Austria passes tougher asylum law to restrict refugees

Austrian parliament approved on 27 April 2016 tougher asylum rules to stem the inflow of migrants. According to these rules, the government became able to declare a state of emergency if refugee numbers threatened public order or overwhelmed public institutions.

In the meantime, media sources continued to report that the Austrian government was planning to build a fence at its border with Italy for protection in the event of an upsurge in migrant numbers.

However, on the 13 May 2016 Austria said it would not impose checks at the Brenner Pass, after Italy had tightened controls on migrants.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Vienna watchful over emergence of eastern Balkans refugee route http://www.europeansources.info/record/vienna-watchful-over-emergence-of-eastern-balkans-refugee-route/

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

BBC News, 27.04.16: Migrant crisis: Austria passes controversial new asylum law http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36152927

Deutsche Welle, 28.04.16: [Interview] Austria in an 'unfriendliness competition', says migration researcher http://dw.com/p/1IewS

RFI, 28.04.16: Austria under fire for migration law changes http://en.rfi.fr/europe/20160428-austria-under-fire-migration-law-changes

EurActiv, 28.04.16: MEPs urge Juncker to stand against Austria border fence http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/meps-urge-juncker-to-stand-against-austria-border-fence/

EUObserver, 29.04.16: Italy and Austria try to calm tensions on Alpine pass https://euobserver.com/migration/133272

The Local.at, 27.04.16: Austria votes to reject most migrants and refugees http://www.thelocal.at/20160427/austria-considers-rejecting-most-migrants-amid-far-right-surge

The Local.it, 29.04.16: Italy brands Austria's migrant fence 'a waste of money' http://www.thelocal.it/20160429/italy-brands-austrias-migrant-fence-a-waste-of-money

France24, 27.04.16: Austria adopts harsh asylum laws amid far-right surge http://www.france24.com/en/20160427-austria-adopts-harsh-asylum-law-refugees-far-right

BBC News, 28.04.16: Migrant crisis: UN's Ban Ki-moon condemns EU migrant curbs http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36157422

EurActiv, 29.04.16: Italy and Austria reach agreement to keep Brenner pass open http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/italy-and-austria-reach-agreement-to-keep-brenner-pass-open/

EurActiv, 28.04.16: Ban Ki-moon attacks Austria’s ‘restrictive’ asylum policies http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/ban-ki-moon-attacks-austrias-restrictive-asylum-policies/

The Local.it, 06.05.16: Renzi blasts 'anachronistic' Austria over border plan http://www.thelocal.it/20160506/renzi-lashes-out-at-anachronistic-austria-over-border-plan

Politico, 07.05.16: Police and activists clash near Italy, Austria border http://www.politico.eu/article/police-and-activists-clash-near-italy-austria-border-controls-migrants/

Deutsche Welle, 07.05.16: Tear gas used at Brenner Pass protest against Austria migration policy http://dw.com/p/1IjhT

EurActiv, 09.05.16: Juncker calls Brenner controls ‘political catastrophe’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/juncker-calls-brenner-controls-political-catastrophe/

Deutsche Welle, 13.05.16: No Austrian border controls for now at Brenner pass http://dw.com/p/1Infz

The Local.at 13.04.16: Austria backs down on Brenner Pass border checks http://www.thelocal.at/20160513/austria-backs-down-on-brenner-pass-border-checks

EUObserver, 19.05.16: Alpine village dragged into Brenner refugee dispute https://euobserver.com/migration/133458

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