Austrian DM proposes alternative to border fence over refugee crisis

Austrian Defense Minister Gerald Klug Thursday proposed an alternative solution to constructing a fence in order to stem the present flow of migrants wishing to enter Austrian territory.

Accompanied by leaders of the Armed Forces, Klug said at a press conference that rather than constructing a fence, as has been proposed by Minister of the Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the current main asylum gathering area in the southern town of Spielfeld by the Slovenian border should be upgraded.

This would not entail large-scale changes, but rather involve an enlargement of both the entrances and exits of the area, as well as additional tents and containers in the waiting area for migrants waiting to pass into Austria.

Here the migrants could have the chance to take a rest and receive food and warm clothing, though it was stressed that the "planned onward journey" of the migrants is the key point of the efforts, particularly to avoid thousands of migrants "waiting frustratedly in the cold."

While Klug said changes would have to occur at the Spielfeld border crossing, he called the proposed establishment of a border fence a "political gesture" that ultimately would not impact the numbers of migrants arriving.

Should the stream of migrants be slowed down, this would have to take place at the EU's outer borders, he added.

Klug also said the establishment of further border crossing sites could be of benefit, but would first need to be discussed with Slovenian officials. Endit