Scholz: Border controls with Austria 'necessary'

2023-08-18 16:36:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in Salzburg, Austria's second city, on Friday to discuss with his Austrian counterpart Karl Nehammer the new migratory pressures weighing on the European Union.

The two chancellors discussed border controls within the visa-free Schengen area, as well as ways to limit illegal immigration.

What was said?

During his meeting with Nehammer, Scholz called for understanding about border controls on the border between Austria and Germany. "Right now, given the numbers we know, this is a very necessary measure," Scholz said.

Germany recently extended the controls, which have been in place since 2015, for another six months in May. Vienna has expressed displeasure at the move, but Austria also controls its borders with its southern and eastern neighbors - a move Scholz highlighted at the press conference.

Scholz: Border controls with Austria 'necessary'

In April, Austria said it would extend controls at its borders with Hungary and Slovenia for another six months from May.

The two chancellors insisted on the need for the EU to find a global solution to deal with the growing number of migrants.

The Austrian government is blocking the expansion of the Schengen zone with Bulgaria and Romania, members of the European Union, citing irregular immigration.

"Germany is still carrying out border checks with Austria, which shows that the Schengen system is not working," Nehammer was quoted as saying by Austrian news agency APA ahead of his talks with Chancellor Scholz.

Germany has had border controls with Austria since 2015, when tens of thousands of people made their way to Western Europe through the Balkans.

Scholz: Border controls with Austria 'necessary'

Vienna has also been criticized for installing stationary checks on its border with Hungary, partly in response to Budapest's decision to release thousands of convicted smugglers from prison.

Close neighbors

Germany is Austria's largest trading partner, with around 30% of all Austrian exports - they represent a trade volume of around 130 billion euros - coming to Germany.

Germans also represent the largest group of foreigners in Austria, with around 217,000 Germans living in the Alpine country last year, according to data agency Statistics Austria.

For its part, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces that about 256,000 Austrians live in Germany on the other side of the border./ DW