Austria took in 90,000 refugees in 2015. That meant, until the end of 2016, the country had an exemption from a program designed to distribute asylum seekers evenly within the European Union.
"Austria is now expected to fulfil its legal obligation under the council decision to start relocating," Natasha Bertaud, the spokeswoman of the EU executive, said at a press briefing.
She pointed out that no country can unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 agreement to relocate 160,000 people from Italy and Greece to other EU countries.
"They can only choose to act outside the law, which we would find both deeply regrettable and not without consequences," Bertaud said.
In Vienna, Chancellor Christian Kern stressed that Austria would like to opt out of the agreement without creating a legal confrontation with the EU.
"We are examining whether we can get an exemption or a postponement," he told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
- The agreement will run out in September. So far, fewer than 15,000 people have been transferred within the EU.
Austria's centrist coalition has taken a restrictive stance on immigration since last year, reacting to public opinion and strong polling results for the far-right People's Party.
[dailysabah.com]
28/3/17
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