Schnedlitz: ÖVP Interior Minister Karner exposed as a chatterbox!

Schnedlitz: ÖVP Interior Minister Karner exposed as a chatterbox!

In a sharp comment on asylum policy, FPÖ homeland security spokesman Michael Schnedlitz criticized the appearance of ÖVP Interior Minister Gerhard Karner in the “ORF press hour”. Schnedlitz described Karner as a “gold medalist” in steam chatter and accused him of not pursuing a clear line on asylum policy. In particular, Schnedlitz emphasized that family reunification is still not being definitively rejected, which, in his opinion, illustrates the ÖVP's inability to secure the country. According to Schnedlitz, the ÖVP's past migration policy has led to a "series of bankruptcies, bad luck and mishaps", which is reflected in the fact that 250,000 illegal migrants were allowed into the country in the past. He therefore calls for effective protection of the external borders and a “Fortress Austria”.

Schnedlitz rejected Karner's attacks on his party and emphasized that the FPÖ supports measures to combat IS threats. At the same time, he expressed his concerns about the effectiveness of weapons ban zones, as potential threats would ignore them. Even though he praised the police's performance, Schnedlitz warns that police officers may be prevented from doing their work or exploited.

Federal government is planning asylum and security laws

Politics is also in transition in Germany. After the knife attack in Solingen, in which a man from Syria killed three people, the federal government announced stricter asylum and security laws. This “security package” was published after weeks of deliberations and is expected to be passed by the Bundestag by the end of next week. It includes, among other things, a tightening of gun laws and additional powers for security authorities. Changes to asylum policy are also planned, such as the removal of social benefits for refugees who are obliged to leave the country and who are already registered in another EU country.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has emphasized that the reform of the common European asylum system (CEAS) must be pushed forward more quickly. A draft law on EU asylum reform was presented this week, with major EU states calling for faster implementation.

Reform of the Common European Asylum System

In December 2023, the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament agreed on a comprehensive reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which is considered the most far-reaching change in recent decades. The reform was officially approved in May 2024, which provides for the registration of all those seeking protection at the EU's external borders in a screening process. The decision on asylum applications should be made within twelve weeks. At the same time, a solidarity mechanism will be introduced to relieve the burden on member states with a high volume of people seeking protection.

However, the reform is not without controversy. While efforts are being made to standardize and speed up asylum procedures, there are concerns that repressive measures could make access to asylum procedures more difficult. The EU directive on temporary protection remains in place and was activated for refugees from Ukraine in 2022, while member states have two years to implement the new legal acts.

As developments in both Austria and Germany show, asylum policy in Europe remains a highly complex and conflict-ridden issue. The debates about security, migration and integration measures are more topical than ever and raise numerous questions about the future direction of European refugee policy.

For deeper insights into the topics of asylum policy and security, read: OTS, daily news and bpb.