Austria extends border controls to curb irregular migration

Austria will extend controls in its border areas with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia for six months, ORF reported. The government said the measures aim to combat people-smuggling gangs and further curb irregular migration.

The focus will be on broad, flexible security measures in border areas rather than purely stationary checks at border crossings. The Austrian Armed Forces’ assistance deployment in Burgenland will also continue.

The Interior Ministry said the measures had been coordinated with neighbouring countries. Figures for migrant apprehensions in Burgenland supported the current approach, it said. Only two people were apprehended crossing the border illegally in Burgenland last week, while the most recent asylum application following an apprehension there was filed on July 9.

Within the Schengen area, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Poland and Spain are also currently carrying out checks at their internal borders.

Commuters should face minimal disruption

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said additional measures at Austria’s borders were still necessary despite the further development of external EU border protection under the European asylum pact.

“The goal remains to take people smugglers and criminals out of circulation while burdening commuters as little as possible,” Karner said.

Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said the measures would free up resources for commuters and businesses that could be deployed where they were most urgently needed for the country’s security. She said authorities would also take more decisive action against people smuggling and illegal border crossings, nationally and above all at European level.

State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried described the extension as an important step in continuing to manage irregular migration. He said all measures must be targeted, based on the rule of law and implemented without treating people as generally suspect.