Migration, security – Karner invites ministers to a conference in Laxenburg

“The security issue affects the population very intensively, very intensely,” Karner said at the start of the meeting. According to him, the ministers and government members want to ‘further intensive discussions’ about, among other things, secure protection of the EU’s external borders, faster asylum procedures and cooperation with so-called safe third countries. A joint statement of the two days is planned at the end.

The interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia are expected to attend, and a representative from Ukraine will join via video. The European Commission, the EU police authority Europol, the border authority Frontex and former ÖVP Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger also announced their presence.

What the EU asylum reform offers
The EU asylum reform adopted in 2024 provides, among other things, for uniform procedures at the European Union’s external borders and for significantly tougher treatment of people coming from countries considered relatively safe. They may be housed in detention camps under prison-like conditions until a decision is made on their asylum application. Moreover, it should be easier for them to be deported to so-called safe third countries in the future.

Another point is the distribution of migrants. States that no longer want to accept must provide compensatory support, for example in the form of money. If a particularly large number of migrants arrive, the ‘crisis arrangement’ must come into effect. In this case, people can be held longer.