Austria: EU must prepare borders for end of Turkey migrant deal

Austria's Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil said in an interview with German newspaper Bild on the 5 November 2016 that the European Union should strengthen its external border defences against another influx of migrants in anticipation of the possible collapse of its refugee deal with Turkey.

Austria had increasingly allied itself with the Visegrad group - Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic - against the EU's migrant policy. Defence Ministers from Austria and the Visegrad Group were due to meet later in November 2016 to discuss the situation.

Migration continued to be the key issue in the campaign for the re-run Presidential Election in Austria to be held on the 4 December 2016.

The Local.at, 03.11.16: Austria sends troops to Hungary-Serbia border http://www.thelocal.at/20161103/austria-sends-troops-to-hungary-serbia-border

ESO: Background information: Austria, Denmark and Sweden move towards tougher asylum rules http://www.europeansources.info/record/austria-denmark-and-sweden-move-towards-tougher-asylum-rules/

ESO: Background information: Austria's refugee crisis: One year on http://www.europeansources.info/record/austrias-refugee-crisis-one-year-on/

EUObserver, 07.09.16: Austria drafts anti-asylum law https://euobserver.com/migration/134945

The Local.at, 07.09.16: UN says Austria risks breaking 'taboo' on refugees http://www.thelocal.at/20160907/un-says-austria-risks-breaking-taboo-on-refugees

ESO: Background information: Austrian nationalist candidate to flaunt his ‘toughness’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/austrian-nationalist-candidate-to-flaunt-his-toughness/

The Local.at, 03.10.16: Kurz says EU should drop plan to share out refugees http://www.thelocal.at/20161003/kurz-says-eu-should-drop-plan-to-share-out-refugees

Deutsche Welle, 24.10.16: Austrian far-right leader: Merkel is Europe's 'most dangerous woman' http://dw.com/p/2Rewk

ESO: Background information: Implementing the EU-Turkey Statement http://www.europeansources.info/record/implementing-the-eu-turkey-statement/

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

ESO: Background information: International Summit: Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, Brussels, 7 March 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/international-summit-meeting-of-the-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-with-turkey-brussels-7-march-2016/

EurActiv, 08.11.16: Austria and Balkan states prepare for collapse of EU-Turkey deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/austria-and-balkan-states-prepare-for-collapse-of-eu-turkey-deal/

The Local.at, 07.11.16: Austrian Defence Minister: It's time for EU to strengthen borders http://www.thelocal.at/20161107/austrian-defence-minister-says-its-time-to-strengthen-borders

EUObserver, 08.11.16: EU-Turkey migrant deal risks collapse, warns Austria https://euobserver.com/migration/135811

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