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Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) has described the distribution of refugees in the EU as “failed”. “Many states reject that. Nor will it work,” Kurz said in an interview with the AFP news agency on Tuesday, a day before the EU Commission wants to present its new proposals for asylum reform that has been controversial for years. in Brussels.
Kurz called for better protection of the EU’s external borders and a more effective fight against smugglers, “but also more joint aid on the ground.” He considers it “good that the European Commission is working on the issue of asylum and migration,” Kurz said. The problem can only be “solved throughout Europe”. However, Kurz refused to use terms like “solidarity” in the immigration debate. “Europe should have learned from 2015. And just fight illegal immigration together,” said the Chancellor.
“Incredibly large contribution” from Austria
Kurz went on to say that his country made an “incredibly large contribution” to refugee policy. Often times, EU member states at external borders are especially considered when it comes to refugees and migrants. In fact, Austria is the “third most affected country” in the EU after Sweden and Germany when it comes to accepting refugees. In the last five years, 200,000 people have been admitted to Austria.
Kurz stressed that smaller EU states should also have the opportunity to contribute their interests. “The European Union is more than Germany and France,” he emphasized. This is good too. As the two largest states in the EU, Germany and France “naturally have a certain right to be leaders.” However, other states would have “the same opportunity to contribute their ideas and seek majorities for them.”
As an example, Kurz cited the group of so-called frugals or thrifty four, which in addition to Austria is made up of the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. In the debate on the EU Crown reconstruction plan, the four states obtained a reduction in subsidies provided for the countries most affected by the crisis. With the other three “frugal states”, Austria shares “many approaches and interests,” Kurz said.
