Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) is considering extraordinary border controls with Schengen partner Italy. The question: “Will we soon control the border with Italy after Lampedusa declares a state of emergency?” In an interview with “Kleine Zeitung” (Sunday), the Chancellor replied: “Yes”. Nehammer wants to maintain Austria’s veto on Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen.
Taking into account the high number of migrants arriving, the City Council of the island of Lampedusa, in southern Italy, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday night. Since Monday, 9,000 people have landed on the island, almost a third more than the total number of residents, which is 6,300. The result was chaotic conditions.
“Fighting smuggling routes”
According to Nehammer, Austrian authorities increased covert searches in the border area with Italy in response to the declaration of a state of emergency in Lampedusa. “We are following this. It is about the fight against smugglers’ routes (…)”, said the president of the ÖVP, who said he had spoken by telephone with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, about the matter.
Nehammer continues to be “No” to Schengen expansion
Despite discontent in Romania and Bulgaria regarding Austria’s rejection of the inclusion of the two countries in the borderless EU Schengen area, the Federal Chancellor maintains the veto. “An expansion can only be implemented when the protection of the external borders works. This is not the right time,” he emphasized to the “Kleine Zeitung”. He referred to temporary border controls between Schengen countries, which are justified, among other things, by migratory pressure at the EU’s external borders. Romania recently threatened to sue Austria over the veto. However, European law expert Walter Obwexer from the University of Innsbruck sees little chance of such a process.
The borders themselves are not controlled between Schengen members. However, it is possible to introduce extraordinary controls for a justified and limited period of time. For example, France controls the border with Italy due to the risk of terrorism and illegal immigration. Austria already controls the borders with Hungary and Slovenia in view of migratory pressure on the EU’s external borders.
(Source: APA)