Rwanda Pact

Karner: Want permission for such asylum procedures

Migrants in Spielfeld, Styria (archive photo)

(Bild: Klemens Groh)

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pushed through his controversial asylum pact with Rwanda (see video above). Irregular migrants are to be deported to the East African country regardless of their origin. Austria has now received support from Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) and FPÖ security spokesperson Hannes Amesbauer.

Asylum procedures in third countries are "an important signal" to criminal smugglers, said Karner in a statement. The agreement between Italy and Albania is also important so that "people no longer make the often deadly journey across the Mediterranean." Austria does not currently have this option, "which is why we are fighting with the EU Commission to ensure that such asylum procedures are permitted." Austria would organize a conference together with Denmark on 6 May to find new ways of cooperating with third countries.

Migrants in Spielfeld

(Bild: Klemens Groh)

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner takes a look at the situation at the Austrian-Hungarian border.

(Bild: APA/ROBERT JAEGER)

FPÖ security spokesman Hannes Amesbauer

(Bild: APA/Eva Manhart)

FPÖ: Political will needed
FPÖ Security Spokesman Hannes Amesbauer recommended that Karner "take a short trip to London to learn about civil protection." With the appropriate political will, "something can be achieved", as the vote shows. "The term 'asylum' no longer stands for protection from persecution and harm, but only for mass immigration of illegal immigrants under the guise of asylum (...)", said the politician in a press release.

Deterrent effect doubted
As reported , the controversial British asylum pact with Rwanda was agreed on Tuesday night. The East African country has been declared a safe third country. Migrants who have entered the UK irregularly can be deported and should apply for asylum in Rwanda. There is no provision for return.

Here you can see the countries of origin of migrants in the UK.

Criticism came from the Council of Europe and the UN, among others. "The UK government should refrain from deporting people under the Rwanda policy and reverse the actual violation of judicial independence by the Act," said the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty. The UN High Commissioner, Volker Türk, pointed out that the new law did not sufficiently examine the personal circumstances of migrants.