Heinz-Christian Strache: Federal Europe is needed

A federal rather than a centralised Europe is needed, Heinz-Christian Strache, Austria's vice-chancellor, said at a press conference on Monday after meeting Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Europe should keep its Christian values to the fore and should be capable of defending itself, he said. Strache, who also leads the Austrian Freedom Party, said Europe was in need of greater togetherness and greater acceptance. Individual parties within European party families should be treated as equals and with respect, he added. Europe, he said, was "seriously divided due to borders being flung open and the import of terrorists, which has led to a sense of impotence and fear among the population".