Austria has announced plans to advocate for a significant shift in handling asylum cases across the European Union. Amid growing divisions on immigration issues within the bloc, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer suggests the EU should emulate the UK’s approach to migration processing.
During a working meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Vienna, Nehammer proposed that the EU consider outsourcing its migration processing to African countries, similar to the UK’s plan to send migrants without legal immigration papers to Rwanda. This plan, which has recently overcome legal hurdles, would have migrants apply for asylum in Rwanda instead of the UK. Nehammer lauded the UK’s strategy, referring to it as a “pioneering” step and stating that Austria “fully supports the British path.”
According to Nehammer, 15 EU states now favor this approach. He believes that outsourcing asylum procedures to Africa would disrupt the business model of human traffickers. “The United Kingdom is paving the way for this path, which will also be important for the European Union,” he said, emphasizing the need for safe third countries to handle asylum proceedings.
The two leaders reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to being strategic partners in managing asylum processes. Sunak expressed gratitude for Austria’s support and highlighted the necessity of bold and innovative approaches to tackle the growing problem of human trafficking and irregular migration.
15 EU Nations Send Letter to Brussels
To implement this outsourced asylum procedure, Nehammer noted that the EU would need to introduce significant changes. Recently, Austria and 14 other EU members sent a letter to the European Commission, seeking “new ideas” for handling undocumented migration and suggesting that third countries could play a role in this process. The letter was signed by Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania.
However, major EU contributors Germany and France, as well as Spain, did not sign the letter. These countries are significant players in the EU’s immigration policies and their absence signals differing views on the proposed approach.
UK to Continue on Projected Course
Prime Minister Sunak expressed his satisfaction with the support from Austria and the EU member states. He reiterated the UK’s commitment to tackling the “vile trade” of human trafficking through innovative solutions like safe country partnerships.
Despite facing opposition within the UK, the first flights carrying irregular migrants to Rwanda are expected to depart in the coming months. Human rights activists and migrant advocacy groups continue to criticize the policy, deeming it unethical and inhumane.
Immigration as Key Issue in Election Season
Chancellor Nehammer’s conservative ÖVP party is intensifying its anti-migrant stance ahead of federal elections later this year, responding to strong competition from the far-right FPÖ party, which currently leads in the polls. The European Union is also preparing for elections in two weeks, with far-right parties expected to gain significant support. This political climate adds pressure on the EU to consider the proposed asylum outsourcing program.
Reaction to Record Number of Irregular Arrivals
Immigration remains a central issue in European political debates, with asylum applications in the EU reaching over one million last year, a seven-year high. Most applications come from Syrian and Afghan nationals, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). The resurgence in asylum applications recalls the levels seen during the “refugee crisis” of 2015/16, further intensifying the call for new approaches to managing migration.