Austria ‘temporarily’ suspends Schengen / Austria to repatriate 50,000 asylum seekers over three years

Austria's chancellor Werner Faymann said on 17 January 2016 that the Schengen agreement had been 'temporarily suspended' in the country.

On the previous day, the country's defence ministry had announced the deployment of troops to stop refugees who wanted to transit through Germany.

Austria announced on the 20 January 2016 that it had decided to cut the number of refugees accepted into the country by half in 2016. Chancellor Werner Faymann, meeting with leaders from across the nation in Vienna, said they had decided on a four-year cap for migrants of about 130,000 in total or 1.5% of the Austrian population.

Austria also made clear it would send migrants back to the border with Slovenia who were not seeking asylum in Austria or Germany. This step made Serbia and Macedonia on the 20 January 2016 to also announce that they would, in turn, close their borders with Macedonia and Greece respectively.

Chancellor Werner Faymann called the moves a 'wake-up call for the EU', which he said had failed to protect the its external borders and therefore forced individual member states to take matters into their own hands.

Austria's interior ministry announced plans on the 30 January 2016 to repatriate 50,000 asylum seekers over the following three years. The plan included financial incentives and an expanded list of safe countries.

The Local.at, 16.01.16: Schengen suspended as army mobilizes http://www.thelocal.at/20160116/austria-mobilizes-army-against-migrants

Sputnik International, 15.01.16: Austria to Deny Entry to Migrants Planning to Transit Through Germany http://sptnkne.ws/a2P3

The Local.at, 15.01.16: Austria takes tougher stance on migrants http://www.thelocal.at/20160115/austria-turns-tougher-on-migrants

Deutsche Welle, 15.01.16: Austria joins Germany in sending back refugees http://dw.com/p/1HeOH

ESO: Background information: Austria approves fence on Slovenian border http://www.europeansources.info/record/austria-approves-fence-on-slovenian-border/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

Politico, 17.01.16: Austria suspends Schengen http://www.politico.eu/article/austria-suspends-schengen-border-checks-eu-migrants/

EurActiv, 18.01.16: Austrian Catholics decry lack of refugee charity http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/austrian-catholics-decry-lack-refugee-charity-321061

EUObserver, 18.01.16: Slovenia threatens to follow Austria with border checks https://euobserver.com/migration/131886

Deutsche Welle, 20.01.16: When Austria closes its borders http://dw.com/p/1HgN7

ESO: Background information: Why the jury is out on the Commission’s latest proposal for a ‘distribution key’ to help solve the refugee crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-the-jury-is-out-on-the-commissions-latest-proposal-for-a-distribution-key-to-help-solve-the-refugee-crisis/

Deutsche Welle, 20.01.16: Austria to cap refugee influx http://dw.com/p/1Hh9

BBC News, 20.01.16: Migrant crisis: Austria to slash asylum claims http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35364768

EUObserver, 20.01.16: Austria imposes asylum cap to 'shake up' Europe https://euobserver.com/justice/131928

Politico, 20.01.16: Austria caps refugee numbers http://www.politico.eu/article/austria-caps-refugee-numbers-werner-faymann/

The Local.at, 20.01.16: 'Drastic' cap on asylum numbers mooted http://www.thelocal.at/20160120/drastic-cap-on-asylum-numbers-mooted

EurActiv, 21.01.16: Austria introduces cap on refugees, will deport ‘surplus’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/austria-introduces-cap-asylum-seekers-will-deport-surplus-321175

Deutsche Welle, 21.01.16: Merkel says Austria refugee cap 'not helpful http://dw.com/p/1HhTV

Politico, 21.01.16: Austria ‘temporarily’ suspends Schengen http://www.politico.eu/article/austria-refugees-germany-angela-merkel-asylum-migration/

Deutsche Welle, 31.01.16: Austria to repatriate 50,000 asylum seekers over three years http://dw.com/p/1HmOw

The Local.at, 29.01.16: Is Austria underestimating the threat of radicalization? http://www.thelocal.at/20160129/is-austria-underestimating-the-threat-of-radicalization

The Local.at, 28.01.16: Asylum seeker found guilty of rape will not be deported http://www.thelocal.at/20160128/asylum-seeker-found-guilty-of-rape-will-not-be-deported

EurActiv, 04.02.16: Austria seeks EU aid suspension for countries rejecting 'failed' refugees http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/austria-seeks-eu-aid-suspension-countries-rejecting-failedrefugees-321599

EurActiv, 05.02.16: Daily limit on refugees still not enough for Austrians http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/daily-limit-refugees-still-not-enough-austrians-321640

The Local.at, 06.02.16: 'Send them all back', says Chancellor http://www.thelocal.at/20160206/send-them-all-back-says-chancellor

The Local.at, 06.02.16: Kurz: Refugee situation 'serious' http://www.thelocal.at/20160206/kurz-refugee-situation-serious

Deutsche Welle, 06.02.16: Austria asks EU for 600 million euros to cover refugee costs http://dw.com/p/1HqxS

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