European agreement to expedite the deportation of refugees
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner held a meeting with his counterparts from German-speaking countries in the city of Krems in the state of Lower Austria, attended by ministers from Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. The aim of the meeting was to enhance European security cooperation, particularly in the field of migration and asylum.
Karner emphasized the importance of joint coordination to ensure the security of Austria and Europe, noting that cooperation in this framework has achieved positive results in recent years. He confirmed that the number of irregular migrants at the border with Hungary has been significantly reduced, with only 19 illegal crossings recorded last week. He also pointed out that the number of asylum applications from Syrians dropped to only 58 in March, one of the lowest figures in recent years.
Regarding the European agreement on asylum and migration (Asylum and Migration Pact), Karner clarified that there is a significant consensus among the participating countries in the meeting on the need to implement the agreement in a coordinated manner, especially concerning the protection of the EU's external borders. He announced that Austria aims to be a driving force in the implementation of this agreement.
One of the most exciting discussion topics was the issue of forced deportation to Syria and Afghanistan. Karner emphasized that these deportations must proceed despite political and humanitarian challenges, and mentioned that Syria was the focus of the discussion in this context. He explained that Austria is currently holding direct talks with the Syrian Interior Minister Anas Chattab regarding this matter, despite the difficulties of the negotiations.
The meeting also addressed issues of extremism and terrorism, where the participating countries agreed on the importance of exchanging information and data in the future, and on the necessity of coordinating efforts to combat online radicalization.