After Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) had declared that the issue had now been settled, the Tyrolean club chairman Gebi Mair and the foreign policy spokeswoman for the Greens, Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, spoke on Twitter with moral appeals.
“Anyone who still thinks that people should be deported to Afghanistan instead of rescuing them from there either lacks heart or brain or both,” was Mair’s message to those responsible in the asylum area, without the coalition partner ÖVP and the turquoise interior ministry to call directly. Ernst-Dziedzic again wrote: “Everyone who is not talking about acute help and care for the refugees, but about deportation – is just ashamed.”
A relenting of the ÖVP was not in sight even after the appeals. Instead, Upper Austria’s governor Thomas Stelzer warned in the “Kronen Zeitung” (Monday edition) and a broadcast before the EU interior ministers’ summit on Wednesday of a new wave of refugees like in 2015: “The European Union must not be surprised by migration flows again roll over! ” Stelzer would like stronger protection of the EU’s external borders, more police “in the hinterland” and a more even distribution of refugees within the EU.
As expected, the aid organizations took on a different tone. Diakonie asylum expert Christoph Riedl asked the Protestant press service (epd) for a “more sense of reality” from the government, because: “It is almost a defiant attitude in view of the historical event that is currently taking place in Afghanistan. Instead of thinking about how to do it If you can help as many people as possible, you continue to think about how to deport people to Afghanistan, which is completely absurd. “
Nehammer wants to propose deportation centers around Afghanistan
Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) wants to propose deportation centers around Afghanistan to the special council of EU interior ministers this Wednesday. Nehammer demanded on Monday together with Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) a joint special meeting of the EU foreign and interior ministers on Afghanistan. “If deportations are no longer possible due to the limits set by the European Convention on Human Rights, alternatives must be considered,” said Nehammer.
“Deportation centers in the region around Afghanistan would be a possibility. This needs the strength and support of the European Commission. I will propose this to the Council of Interior Ministers and discuss it with the Commission and my colleagues,” the Interior Minister continued.
So far, only an extraordinary video conference of the EU interior ministers is planned for Wednesday. The topic is the tense situation on the Lithuanian border with Belarus (Belarus), which is targeting migrants to the neighboring Baltic country belonging to the EU. Schallenberg and Nehammer advocate expanding the conference into a joint special meeting of EU foreign and interior ministers. “A common European approach is needed as to how we react in terms of foreign and security policy to the situation in Afghanistan and the impending wave of refugees and migrants,” both ministers demanded.
“Afghanistan must not become a security black hole. European efforts must also include Afghanistan’s neighbors and transit countries,” said Schallenberg, according to the broadcast. “Together with the Interior Minister, I want to take a first step in a virtual conference with Afghanistan’s Central Asian neighbors. At the same time, the EU Commission should immediately start concrete talks with these countries.”
Together with partners both in the region and at international level, the EU must do everything possible to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan. The UN Security Council is also called upon. “For us it is clear that we as the EU want to continue the partnership with the Afghan people. But a partnership only works with a sane counterpart. All forces within Afghanistan must be aware of their responsibility. The basic and human rights of all Afghans, above all of women and minorities must be protected, “said the Foreign Minister.
Nehammer warned that the situation in Afghanistan was “a huge challenge not only for illegal migration in Europe. The terrorist threat must be assessed jointly by the member states and a coordinated strategy developed – also in cooperation with partners outside Europe,” demanded the interior minister .
Austria will address the situation in Afghanistan and the expected refugee movements. Credible European asylum policy is only possible if those not entitled to protection can be deported from the EU again, argued Nehammer.
