The article explores the limitation of possible political action due to rhetorical action and the development of discourses. The article shows in a discourse analysis of the 'sanctions'of the EU against Austria (2000) that in the EU, this phenomenon is visible on a transnational scale. The German chancellor has to adapt his national German interest to the considerations of a higher-ranking European space. The German discursive arena has to accept, against its will, the salience of the French understanding of the situation, that influences as well the German discourse.
