Leslie Massey
Austria has been deemed the most anti-immigration country in the world, with 34% of its citizens wanting to curb migration. The country's anti-immigration sentiment was stoked during the 2015 European migration crisis, which saw thousands of migrants pass through Austria on their way to other EU states. Austria's current government has made migration a priority of its European Union presidency, pledging to strengthen Frontex, the European coast and border guard. The country has also moved to cut benefit payments to refugees and has imposed strict border controls, leading to the detention of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political parties with anti-immigration stance | Austrian junior coalition partner and far-right Freedom (FPO) party, Conservative Austrian People's Party, opposition Social Democrats (SPO) |
| Political figures with anti-immigration stance | Heinz-Christian Strache, Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Matteo Salvini |
| Anti-immigration policies | Cut benefit payments to refugees and foreigners, reduce funding to institutions that support refugees and foreigners, strict border controls, reject asylum applications, remove migrants who entered the country illegally, strict criteria on legal immigration, temporary asylum |
| Public opinion | 34% of respondents in Austria ranked reducing migration among the top three issues their government should focus on in the Democracy Perception Index 2023 survey |
| Impact on migrant-support organizations | Reduction of services and programmes offered to refugees and asylum seekers |
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What You'll Learn
The Austrian government's anti-immigration stance
Austria has been described as the most anti-immigration country in the world. The country has taken a hard-line stance on migration, with the Austrian government making it a priority of its European Union presidency. This stance has been reflected in its policies and actions, such as cutting benefit payments to refugees and reducing funding for organisations that support them. The government has also imposed strict border controls, leading to the detention of thousands of irregular migrants and asylum seekers.
The anti-immigration sentiment in Austria has been influenced by several factors, including the European migration crisis in 2015, during which thousands of migrants, many of them Syrian war refugees, passed through the country on their way to other EU states. This led to concerns about smuggling and asylum abuse, as well as fears of a creeping Islamisation or population displacement. The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has been particularly vocal in its opposition to immigration, with its leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, pledging to stop immigration from Islamic countries. Strache has also been criticised for his use of the term "population displacement", which has been associated with far-right groups in Austria.
The FPO's manifesto includes a number of strict immigration policies, such as removing migrants who have entered the country illegally, enforcing very strict criteria on legal immigration, and making asylum temporary. The party also rejects the European Union's Pact on Migration and Asylum, arguing that the EU's borders must be secured against illegal immigration.
In contrast, the left-wing Greens, in coalition with the OVP since 2020, argue that the Austrian economy and social security systems need migrants. They support allowing asylum seekers to stay if they integrate and work in sectors with labour shortages and establishing secure borders with legal routes for refugees.
Austria's anti-immigration stance has been a source of tension within the EU, with the country taking a leading role in the bloc's anti-migrant drive. While the Austrian government has emphasised the need to strengthen Frontex, the European coast and border guard, other EU members have criticised its approach, arguing for more progressive migration policies.
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The public's anti-immigration sentiment
Austria has been described as the most anti-immigration country in the world. A 2023 survey by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Alliance of Democracies group found that 34% of Austrians ranked reducing migration as one of the top three issues their government should focus on. This is in contrast to only 12% of respondents worldwide.
The country's anti-immigration sentiment can be traced back to Europe's migration crisis in 2015, when thousands of migrants, many of them Syrian war refugees, passed through Austria on their way to other EU states. Austria took in asylum seekers numbering around 1% of its population during this crisis, with about 90,000 people applying for asylum that year. This influx of migrants led to a rise in anti-immigration rhetoric and the emergence of far-right political parties, such as the Freedom Party (FPO), which has pledged to fight "creeping Islamisation" and referred to immigration as "population displacement". The FPO's youth wing has even created anti-immigrant posters that have been compared to Nazi propaganda.
The Austrian government has reflected this anti-immigration sentiment in its policies, making migration a priority during its European Union presidency. The government has moved to cut benefit payments to refugees and has supported stricter border controls, leading to the detention of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers. The Settlement and Residence Act of 2005, which has been amended over 40 times, sets out the different categories of residence permits and the requirements to obtain them. The latest changes include implementing EU directives on intra-corporate transfers and educational exchanges, as well as amendments to promote qualified immigration and facilitate the voluntary departure of migrants without the right to stay.
However, it is important to note that there are also pro-immigration voices in Austria, such as the left-wing Greens, who argue that the Austrian economy and social security systems need migrants. They advocate for letting asylum seekers stay if they integrate and work in sectors with labour shortages and for establishing secure legal routes for refugees into the country.
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The impact of the 2015 European migration crisis
The 2015 European migration crisis saw an unprecedented influx of refugees and migrants into Europe, with an estimated 1.3 million people seeking asylum—the most in a single year since World War II. This crisis had a profound impact on Europe, particularly in countries like Austria, and revealed shortcomings in the EU's response to humanitarian crises.
The crisis was primarily driven by the escalating conflicts in the Middle East, with Syrians constituting the majority of refugees, followed by significant numbers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Eritrea, and Pakistan, Nigeria, and the Balkans. The Arab region, including Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, had ceased accepting Syrian asylum seekers, further exacerbating the situation. This led to a massive displacement of people, with over 12 million Syrians forcibly displaced in the following four years.
The impact of the 2015 crisis was felt across Europe, and it exposed the EU's lack of preparedness and policy failures in immigration, integration, border control, humanitarian aid, and internal solidarity. The crisis triggered widespread anxiety among Europeans, with concerns about its effects on the labour market, crime, integration challenges, and the potential dilution of national identities. There was also a notable rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly towards Muslim immigrants, with fears that Islam was incompatible with European values.
Austria was significantly impacted by the 2015 crisis, with about 90,000 people applying for asylum, representing 1% of the country's population. The Austrian government's response to the crisis has been mixed, with some cuts in benefit payments to refugees and a reduction in funding for integration programs. On the other hand, Austria has implemented an action plan for migrant integration since 2010, focusing on labour market inclusion and language acquisition. As of 2024, Austria had over 1.1 million third-country nationals (TCNs), constituting 12.4% of the population.
The political landscape in Austria has reflected the tensions surrounding migration, with parties like the FPO advocating for strict criteria on legal immigration and the removal of migrants who entered the country illegally. Other parties, like the left-wing Greens, argue that the Austrian economy and social security systems benefit from migration and support asylum seekers who integrate and work in sectors with labour shortages. These differing views on migration have contributed to political divisions within the EU, with Austria emerging as one of the hard-line voices calling for stronger borders and opposition to the EU's migration and asylum policies.
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The role of far-right political parties
One of the key tactics employed by far-right parties is the use of You may want to see also Austria has a history of immigration, with its population becoming increasingly diverse in recent years. In 2001, of Austria's roughly eight million inhabitants, 9.1% were foreign residents, with 62.8% of them coming from the former Yugoslavia and Turkey. The official stance, however, is that Austria is not a traditional country of immigration, and its recent immigration policies reflect this ambivalence. The Austrian government's response to this perceived population displacement has been complex. On the one hand, they have proposed and implemented policies that severely curtail immigration, such as restricting traditional labour migration and family reunification programs. These policies reflect the government's recognition of the public's discontent with high immigration levels. Additionally, there is a perception of increased competition in the job market due to immigration, which has further fuelled anti-immigration sentiments. On the other hand, the Austrian government has also introduced measures to promote the integration of foreigners. For example, the Aliens Act of 1997 exempted family members of migrants from quota requirements, recognizing the importance of family reunification. Additionally, Austria has implemented an action plan for migrant integration that focuses on labour market inclusion and acquiring German language skills. This two-pronged approach aims to address both the public's concerns about immigration levels and the need for effective integration of immigrants into Austrian society. In conclusion, the perception of immigration as population displacement has significantly shaped Austria's immigration policies and public sentiment. The Austrian government's response has been ambivalent, balancing between restricting immigration and promoting integration. This complex issue continues to capture the attention of both the public and policymakers, and it remains to be seen how Austria will reconcile its conflicting policies and perceptions of immigration in the future. You may want to see also Anti-immigration sentiment in Austria was stoked by the 2015 Europe migration crisis, during which thousands of migrants passed through the country on their way to other EU states. Austria took in asylum seekers numbering around 1% of its population during the 2015 crisis. The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has also been influential in shaping anti-immigration sentiment in the country, with its leader Heinz-Christian Strache pledging to fight ""creeping Islamisation" and referring to immigration as "population displacement". The Austrian government has made migration a priority of its European Union presidency, with a focus on strengthening Frontex, the European coast and border guard. The government has also moved to cut benefit payments to refugees and has supported legislation to promote qualified immigration and facilitate the voluntary departure of migrants without the right to stay. According to the Democracy Perception Index 2023 survey, Austria is the most anti-immigration country in the world. 34% of respondents in Austria ranked reducing migration as one of the top three issues their government should focus on, compared to 19% across Europe and 12% worldwide.The Formation of Yugoslavia: A New Balkan Nation
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The perception of immigration as population displacement
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