Austria wants the EU Commission to take measures against the flow of refugees
Photo: Austrian border crossing, via dts news agency
Vienna (German news agency) – Austria is calling on the European Commission to act, as asylum applications in the EU are expected to increase significantly. “The Commission must find a solution here with the transit states in the Western Balkans and put a stop to the visa-free gateway in the European Union,” Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) told the “Welt”.
Most recently, the German Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser (SPD), had repeatedly expressed concern about the increasing number of migrants coming to the EU via the Balkan route. According to the “Welt”, especially according to internal statistics from the governments in Austria and Germany, many refugees are currently reaching the EU who previously entered the EU via Serbia without a visa. Serbia is a candidate for EU membership and is therefore obliged to work closely with the European Commission. Serbian President Vucic is also close to Moscow. Citizens of numerous countries, such as Russia, China, Jamaica, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, Cuba and India, do not need a visa to enter Serbia. Most asylum applicants in Austria are currently Indians. Between January and the end of August this year, Austria recorded a total of 56,149 asylum applications – according to the government, an increase of 195 percent compared to the same period last year. “As a landlocked country, Austria is exposed to very high migration pressure and has consistently pointed out this problem in the EU Councils. Other EU countries are now alarmed. Many of these migrants have practically no chance of asylum because they come from countries where Austrians go on vacation,” said Karner. His country has already taken extensive measures against illegal migration on the borders with Hungary and Slovenia, such as border controls. “We have to be faster than the tugs change their routes. That is why Austria also started border controls with Slovakia this week (September 29; editor’s note). The focus remains on combating organized smuggling crime.” As a landlocked country, Austria is subject to very high migration pressure and has consistently pointed out this problem in the EU Councils. Other EU countries are now alarmed.
Many of these migrants have practically no chance of asylum because they come from countries where Austrians go on vacation. x “We have already taken extensive measures against illegal migration at the borders with Hungary and Slovenia. We have to be faster than the smugglers change their routes. That is why Austria also started border controls with Slovakia this week. The focus remains on combating organized smuggling crime.”