current world. The system has the ability to change and to adapt—such as to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. This adaptability is visible in the establishment of the coalition of the willing.

When, in your view, did this disruption of the rules-based order actually begin?

In his usual steady and thoughtful manner, Ambassador Petritsch remarked that the full impact of COVID-19 on society and the western world is still only partially understood. On one hand, the pandemic accelerated the digital sphere, while real global connection declined. This may have contributed to changed perceptions of insecurity in the wake of global conflicts, and drew the attention of states to physical security. On the other hand, the psychological impact of isolation disrupted social systems and affected some generations more than others. These remarks opened doors for a discussion of how as humans we trust our senses, yet online reality often clashes with how we experience the world around us—especially nowadays.

As personal data becomes a commodity and our social environment grows ever more surveilled, even our most basic sense of contact with others is being reshaped.

Thus Ambassador Petritsch observed that algorithms need a more human-centric approach. He emphasised that now more than ever, direct in-person interaction is essential for building trust.

In what direction Europe is heading and are there some optimistic aspects to the current situation?

With a calm and clear voice, Ambassador Petritsch answered that a return to power politics will be a major test for the European Union in the coming years and decades. Peace, however, remains its core identity and must be upheld as an incredible civilian achievement after centuries of intra-European wars. Yet this moment raises an uncomfortable question: how can this peace be protected in a world where security increasingly depends on cooperation with uncooperative players, even on forces that challenge Europe from within?

This will be a task for current and future diplomats. Yet, as Ambassador Petritsch pointed out, hope is not lost based on the following two reasons: first, the European Union has built an impressive number of procedures and systems around the principle of equality. From translating documents into many languages to actively supporting and protecting the cultural diversity of its member states, this commitment is present in everyday practice. Second, difficult times often have a powerful unifying effect. In moments of crisis, mutual recognition and a stronger sense of unity tend to emerge.

These reflections on identity, perception, and the way personal experiences shape our understanding of the world brought our conversation back to where it had begun: our shared background as members of Austria’s Slovene minority. It made me wonder how much such a perspective influences the way one approaches diplomacy and political decision-making.

Did your background as an Austrian-Slovene minority member shape your professional and diplomatic decisions?

Ambassador Petritsch explained that in his professional life his (bilingual) upbringing invariably helped him to comprehend complex political and often seemingly intractable ethnic conflicts. In retrospect, he is convinced that his considerable diplomatic achievements are, in one way or another, interconnected with his personal origins. Belonging to an ethnic minority contributes to a more sensitive, even more mindful and open minded human interaction.

To round off our conversation, Ambassador Petritsch showed me his new book, ‘Diplomatic Interventions in Times of Unpeace: Essay, Keynotes, Interviews 2013–2025’. It brings together a decade of his reflections on diplomacy in times of global crises, and recounts how these thoughts are permeated with on his identity and origin.

Written by: Marko Rogi, Edited by: Rosey Holland.

Photo Credit: Marko Rogi (2026).