Lyla Lindsey
In 2015, Austria announced its intention to build a border fence on its border with Slovenia to control the flow of refugees and migrants during the European migrant crisis. This was in response to Slovenia becoming the main point of entry for refugees trying to reach Europe via the Balkans, after Hungary closed its border with Croatia. Austria's fence, which was completed in January 2016, is located on internal European Union borders and is part of a broader wave of revolutions in various communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Border with Slovenia and Italy |
| Construction Date | November 2015 - January 2016 |
| Length | 3.7 kilometres initially, with preparations for a 25-kilometre extension if needed |
| Height | 2.2 metres |
| Purpose | To control the flow of refugees and migrants during the European migrant crisis |
| Political Parties Involved | Right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ), ÖVP |
| Previous Migration Management | Border restrictions along the Balkan route, sending extra police to countries on the border |
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What You'll Learn
Border fence with Slovenia
During the 2015 European migrant crisis, Austria announced its intention to build a border fence along its border with Slovenia. The aim of the fence was to control the flow of refugees and migrants entering Austria from Slovenia, which had become the main point of entry for refugees trying to reach Europe via the Balkans. Both countries are within the Schengen Area, which allows for passport-free movement between countries.
Austria's interior minister, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, stated that the fence would be solid and stretch several kilometres left and right of the border crossing. Construction of the fence began in early November 2015, with the fence expected to be completed by Christmas. The fence was finished in January 2016. The barrier is 2.2 metres high and initially covers 3.7 kilometres (2.3 miles) at the busiest crossing from Slovenia into Austria, near Spielfeld. However, Austria has plans in place to enable the construction of a 25-kilometre (16-mile) fence along the border within 48 hours' notice if needed.
Austria's decision to build the fence came after Slovenia indicated it might erect a fence along its border with Croatia if an EU plan was not implemented. Slovenia has struggled to cope with the influx of refugees and has requested assistance from the EU. In response to the crisis, the EU agreed to send 400 police officers to Slovenia and set up reception centres with 50,000 spaces in Balkan countries.
The construction of the fence has been controversial, with Austria's behaviour straining relations with neighbouring countries. Critics argue that the fence will not effectively block refugees from entering the country but will instead create bottlenecks and tensions with neighbours. However, supporters of the fence believe it is necessary to ensure orderly and controlled entry into Austria.
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Border barrier with Italy
In 2015, Austria faced pressure from the right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) to limit the number of refugees entering the country and to build a fence along its borders. In November of that year, during the European migrant crisis, Austria announced its intention to construct a border barrier on its border with Slovenia, citing the need to control the flow of refugees and migrants.
In April 2016, Austria revealed plans to erect a fence at a border crossing with Italy, specifically at the Brenner Pass in the Alps, which is a vital link between northern and southern Europe. This move escalated tensions between the two countries, with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi condemning Austria's decision as being against European rules and history.
The Austrian government's plan included the installation of facilities to inspect vehicles and process migrants. A Tyrol police spokesman stated that a 370-metre security fence was intended to be part of a system to channel migrants through the deep valley of the Brenner Pass. The construction of the fence was dependent on the outcome of talks between Austrian and Italian officials.
Austria's decision to consider a border fence with Italy was part of its increasingly hard-line approach to managing the influx of asylum-seeking migrants from regions facing war and poverty, such as the Middle East. The country introduced tough new asylum measures, including the ability to turn away migrants at the border within an hour if a threat to public order was perceived.
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Border fence with Hungary
The Hungarian border fence refers to a series of border barriers and migration management facilities constructed by Hungary in response to the European migrant crisis. The first of these barriers was constructed in 2015 along the country's border with Serbia and Croatia. The aim of the fence was to ensure border security and prevent illegal immigration, while still allowing entry through official checkpoints for those seeking asylum in Hungary in accordance with international and European law.
The construction of the fence was met with mixed reactions. Hungarian officials viewed it as a necessary measure to control immigration and protect the country's borders. They emphasised that legal ways to enter Hungary and the European Union remained open, as long as migrants complied with international and European laws. However, the fence was also widely criticised for the use of force against migrants attempting to enter the country. Rights groups and international organisations criticised the fence for violating human rights and creating a climate of fear.
The immediate impact of the fence was to block the entry of migrants who were unwilling to apply for refugee status in Hungary, redirecting the flow of migration to neighbouring countries. In response to the changing migration routes, Hungary began constructing additional fences along its borders with other countries. In September 2015, Hungary started building a fence along its border with Slovenia, and it also considered a barrier on its border with Romania.
In March 2017, Hungary began constructing a new high-tech border fence along its southern border with Serbia. This new barrier was designed to be more formidable, with features such as electric shocks, heat sensors, cameras, and loudspeakers broadcasting warnings in multiple languages. The Hungarian government described the new fence as a more effective solution to combating human trafficking and illegal immigration.
The construction and reinforcement of the Hungarian border fences have had a significant impact on migration patterns and have sparked ongoing debates about migration management and human rights within the European Union.
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Border restrictions along the Balkan route
The Austrian border fence borders Slovenia and Italy. In November 2015, during the European migrant crisis, Austria announced its intention to begin construction of a border barrier on its border with Slovenia. The fence is 2.2 metres high and was constructed along the 3.7 kilometres at the busiest crossing from Slovenia into Austria, near Spielfeld. In 2016, Austria also constructed a migration management facility with barriers on its Italian border near Brenner, South Tyrol.
In 2021, several EU+ countries in central Europe and along the Balkan routes saw a significant increase in applications for international protection compared to 2020. This included Austria (39,000 applications, +162%), Bulgaria (11,000, +212%), Romania (9,600, +56%), Slovenia (5,300, +49%), and Croatia (2,900, +83%). The increase in applications in Austria was largely due to Syrians and Afghans, who were the two largest applicant groups.
In terms of border restrictions, Serbia has not recognized Kosovo's 2008 Declaration of Independence and continues to treat it as one of its provinces, refusing to recognize a Kosovo visa. However, in 2020, a US-brokered deal between Serbia and Kosovo agreed to normalize economic relations and allow freer transit between the two countries. Additionally, there is a border crossing between Rastelica in Kosovo and Strezimir in North Macedonia that is officially for locals only and is only open from May to September due to bad weather.
Overall, illegal border crossings detected on the Western Balkans route were significantly higher in 2021 than in 2020, in every month after January. This has led to discussions and concerns around the management of migration and refugees, with calls to limit the number of refugees allowed into Austria and to build a fence to protect its borders.
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Border fence with Croatia
In 2015, during the European migrant crisis, Austria announced its intention to build a border barrier on its border with Slovenia. The barrier was constructed to help control the flow of refugees and migrants. In the same year, Slovenia constructed a border barrier on its border with Croatia for the same reason. As of January 1, 2023, all land borders and barriers dividing Croatia and Slovenia have been removed due to Croatia's accession to the Schengen Area.
Hungary has also been actively constructing border fences with its neighbours. In 2015, it announced plans to build a 4-metre-high (13 feet) fence on its border with Serbia to stem the flow of illegal migrants. In 2017, Hungary began construction work on a second fence along its border with Serbia, extending to its border with Croatia. This was done to make the processing of refugees more effective.
Croatia has also erected fences on its borders. In 2016, it constructed a fence on a bridge on the Batina border crossing with Serbia to prevent illegal entry into the country. This move was reportedly to block the entry of illegal migrants and disrupt the activities of people-smugglers.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian border fence was built to control the flow of refugees and migrants entering the country.
The Austrian border fence was constructed between November 2015 and January 2016.
The Austrian border fence is located on the country's border with Slovenia, near Spielfeld-Šentilj.
The Austrian border fence is 2.2 metres tall and several kilometres long.
