Asylum applications halved

Smuggling mafias are now giving us a wide berth

The Frontex border agency is repositioning itself. Austria is currently providing support with 51 police officers in 18 countries - in addition to Cyprus, Albania, Serbia and Bulgaria, also on the border between North Macedonia and Greece.(Bild: BMI/Jürgen Makowecz)

According to the Ministry of the Interior, upstream controls are having an effect: the smuggling mafia is currently giving Austria a wide berth.

The Burgenland border police have not had such a quiet week for a long time. Since March 7, only seven migrants have been apprehended in the Austrian-Hungarian border area - a fraction compared to previous months.

The fact that migration pressure on Austria has eased significantly is also reflected in the latest statistics: 2287 asylum applications were submitted nationwide in January - twice as many in the same period in 2023. Adjusted figures are not yet available for February, but the trend is reportedly set to continue. What is striking is that almost half of the applications were made by women. Keyword: family reunification.

However, the situation at the other hotspots in Europe paints a bleak picture. Pressure remains high, especially at the Turkish-Bulgarian and Greek external borders. Some Austrian police officers are also on patrol there - either in bilateral missions or for Europe's border agency Frontex. Frontex has had to put up with a lot of criticism in recent years, but is currently repositioning itself.

A successful fight against asylum abuse and organized migrant smuggling is only possible across borders.

Innenminister Gerhard Karner

In any case, the police authorities have high hopes for the new leadership. Austria is participating with 51 officers. "Our police officers are doing a consistent and excellent job - both in the bilateral operations in Hungary and Serbia as well as in the Frontex network," says Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. Whether on the ground or with drones in the air.