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Following the fire in the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, there is a dispute between German Chancellor Angela Merkel (66) and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (34).
Merkel criticizes Kurz for not accepting immigrants like Germany. Austria’s role in European refugee policy “is not good”, as is that of the Netherlands, Merkel was quoted as saying by various German media on Monday night. It had announced that it would host 1,500 migrants.
Kurz fights back
Kurz is now fighting back. Austria makes sovereign decisions, he said on the sidelines of a press conference. “We will not follow the German path here,” he quoted the German newspaper “Bild”. “I also assume that many European countries will not follow this path, accepting large numbers of refugees from Greece. Here in Austria we have hosted a very, very high number of refugees in recent years. “
Austria is the third country most affected by migratory movements in the EU, Kurz said. Austria also took in most of the children after Sweden, he said. Kurz noted that in 2020 alone a total of 3,700 minors had been granted protection in Austria through a positive decision in the asylum procedure.
As a result, Austria has great challenges in the field of integration. It is important “to integrate the first ones instead of constantly accepting new ones”, said the head of ÖVP.
Fear of more fires
Even Greece is not enthusiastic about Merkel’s plan. If the federal government brings refugees from Moria directly to Germany, it could set off a chain reaction, residents of Athens fear.
Refugees could also set fire to camps on other islands and on the mainland, hoping to reach Germany. Furthermore, there is the possibility that direct German intervention could trigger a further mass exodus.
Arson caught
Greek security forces have arrested five suspected arsonists. This was announced by the Greek minister of civil protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, on Tuesday. «The arsonists have been arrested. They are young migrants. Another is still being sought, ”he said on state radio (ERT).
The five alleged arsonists were said in police circles to be Afghans whose asylum applications had been rejected. (gf)
