Austrian chancellor calls for EU-wide asylum seeker intake quotas

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann called for a EU-wide quota for the intake of asylum seekers, during an address to the National Council here on Monday.

In his speech, Faymann discussed the outcome of the EU extraordinary summit held at the end of April to address the increased numbers of asylum seekers coming to Europe, which took place in the wake of the crisis in the Mediterranean Sea and cost many people their lives.

The Chancellor said the Mediterranean Sea had become a "huge grave" for many of these people trying to reach Europe by sea, who were fleeing from wars or intolerable conditions in their home countries.

He said European heads of government had agreed on short-term measures to provide maritime aid, but while capable of saving lives, the decision was not "a program for a better world."

A quota system to facilitate the distribution of refugees would therefore provide fairness, he said, and added he was pleased to see that the debate over the issue in Europe was now well under way.

In addition, he said asylum was "not an act of grace, but a human right."

The Chancellor said EU and African government officials were to discuss sustainable solutions to the refugee crisis during an upcoming meeting in Malta. Endit