Interview: Refugee crisis "test case" for EU: former Austrian vice-chancellor

Europe must cooperate in finding a solution to the ongoing refugee crisis that is a litmus test of its integrity or risk falling apart, former Austrian Vice-Chancellor Erhard Busek has said.

Busek, now head of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua.

He said despite numerous countries wishing to blame each other, quarreling has no use and a joint effort to a solution must be sought.

He acknowledged however that he at present does not know what the solution would entail, with total numbers of migrants to come, for how long, and whether or not the flow could be stopped all still unknown factors.

What does exist for now is a "collection of ideas" about what can be done, and while some measures can be implemented locally, such as the "hot spots", contact points on the EU's outer borders, whose effectiveness Busek argued is debatable anyway, ultimately the situation needs to be solved in the migrants' countries of origin.

He noted that a common, cooperative strategy for such measures that would include building the economies and political systems of these countries, is still missing.

Busek, a member of the center-right People's Party who also served as vice-chancellor of Austria from 1991 to 1995, argued the case for "more Europe," and said if things advance forward positively, a greater European Union than today may come about.

If this does not occur, however, and each country seeks only to protect itself as a "stand-alone option," for which he cited Hungary as an example, the union may "break into pieces."

He said more possibilities and more power should be given to the European Union, Council, and Commission, though this is at present being blocked by member states, which he argued only hurts themselves.

He noted that while the general majority in Europe does not want "more Europe," the present problems and challenges are "pushing them in this direction."

The member states do not want to give up power, he continued, noting that however his own long experience as a politician tells him that this is a normal tendency.

The refugee crisis is thus proving a great "reality check" for Austria and Europe, he said, and shows that politics is currently lagging behind reality. The existing problems are too large for the present system that lacks the capacity to deal with them, and is as a result being left behind, he explained.

"The political system is in this context being asked to solve problems, not to create them, and must either manage them adequately or invent new solutions," he said.

Busek also stressed that the people coming to Austria and other European countries are all refugees of a kind, and would not take risks were the necessity not there. Their actions, which often involve risking their lives to make the journey, show it is still a more positive alternative than remaining in their countries of origin.

Additionally, he said even neighboring Hungarians who move to Austria to work are doing so out of an economic necessity, which is not a fault of their own.

He said he has been positively impressed at how open Austrian civil society has been in accepting the refugees. He also noted however that asylum applications in Austria have up to now been relatively low, and should Germany close its borders, which he does not expect will happen soon, Austria would be faced with a different set of circumstances than it presently does.

Concerning Germany, he stated he admired Chancellor Angela Merkel's acceptance of large numbers of refugees as being "morally right," and "brave," but acknowledged the German people are now faced with the great challenge of how to handle the problem.

He said one of Austria's other neighbors, Hungary, has adopted a position of isolation, which is a result of a lack of dialogue.

Busek said that some religious "extremists" might be present among the refugees as some media reports suggested, but they would be small in number. He said some media are blowing the situation out of proportion, calling for more rational coverage. Endit