2023-05-19 00:06:34
In the debate about a common European asylum policy, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner is demanding further concessions from the German government. “I’m counting on Germany to support Austria on the issue of asylum centers in safe third countries,” the ÖVP politician told the German daily Die Welt. Karner sharply criticized FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. This is a “juggler” who promises things “that he never did himself as Minister of the Interior”.
“I expressly welcome the fact that Germany is rethinking migration issues and that the traffic light coalition is now not only in favor of fast asylum procedures at the EU’s external borders, but is also intensively examining whether asylum centers and asylum procedures should be carried out in safe third countries,” explained Karner in the interview with the “Welt” (Friday – and online edition) regarding the Berlin traffic light coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), Liberals (FDP) and Greens. Austria has been demanding this for a long time.
According to a preliminary report, Karner also announced that Austria would no longer accept migrants from third countries after the adoption of a new European asylum policy. He said that the EU Commission must also take into account how many people a member country like Austria has already taken in in the past when distributing migrants in the future. “To put it plainly: I have the clear expectation of Brussels that practically no more refugees from Africa or Asia will come to Austria illegally as soon as the EU has a Common European Asylum System (CEAS).”
Regarding the FPÖ motto “Fortress Austria”, Karner said he “didn’t know what to do” with such terms. And further: “That’s the term of a juggler. FPÖ boss Kickl promises things here that he never did himself as Minister of the Interior.” Austria’s government protects the national borders where necessary. “We use state-of-the-art technology such as drones, we regularly carry out patrols in the area near the border and have border officials and soldiers on Austria’s borders and in the Western Balkans who do an excellent job.” This would prevent tens of thousands of illegal border crossings every year. “Everything else is pretending false facts. And I’m not to be had for jesting,” the minister continued.
In addition to more legal immigration to Europe, Karner also called for a much more restrictive course in EU migration policy: “But on the other hand, we finally need a European asylum brake that prevents abuse. In addition to strong physical border protection, this includes fast procedures at the EU external borders and asylum centers in third countries also blanket rejections of migrants who have no chance of asylum.”
Karner explained the justification for blanket deportations: “Many migrants come from holiday countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt or India. They have practically no chance of asylum and should therefore be sent back to their home countries without a detailed individual examination.” This would save a lot of time and have a deterrent effect on other illegal migrants. “It would make sense to start a pilot using the reject policy.”
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