The EU interior ministers’ asylum compromise “acknowledges, if you will, consideration of previous burdens”. This is what Minister of Europe Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) said when asked if Austria would be willing to take in new migrants or make compensation payments in accordance with the asylum compromise. Edtstadler also called for swift action in the Western Balkans.
“We already have a lot of asylum applications to process,” Edtstadler referred to Austria’s 100,000 asylum applications last year in the APA summer interview. It is important that the proposal of the interior ministers “takes into account the previous burden and that Austria does not have to take in additional migrants”. The fact that Poland and Hungary did not want to support the compromise at the EU summit “does not diminish the process initiated by the interior ministers”, she explained.
This decision, taken by a qualified majority of interior ministers, should also be “accepted” by the countries that did not vote. It is now important that negotiations on the trilogue with the EU Commission and the EU Parliament on a final regulation proceed quickly.
France an “alarm signal” for Edtstadler
Edtstadler called the riots in France after the death of a young person with a migration background an alarm signal. “The highly dramatic situation should also be alarming for other states. It shows what happens when you ask too much of a country in terms of migration.” In France, “too much is marginalized,” said the minister, referring to the suburbs of large cities. “If you want to integrate, you can only do so up to a certain number of people. This is exactly why we have such a clear position on migration.”
Sunken refugee boat: smugglers are to blame
The accident of a refugee boat off the Greek coast in mid-June was “a true tragedy”. Edtstadler does not want to share calls for EU infringement proceedings in the event that the Greek Coast Guard is complicit in the deaths of allegedly hundreds of migrants. “The blame for such a situation lies with people who lure people onto boats that are not seaworthy, who pocket thousands of euros for a crossing in the supposed hope that it will not be confirmed in the vast majority of cases.”
She has full confidence in the Greek government that they will clear up the cause of the accident – as well as the allegations of pushbacks. Pushbacks at the German-Austrian border, as NGOs have accused German authorities, Edtstadler meanwhile “cannot imagine with the best will in the world”.
Closer collaboration with Meloni
Edtstadler also confirmed that he wanted to work with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at EU level. “We just have to join forces in a European context,” explains Edtstadler. “We need to bring in those who think pro-European,” emphasized Edtstadler and sees this as a given with Meloni. Other forces, such as the party of the French right-wing populist marine “We would not invite Le Pen to the family of the EPP (EPP European People’s Party, ed.)”.
In connection with the EU elections in June 2024, Edtstadler confirmed that he did not want to run for the European Parliament. But she will participate in the EU election campaign. When asked about the position as EU Commissioner, Edtstadler replied: “My heart beats for Europe.”
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.
