Vienna (PK) – The regional chamber continued its deliberations today with a current hour on the subject of “Asylum brakes – the measures are having an effect”. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner reported that almost 109,000 asylum applications had reached an all-time high last year. In order to avoid overburdening the system, numerous measures were introduced last year, ranging from tougher action against the smuggler mafia to stricter controls in the Hungarian border area. Furthermore, it was possible to significantly accelerate the; they could now be concluded in the first instance within three and a half months on average. Karner gave an extremely positive assessment of the results of the last EU summit on the subject of asylum, where Austria was able to achieve clear successes.
While the federal councilors of the ÖVP praised Karner’s policies, the Freedom Party accused the government of a complete failure in asylum policy. The SPÖ speakers saw it as crucial that Europe acted as one on the asylum issue. This included well-organized border controls, faster asylum procedures and agreements with the countries of origin for the faster return of illegal migrants. The creation of a uniform European asylum procedure was also a central concern of the NEOS.
Karner: Concrete actions have had an effect
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner described the fight against the smuggling mafia and against asylum abuse as one of the greatest challenges that currently have to be overcome. Almost 109,000 asylum applications were made last year, the highest number since the 1950s, according to the interior minister. Although Austria is a landlocked country in the EU, 75,000 people were not registered. Together with the people who have fled from Ukraine, around 90,000 people are currently receiving basic services, the minister informed. One of the reasons for the high numbers in this area is that the smugglers engaged in “brutal marketing” with the EU’s Displaced Persons Directive, which gives Ukrainian refugees access to the labor market. As a result, more and more people from India or Tunisia tried to come to the European Union, mainly via Turkey and Serbia. He is therefore very happy that the bilateral talks with Serbia have led to a change in visa policy, which means that applications from India and Tunisia are now only in the single digits.
Since it was already foreseeable last year that the asylum system would be overwhelmed, the first measures were taken with a “sharp action”, reported Karner. In addition, the procedures were accelerated, border controls were tightened and Operation Fox was implemented in the Hungarian border area. It should also be made clear that there is no “wave through”. Every country has a right to know who is entering its territory, the minister stressed. According to Karner, another major problem is that the Schengen system, which is one of the great achievements of the EU, unfortunately does not work. Alliances with other countries are therefore also necessary in order to put pressure on the Commission. Karner was particularly satisfied that the five-point plan he proposed met with broad approval at the EU summit and that some parts are to be implemented quickly.
ÖVP: Austria’s position on the asylum issue has led to a change of course in the EU
In view of more than 100,000 illegal border crossings to Austria last year, everyone should probably agree in the analysis that the European asylum system is not working, stated Federal Councilor Harald Himmer (ÖVP/W). It was therefore right that Federal Chancellor Nehammer and Interior Minister Karner had taken a very clear position on Romania’s and Bulgarians’ accession to the Schengen. He was convinced that this made it possible to ensure that additional financial resources were made available at the last EU summit to protect the EU’s external borders. Himmer appealed to the representatives of the other parties to support the federal government in these efforts so that things continue to develop in the right direction. As examples, he mentioned the implementation of pilot projects for asylum procedures at the EU’s external borders and the creation of a legal basis for a rejection directive and for asylum procedures in safe third countries. Federal Councilor Martin Preineder (ÖVP/N) emphasized the efforts at national level, which have already had some success. For example, the activities of many smugglers were made impossible by the intensive controls at the border with Hungary. In general, the topics of asylum and migration should be treated separately and, above all, debated objectively, Preineder wished.
SPÖ speaks of failed migration and integration policy by responsible ÖVP interior ministers
Federal Councilor Dominik Reisinger (SPÖ/O) was surprised by today’s choice of topic for the current hour, since the ÖVP has “talked past this topic and worked past it” for years. If you take a closer look at the facts, the alleged successes of the interior ministers, who have been appointed by the ÖVP for over 20 years, are quickly disenchanted. Reisinger pointed out that criticism was even coming from within the company, such as from the Vice President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas. He described the mixing of the asylum issue with the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria as “irresponsible and unspeakable”. From his point of view, the “fraternization trips” by Chancellor Nehammer and Interior Minister Karner to Serbia and Hungary also made little sense, because the causes of the problem would not be found there, but rather the solutions. For example, Hungary would wave thousands of refugees through without registering, which is not only illegal, but should also be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The Federal Council stressed that it was crucial to improve the living conditions in the countries of origin and to act as a united Europe. This included well-organized border controls, faster asylum procedures and agreements with the countries of origin for the faster return of illegal migrants.
The SPÖ has been campaigning for better protection of the EU’s external borders for many years, recalled David Egger-Kranzinger (SPÖ/S), who also called on the ÖVP interior ministers to take action. For example, there is still no plan for regulated immigration. If one were to “show a clear edge at the EU’s external borders,” one would not be helplessly at the mercy of the people-smuggling mafia. Furthermore, the fact that Austria needs skilled workers from abroad must be taken into account, he judged, but this immigration must also be controlled. Instead, well-educated young people who could make an important contribution in Austria would be deported.
FPÖ accuses government of total failure in asylum policy
Federal Councilor Markus Leinfellner (FPÖ/St) stated critically that he really does not know what effect the “asylum brake” should have if more than 108,000 illegal migrants were able to cross the Austrian border last year. There was a decline in January, but this was only due to the colder temperatures. However, the Minister of the Interior is responsible for many other areas, said Leinfellner, for example for the fact that there are still no rejections at the borders. Karner’s policy would also have meant that the asylum centers in Austria had sprung up “like mushrooms” and that the health and social system would continue to be massively burdened. These undesirable developments would no longer be accepted by the population either, as can be seen from the current polls and election results. A recent study would have shown that the vast majority of Austrians would view living together with migrants very critically. This is not surprising in view of the many violent crimes committed by asylum seekers. That is why the FPÖ has long been calling for a freeze on asylum, the introduction of departure centers and benefits in kind instead of cash benefits for asylum seekers, emphasized Günter Proeller (FPÖ/O).
Greens identify a need for reform in the European asylum system
Federal Councilor Claudia Hauschildt-Buschberger (Greens/O) considered the title of the current hour to be problematic, since asylum offers protection from events that cannot be foreseen, controlled or slowed down. Many states have acknowledged this principle in the Geneva Refugee Convention, which has also been part of Austrian law since 1955. Applications for asylum could only be slowed down if countries treated their populations in such a way that they no longer had to flee. That is why assistance and protection for people on the ground are so important, as is currently the case in regions in Turkey and Syria that were particularly hard hit by the earthquakes. The women in Afghanistan, who due to the Taliban regime hardly have access to medical treatment, also need urgent support. Against this background, she finds it particularly painful when people keep talking about “Fortress Europe”. Of course, Austria and Europe cannot take in an infinite number of people, Hauschildt-Buschberger conceded, so the reasons for fleeing must also be carefully examined. As far as the numbers in Austria are concerned, it shows that there has hardly been an increase in the number of asylum seekers in basic care. In any case, there is a need for action at the European level, since there is still no suitable system for jointly mastering the major challenges. The Federal Councilor emphasized that the focus must now be on this.
NEOS: Less marketing and more factual politics
Federal Councilor Karl-Arthur Arlamovsky (NEOS/W) told the Minister of the Interior that if you use the term “asylum brake”, then you are also doing marketing. In order to objectify the debate, he advocates the expansion of legal escape routes, because only then can smuggling crime be stopped. There is definitely room for improvement in the asylum procedure itself, with the main aim being to standardize it at European level. This also includes the implementation of sanctions against those states that do not want to take back rejected asylum seekers. You can start not only with the visa regime, but also with the financial support of these countries. (continued Federal Council)
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