fb-pixelAustria to build fence along parts of border with Slovenia - The Boston Globe Skip to main content

Austria to build fence along parts of border with Slovenia

Migrants waited for their next step Wednesday after crossing from Austria into Germany. ARMIN WEIGEL/European PressPhoto Agency

VIENNA — Austria, a strong critic of fences built to cope with Europe’s migrant influx, announced Wednesday it is joining other nations that have either erected border barriers or are planning to do so.

Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner insisted the move was aimed solely at bringing order to the unrelenting influx of people entering the country, telling parliament there were no plans ‘‘to build a fence around Austria.’’

Still, the project is a major shift for the country, which has preached the sanctity of unimpeded internal European Union borders since the migrant crisis intensified earlier this year.

It may run into domestic and international criticism for the signal it sends to other countries in the same situation, and could ignite a chain reaction along the land route in Eastern Europe used by tens of thousands of desperate people seeking a better life in prosperous EU nations.

Advertisement



Slovenia, the main entry point into Austria, also said it was ready to build a fence, while Hungary has been championing the success of its razor-wire border fences with Serbia and Croatia, and plans another one with Romania.

Greece erected a barbed-wire fence three years ago on a section of its border with Turkey not separated by a river. Bulgaria also has fenced off parts of its boundary with Turkey, while some Baltic states plan to erect fences on border segments with Russia.

All of these existing or planned fences are either on outer EU borders or between two EU countries where one is not yet part of the Schengen Agreement, meant to ensure the free movement of persons.

The Austria-Slovenia border is part of the agreement, however, and any barriers erected on it would be closely watched for possible violations.

Germany, the country of choice for many fleeing war and hardship, also signaled its intention to reduce its load of asylum-seekers. Most Syrian citizens are being accepted, but Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said many of the Afghans pouring into the country will likely be sent home.

Advertisement



‘‘People who come to us as refugees from Afghanistan cannot all expect to be able to stay in Germany,’’ he said, adding that their status will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

In Austria, Mikl-Leitner told parliament that the construction of ‘‘technical barriers’’ would begin after about 10 days of planning, but gave no exact date for the start of the project.

Speaking to state broadcaster ORF, Mikl-Leitner cited the need for a fence to maintain public order, while Defense Minister Gerald Klug said containers or railings could be set up to ‘‘control the refugees in an orderly way.’’

Since Hungary sealed its borders with Serbia and Croatia this fall, thousands of refugees have been flowing into Slovenia daily. From there, they go to Austria, with many continuing on to Germany.

Slovenian officials, who say their small nation cannot cope with the influx, have warned for days they would take action if Austria or Germany tried to close off their borders.

Prime Minister Miro Cerar firmed up Slovenia’s plans Wednesday.

‘‘If necessary, we are ready to put up the fence immediately’’ if a weekend plan by EU and Balkan leaders fails to stem the migrant surge, he said.

The usually excellent relations between Germany and Austria have been strained in recent days, with Germany accusing Austria on Wednesday of dropping asylum-seekers near their border after dark without warning.

Advertisement



Mikl-Leitner acknowledged a possible effect on migrants in Slovenia if Austria builds a border barrier — a situation she said Austria already is struggling to deal with ‘‘because Germany is taking too few.’’

‘‘People are marching toward Germany because they feel they are invited there,’’ she said, alluding to perceptions that Chancellor Angela Merkel has suggested all who have a right to asylum are welcome.

Merkel has said European countries have a duty to protect those who have a right to shelter, but also that all countries must share the burden. About 577,000 people seeking asylum came to Germany from January to the end of September this year, 164,000 of them in September alone, authorities say.

De Maiziere, Mikl-Leitner’s German counterpart, said it was Austria’s fault that ‘‘refugees are driven to certain points without warning at the fall of darkness.

‘‘Austria’s behavior in recent days was out of line,’’ he said.