The death of Europe? Minister warns very future of EU depends on tackling flood of migrant
THE record influx of migrants could mean the end of Europe as we know it, according to a leading AUSTRIAN minister.
The record influx of migrants could mean the end of Europe as we know it
Interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner has condemned the EU for failing to tackle the record-breaking migrant crisis
He has urged countries "to reduce the influx now" before the impact of mass migration becomes irreversible.
The alarming warning comes as Austria hits back against intense criticism of its crackdown on migration.
Germany and Greece have attacked Vienna for imposing daily limits on the number of migrants that can apply for asylum or pass through to other countries.
Austria believes the measures are necessary because the EU has failed to put together a response
Austria believes the measures are necessary because the EU has failed to put together an effective common response to the continent’s biggest refugee crisis since 1945.
This week, Austrian interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner hosted a summit of nine countries along the western Balkan route from Greece towards northern Europe.
The joint statement from the summit said "enough is enough" and insisted after hundreds of thousands of people trekked through their countries the inflow must be "massively reduced".
Migrant crisis: Warnings over EU survival as ministers meet
He said: "We want to generate pressure so that the EU can reach a solution. A partnership with Balkan countries is not only in the interest of these countries but also of the EU.
"We want to generate pressure and urgency. This is a question of survival for the EU."
In reaction to the Austrian’s moves, Macedonia has since closed its frontier to Afghans and introduced more stringent document checks for Syrians and Iraqis seeking to travel to northern and western Europe.
Macedonia’s foreign minister Nikola Poposki said: "We did not take a unilateral decision. We reacted because of the actions of other countries."
Austrian interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner hosted a summit of nine countries
This is a question of survival for the EU
The stand-off has created chaos with thousands of migrants stuck along Balkan borders while Greece have protested in anger about being left out of the Vienna summit.
Mrs Mikl-Leitner also announced the creation from April 1 of an international command centre with Interpol and Europol based in Vienna to combat people-smugglers.
Hungary’s prime minister yesterday called a referendum on whether his country would accept an EU plan to share out refugees that he warned would "redraw Europe’s ethnic, cultural and religious identity".
Viktor Orban described the scheme to relocate 160,000 people as "nothing but an abuse of power".
Interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner has condemned the EU
The Hungarian government attempted to stop the introduction of the quota system in September but was shut down at a summit in Brussels.
Mr Orban said: "We cannot make above the heads of people, against the wishes of European people, decisions that seriously change their lives, and the lives of future generations.
"The quota could redraw Europe’s ethnic, cultural and religious identity. Neither Brussels nor any other European body is authorised to do that."
The referendum will ask voters: "Do you want the EU to prescribe the mandatory relocation of non-Hungarian citizens to Hungary without the approval of the Hungarian parliament?"
In December, Hungary joined Slovakia in filing a legal complaint against the plan, which would see Hungary take in 2,300 migrants.