As reported, the EU is committed to a tougher approach to asylum and migration policies. For example, illegal entry must be prevented in advance and pilot projects are being carried out at the external borders. Asylum figures reported to the “Krone” show that migratory pressure remains high. Some 4,200 asylum applications were submitted in Germany in January alone.
These are figures from the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI). The countries of origin are mainly Morocco, Afghanistan, India and Syria. While the FPÖ speaks of a failure of the ÖVP, the Interior Ministry points out that the figures have fallen sharply compared to the last months of the previous year. In October, almost 18,000 asylum applications were submitted, in November there were 12,000 and in December only 7024 asylum applications. Compared to November, this is a decrease of more than 40 percent.
Again not responsible for deterioration
A further decline is expected in February. However, according to the BMI, this is not because of the winter weather; there has never been a seasonal effect in the past five years. Rather, new provisions are cited as justification. These include, for example, the end of visa-free travel for people from India and Tunisia in Serbia. About 80 percent of these people traveled through smuggling organizations to other countries, such as Austria. In the previous year, people from India and Serbia submitted 32,000 asylum applications in this country.
They paid between 2,000 and 5,000 euros for the smuggling organizations. Another aspect is more intensive police checks in Austria and Hungary. In the first week of January, the police arrested 250 Indians, in the fourth week there were only twelve.
BMI: “Asylum brake works”
The BMI concludes that the asylum brake is working. This should also be seen as a process. The chairman of the federal party of the FPÖ, Herbert Kickl, sees things differently. “With around 4,000 asylum applications in January alone, Austria is once again the sad EU leader in terms of population thanks to black and green. This clashes with the pompous announcement policy and the meaningless talk of Nehammer, Karner and Co. in reality,” he said in a broadcast.
“Effective measures against illegal mass immigration, such as an immediate halt to asylum applications, genuine border surveillance, the reintroduction of departure centers and an end to taxpayer cash payments and donations of money, are needed immediately.”
As reported, the representatives of the European Union agreed on Friday on a stricter asylum and migration policy and thus at least give in a little to the pressure from Austria. This includes measures to prevent people from entering the country illegally in advance. International and national press votes see the results of the EU summit as a success for Austria.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the ÖVP spoke after the meeting of “substantial” support for border control and a higher gear in the fight against illegal migration. Although the funds he asked for border fences were not mentioned in the final document, he considered the asylum summit a success. In a comparison of Austrian parties, the ÖVP stands alone. In addition to the FPÖ, the SPÖ, the Greens and NEOS also expressed criticism.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
