But it is important that the pact is not weakened in the current negotiations at EU level, said Karner.
The FPÖ accused the Interior Minister of having “overturned” the planned crisis regulation for emergencies as part of the asylum and migration pact and of having agreed to a forced distribution of migrants, contrary to his own assurances. Karner defended his approval, but once once more explained that he considered the forced distribution of migrants “to be the wrong step” because it would give people hope. However, Austria would actually benefit from this because it was excessively burdened, according to the Interior Minister.
Follow the National Council meeting in the live stream
In Burgenland, the number of apprehensions of illegally entered migrants has decreased in recent weeks because the smugglers’ routes have shifted due to the measures taken at national level, emphasized the Interior Minister. “This is not a reason to celebrate, but rather an order to continue working hard,” said Karner. FPÖ security spokesman Hannes Amesbauer, who described Burgenland as the “Lampedusa of Central Europe”, asked the Interior Minister not to use this “unhelpful” term because it might offer an incentive to smugglers. Once once more, Karner suggested a discussion regarding possible deportations to Syria and Afghanistan, but this discussion must be held at the European level.
The question time on Thursday was the start of the National Council meeting, at which, among other things, the financial equalization agreement between the federal, state and local governments was to be approved. Before the meeting began, the National Council’s main committee extended health insurance for Ukrainian refugees. The inclusion of war displaced persons in health insurance was limited to the end of December 2023. Similar to the right of residence, it now applies until March 4, 2025. All parties in the main committee, with the exception of the FPÖ, voted for the corresponding regulation from the Minister of Social Affairs.
