News / EU

Austria to harden regulations on refugees: Chancellor

Tuesday, 12 January 2016 11:46 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 12 January 2016 3:22 PM ]

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann (© AFP)

Chancellor Werner Faymann says Austria plans to adopt new tighter regulations designed to dissuade refugees and economic migrants from heading to his country amid Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II.

“One must transit to a Plan B. That means to intensify policies together with Germany to send back economic migrants and decrease overall numbers,” Faymann said in an interview with Austrian newspaper Krone published on Tuesday.

He said Austria needs to devise a legal framework aimed at differentiating between those fleeing conflicts in their homelands and those who migrate for financial benefits.

“One thing is certain in any case: shortly, we will be more active at our borders than today. The Germans will also do more,” Faymann commented.

Last month, he said Austria should accelerate deportations of people who do not meet criteria to be granted asylum.

Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees who are fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.

Refugees stand behind a fence at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos on September 16, 2015. (© AFP)

Many blame major European powers for the exodus, saying their policies have led to a surge in terrorism and wars, forcing more people out of their homes.

Officials in European countries are struggling to forge a united response to the record numbers of refugees.

While a few European leaders support an open-door refugee policy, others are in favor of controlling European Union’s external borders.

They are deporting more people and paying third countries to keep asylum seekers on their soil.

According to figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than one million refugees reached Europe’s shores in 2015.

More than 3,300 people either died or went missing in their perilous journey to the continent.

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