Austrian Socialist Party (SPÖ) leader Christian Kern says the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) has “many lessons” to learn about the 27-member bloc as it is poised to enter government.
Mr Kern will hand over power after falling out with his junior coalition partners, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), who are now set to enter government with the FPÖ.
He said the FPÖ would have to change its tune on the EU if it wants to remain in the bloc.
Speaking at the EU summit in Gothenburg, he said: “They will have to radically change their policies or will have to start exiting the EU.”
And he added it would not be possible for the eurosceptic party to have its way on the EU, as there were 26 other countries to consider, which would not necessarily agree.
Mr Kern said: “Anyone who thinks that we can assert 100 percent of our opinions among 28 countries has not understood what the mechanisms are.
“The FPÖ will now also have to learn many lessons or they will catapult Austria out of the EU, they will have to radically change their policies or have to withdraw from the EU.”
The Austrian chancellor expressed his regret that he would not be able to ally himself with French premier Emmanuel Macron as he attempts to modernise and develop the EU.
The pro-European politician added he was disappointed that the now-failed German coalition talks had discussed putting the brakes on European integration, something he regards as wholly positive.
However his views on European integration no longer hold much credence in Austria, which is set to tack to the right following he ÖVP election win.
The influence of the FPÖ could now cause Austria to withdraw from the centre of EU politics.
The right-wing party is no fan of the European federalist project, which it claims “artificially” forces countries to integrate against their nature.
Its manifesto in the recent election read: “We firmly reject any artificial synchronisation of the diverse European languages and cultures by means of forced multiculturalism, globalisation and mass immigration.
“Europe shall not be reduced to a political project of the European Union.”
The FPÖ also rejects EU law overriding the laws of a member state, while its anti-immigration stance is not compatible with free movement.
But the party is happy to cooperate on foreign and security policy – provided it “preserves Austrian neutrality and maintains distance from non-European powers and military alliances dominated by non-European countries.”
The anti-immigration party is building a coalition with the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) after it won 26 per cent of the vote in Austria’s parliamentary elections.