Austria Pushes for Stricter Syrian and Afghan Deportations Policy

Austria’s Interior Minister now advocates  large-scale deportations of Syrians and Afghans, saying such measures should become standard across Europe. Vienna has already deported three Syrians and two Afghans convicted of serious crimes in recent weeks.

Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) emphasized that deportations should be coordinated across European Union member states and called for the EU border agency Frontex to take a larger role. He also criticized EU relocation plans, arguing instead that preventing illegal arrivals from Africa and establishing return centers outside Europe are more effective solutions.

The minister warned that European citizens are growing frustrated with the repeated calls for “solidarity” in migration policy and stressed the need for robust protection of the EU’s external borders.

Karner’s declaration follows calls from FPÖ MEP Petra Steger to ditch the current EU migration plan, which undermines countries’ border control in favour of “solidarity.”