FPÖ attacks new asylum draft – outcry over emergency plans!

FPÖ attacks new asylum draft – outcry over emergency plans!

There is a strong focus on current developments in Austria's asylum and migration policy, especially since the FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) criticized the draft 15a agreement between the federal and state governments. This draft is crucial as it comes in the context of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, which must be implemented by June 2026. Small newspaper reports that the draft was described as “an approach bordering on an ultimatum” by the FPÖ state councilors Hannes Amesbauer, Martin Antauer, Wolfgang Fürweger and Thomas Dim.

The draft envisages significant changes, including a new right of intervention, which is related to the experiences of 2015 and 2016. At that time, similar rights led to the creation of container villages and large neighborhoods. Critics fear that this could lead to forced accommodation of refugees again in the face of community resistance.

Criticism of emergency plans

In addition, the FPÖ expresses concerns about the emergency plans that require the federal states to maintain capacity for basic care for migrants. These obligations could result in significant additional costs. The draft also stipulates that supervision of the establishment and closure of federal care facilities in crisis situations can take place without consultation with the federal states. However, the Ministry of the Interior has emphasized that the universal right of intervention has no longer existed since 2018 and is therefore not included in the current draft.

A central point of the debate is the special consideration of the needs of vulnerable groups such as minors and seriously ill people. The Ministry of the Interior has made it clear that vulnerability will be addressed in individual user cases.

The EU Asylum and Migration Pact

The EU Asylum and Migration Pact itself, which was adopted in spring 2024, is another important aspect that plays a role in the discussions on Austrian politics. It provides for procedures at the EU's external borders that prevent migrants without a chance of asylum from continuing their journey and enable returns from border camps. Critics argue that the pact leads to a isolation of Europe and does not guarantee adequate protection of human rights. Ludwig Boltzmann Institute highlighted that a new solidarity mechanism will distribute the responsibility for receiving asylum seekers between EU member states, although some states can buy their way out of this obligation.

Reactions to the pact are divided; While some EU states, especially in southern Europe, are calling for a fairer distribution key, countries like Poland are relying on strict isolation measures. Reports of pushbacks in which refugees are illegally pushed back illustrate the growing problem at Europe's external borders and represent a clear violation of EU law and the Geneva Refugee Convention Europaimlehr.de.

Overall, it is clear that developments in Austrian asylum and migration policy are closely related to the new European requirements. The FPÖ's demands for an exemption for Austria from the migration pact as well as the discussion about a Styrian basic services law illustrate the complex challenges that politicians face. These debates are not only important in Austria, but also reflect pan-European discussions about migration and asylum.