Austria angers Union as daily asylum seeker cap comes into force

Austria’s new daily cap on asylum seekers entered into force Friday, in a move that the European Commission has described as “plainly incompatible” with European Union laws. Since 8:00am (0700 GMT), a maximum of 80 migrants per day are being allowed to claim asylum in the country, police said. In addition, Vienna is limiting the daily number of people transiting Austria to seek asylum in a neighbouring country to 3,200. Once the quotas have been reached, “the borders will be closed”, said police spokesman Fritz Grundnig.

Such a policy would be plainly incompatible with Austria’s obligations under European and international law.

European migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos

Vienna’s measures – announced earlier this week along with tougher controls at 12 checkpoints along its southern borders – drew an angry reaction from the EU on Thursday. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also criticised the proposal. "As far as Austria is concerned, I have to say I don’t like this decision, we are questioning whether it is within European law, and we will have a friendly discussion,“ he said. Vienna says that the measures are necessary because a German-backed EU plan for Turkey to stem the flow of migrants setting off from its coast is not yet working, and has urged other countries on the Balkans route into Europe to follow suit.

Austria migrants