EU migration commissioner promises Austria funding over migrant crisis

EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos promised Austria financial aid to tackle the migrant crisis, during a visit to the town of Spielfeld on the Austrian-Slovenian border on Friday.

"Austria has supported the refugees and is providing a dignified welcome," Avramopoulos told journalists in Spielfeld, presently a major crossing site for migrants coming up from the Balkans countries, primarily heading onward to Germany.

The EU funding would come very soon as the relevant paperwork is underway in Brussels, he said, but made no comment as to how high the sum would be.

The commissioner said he was also glad to see that cooperation between Austria and Slovenia concerning the situation at their shared border had been strong, with both countries currently under considerable strain in coping with the difficult situation.

When asked about the talk of a fence on the border, he said he was aware of the discussion of such a measure within Austria, but to his knowledge no decision had yet been reached.

More broadly, Avramopoulos noted that all countries were currently under pressure due to the crisis, and said Turkey should be brought on board to help stem the constant influx of people into Europe. He added he was glad that repatriation and resettlement initiatives were presently being discussed. Endit