Austria's Migrant Entry: Understanding The Process And Challenges

Austria has taken a hard line on immigration in recent years, pledging to prevent a repeat of the 2015-2016 migration crisis, when the country served as a corridor into Germany for hundreds of thousands of migrants. The Austrian government has continued its policy of deporting well-integrated asylum-seekers, even during the coronavirus pandemic. Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer has said that asylum procedures for applicants from safe countries should be as short as possible, and that economic migrants will not be granted asylum in Austria.

Austria's hard-line stance on immigration

Austria has taken a hard-line stance on immigration in recent years, with the country's conservative Interior Minister, Karl Nehammer, and Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, both known for their tough positions on the issue. Nehammer has stated his desire to lower the number of asylum seekers entering Austria, implementing rapid asylum procedures designed to speed up the rejection of applicants, particularly those seeking asylum for economic reasons. He has also coordinated border restrictions in neighbouring Balkan countries to prevent migrants from reaching Austria from Greece.

In 2020, Austria's government continued its hard-line stance, deporting well-integrated asylum-seekers, including qualified health workers, even during the coronavirus pandemic. This policy has resulted in cases such as that of Safar Nijati, a 28-year-old medical worker from Afghanistan, who has been living in hiding since 2019, fearing arrest and deportation to his war-torn homeland.

Austria's stance on immigration has been a key issue for Chancellor Kurz, who built his career on a hard line on the topic. He has pledged to prevent a repeat of the influx of migrants that occurred in 2015 and has governed in coalition with the far right. Kurz's administration has prioritised halting migrants at the border, with the Chancellor stating that those who reach Austria "must be stopped."

The country's approach to immigration has been criticised by some, with the Dublin Regulation, which requires asylum seekers to lodge their applications in the first EU country they arrive in, also facing scrutiny. Despite this, Austria remains committed to its strict immigration policies, with Nehammer emphasising the need for short asylum procedures and a clear message that there is no asylum for economic migrants in the country.

The Dublin Regulation

Austria has a hard-line stance on immigration and has coordinated border restrictions in neighbouring Balkan countries to stop migrants reaching it from Greece. The Dublin Regulation is an agreement between the EU countries, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The regulation determines which country is responsible for considering an application for protection. Asylum seekers can only have their application considered in one of the Dublin countries. The main rule is that an application will be processed by the first Dublin country the asylum seeker comes to. The regulation aims to prevent an applicant from submitting applications in multiple member states and to reduce the number of 'orbiting' asylum seekers, who are shuttled from member state to member state. The country in which the asylum seeker first applies for asylum is responsible for either accepting or rejecting the claim, and the seeker may not restart the process in another jurisdiction. The Dublin Regulation is also called Dublin III because it was the third version of an agreement that was originally signed in 1990.

Border restrictions in neighbouring Balkan countries

Austria has coordinated border restrictions in neighbouring Balkan countries to stop migrants from reaching it from Greece. In 2020, Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said that Austria would stop any migrants attempting to rush its border if measures to halt them in Greece and through the Balkans failed. Migrants coming up through the Balkans would almost certainly have to pass through either Hungary or Slovenia before reaching Austria.

Austria has taken a hard line on immigration, pledging to prevent a repeat of the 2015-2016 influx, when Austria served as a corridor into Germany for hundreds of thousands of migrants who travelled through Greece and the Balkans. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz built his career on a hard line on immigration, and governed in coalition with the far right from 2017 until 2019.

Austria's government has continued its hard-line stance on immigration during the coronavirus pandemic, keeping up its policy of deporting well-integrated asylum-seekers, some of whom are qualified health workers. Nehammer, who is known for his stance against migration, has said that asylum procedures for applicants from safe countries should be as short as possible, and that there is no asylum for economic migrants in Austria.

Austria's policy of deporting asylum-seekers

Austria has taken a hard-line stance on immigration, continuing its policy of deporting well-integrated asylum seekers, some of whom are qualified health workers. The country has also coordinated border restrictions in neighbouring Balkan countries to stop migrants reaching it from Greece.

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer has said that asylum procedures for applicants from safe countries should be as short as possible, and that economic migrants will not be granted asylum. In 2020, he also announced that rapid asylum procedures would be launched to speed up the rejection of people applying for asylum for economic reasons.

Austria's policy of deporting asylum seekers has been upheld by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The ECJ ruled that the crossing of the Croatian border by two Afghan families and a Syrian national had to be considered irregular under the Dublin rule. The Dublin regulation states that asylum seekers must lodge their applications in the first EU country where they arrive.

Austria's policy of deporting asylum seekers has been criticised for targeting well-integrated migrants who have learned the language, passed driving tests, and qualified for skilled work.

Asylum procedures for applicants from safe countries

Austria has taken a hard line on immigration and asylum seekers in recent years. The country is trying to speed up the rejection of asylum applications, particularly from economic migrants. Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer has said that "asylum procedures for applicants from safe countries should be as short as possible, and they should be told quickly that there is no asylum for economic migrants in Austria".

Austria is a signatory to the Dublin Regulation, which states that asylum seekers must lodge their applications in the first EU country where they arrive. If their point of arrival into the EU cannot be ascertained or proven, the country where they have been intercepted must agree to process their asylum case.

Austria's Interior Minister has announced rapid asylum procedures designed to speed up the rejection of people applying for asylum for economic reasons. The country is also continuing its policy of deporting well-integrated asylum seekers, some of whom are qualified health workers.

Austria coordinated border restrictions in neighbouring Balkan countries in 2016 to stop migrants reaching it from Greece. The country has also said it will stop any migrants attempting to rush its border if measures to halt them in Greece and through the Balkans fail.

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