Security on the border: Hattmannsdorfer praises Germany's change of course!

Security on the border: Hattmannsdorfer praises Germany's change of course!

Vienna, Österreich - Minister of Economics Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (ÖVP) has recognized the increased border controls in Germany as an essential step in migration policy. He described these measures as a "paradigm shift" and emphasized the need for a targeted selection of the people who reach Austria. This is done in the context of a broader discussion about the security of the European external borders and dealing with asylum seekers.

Hattmannsdorfer made it clear that it was crucial to distinguish between asylum seekers who actually need protection and those who abuse the right to asylum for economic reasons. The new German government has therefore ordered an intensification of border controls, especially to neighboring countries such as Austria. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt also enforced that asylum seekers on the border can be rejected in certain cases, with exceptions for groups such as pregnant women and children.

reactions from Austria

The German border controls have been critical in Austria for some time. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) has welcomed the German efforts to combat illegal migration, but also emphasizes that Austria will not accept illegal rejections. This attitude was supported by the State Council of Integration Christian Dörfel (ÖVP), who explained that "one -sided postponement" by Germany was not acceptable.

The planned measures of the German government fall into a time when the federal government tightens border controls due to inadequate progress in EU migration policy. According to the Tagesschau, the irregular border crossings in the EU have dropped by almost 30 percent in the first four months, which is indicated by a decline on different routes, including the Western Balkans route and the central Mediterranean route.

statistics on border crossings

In detail, the decline shows as follows:

• Western Balkan route: 3,100 people (minus 58 percent compared to the previous year)
• Central Mediterranean route: 15,700 (minus 3 percent)
• Eastern Mediterranean route: 12,200 (minus 30 percent)
• mainland Spanish: 3,500 (minus 10 percent)
• Canary Islands: 10,400 (minus 34 percent)

EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner sees these developments as evidence of the success of a common European policy in dealing with migration. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense because the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that 555 people were killed in sea in the first four months of 2025.

The measures and changes in border controls clearly show that European migration policy faces challenges that raise both political and humanitarian questions.