Austria urges EU to increase border security

(Vatican Radio)  Austria is urging the European Union to tighten its external borders and an aid package for countries in need amid concerns of a new massive influx of migrants fleeing war and poverty into Europe. In statements Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern and Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz made the appeal after some 1.5 million refugees entered the EU last year alone.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

They said it was crucial to improve security of Europe's outer borders and proposed what they called a "Marshall Plan", a massive aid package for countries from where most migrants fleeing war and poverty arrive to the continent to reduce incentives to leave.

Their comments reflected attempts to appeal to voters amid international concerns that Austria's anti-migration far right Freedom Party will win delayed presidential elections scheduled for December.

At a time of tensions between the two ruling parties, Chancellor Kern and Foreign Minister Kurz also wanted to explain political positions that would appeal to their voter base.

Kern, a Social Democrat, focused on the need to reduce the migrant influx by improving the lives of those most likely to leave in their home countries. Kurz, of the People's Party, hit hard on the need to secure border controls.

UN Assembly

They spoke on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting where U.S. President Barack Obama urged wealthy nations to do more to help refugees. 

“We have to imagine what it would be like for our family and our children if the unspeakable happened to us. And we should all understand that ultimately our world would be more secure if we are prepared to help those in need,” he said in his final speech at the annual UN event.

The comments come ahead of a regional refugee summit in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday, convened by Chancellor Kern to harmonize policies. That seems difficult as those attending will include German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán , who lead opposing camps on the issue.

At a summit of EU leaders on Friday in Slovakia,  Orbán again criticized Germany for refusing to set limits on migrant arrivals.

Flood continues?

Unless Berlin caps arrivals, he said, the flood would continue as "everyone sees ... that there is a place in Europe where the good life can be achieved, where they are welcomed and where their needs are taken care of."

He said Hungary's controversial razor-wire barrier was meant "to stop at the Hungarian border the negative consequences of the suction effect of German domestic politics."

Hungarian media however have published pictures showing that Austria too has begun building a fence along Hungary's border.

If confirmed and finalized that fence would come some 27-years after it was taken away, in a symbolic gesture to remove the Iron Curtain and end Communist rule and Soviet domination in Europe.