Burgenland defends itself

Another debate about refugees has flared up

Dozens of arrivals every day - the tense situation of a year ago has calmed down. The controversies surrounding the care of refugees continue.(Bild: Schulter Christian)

The provincial SPD wants to drastically reduce the number of cases to be looked after. Instead of 800 immigrants in basic care every year, only 340 cases are to be looked after in future.

The ball was set rolling by Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig, who has called for a "fairer distribution of refugees in Austria". It is expected that the federal states will support the federal capital in caring for the immigrants. "Vienna is more than fulfilling the quota agreed between the federal and state governments," it is emphasized.

The ball is in the Minister of the Interior's court
Ludwig's initiative did not go uncommented for long. Clear words came from Burgenland, not directed at Ludwig, but at the federal government. "If the Minister of the Interior does not manage to reduce the number of asylum applications, then we will have to think about measures," explained SPÖ parliamentary group chairman Roland Fürst.

Upper limit demanded
Ultimately, Burgenland will take in fewer refugees than before. Instead of 800 immigrants in basic care every year, only 340 cases would be looked after in future. "That would be the proportion if the federal government were to introduce the upper limit of 10,000 refugees demanded by Governor Hans Peter Doskozil," says Fürst.

"Legally not feasible"
An upper limit is not legally feasible, according to Vienna. A fact that is also causing debate: of the almost 7,000 asylum applications submitted in the first three months of this year, almost half were for family reunification.