Minister of the Interior of Austria, Gerhard Karner, said that the strict measures related to obtaining asylum in the country, including border checks and deportations, are real and effective, as quoted by DPA and BTA.
"Smugglers are already avoiding Austria," the conservative politician told the German newspaper "Welt" in a statement released this morning.
During the first quarter of 2023, 4,450 illegal migrants were caught at the border with Hungary, compared to only 190 in the same period this year.
"At that time, mainly men who traveled alone arrived. This has already stopped,'' said Karner of the conservative Austrian People's Party. One of the reasons is that there are more checks at the border points and in the border areas, the minister said. At the same time, asylum procedures have been accelerated.
"In addition, we are strengthening the repatriation of illegal and criminal migrants. All this is a signal to the mafia of traffickers that Austria is not a good place for them," Karner added.
Carner called for Afghans who have committed crimes to be sent back to their country of origin if possible.
"In the case of Syria, I can be more extreme: the province of Latakia, for example, is considered a fairly safe place. Why don't we send Syrian citizens there in the future? There should be no false taboos," Karner pointed out.
The minister praised Denmark, which has concluded an agreement with the government of Kosovo, allowing detention centers to operate in the country for the purpose of deporting convicted criminals from third countries.
"The Austrian People's Party wants to promote such an agreement for Austria, based on the Danish model,", Karner told the newspaper.