Austria confirms construction of shorter mesh fence on Slovenian border

The Austrian federal government Friday confirmed it would construct a wire mesh fence at the Spielfeld migrant crossing site on the Slovenian border.

Speaking at a press conference along with senior officials, Minister of the Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner confirmed the fence would not be the longer, 25 km variant as had been initially discussed, but would be a shorter 3.7 km, a decision made particularly at the request of Slovenia.

It was, however, confirmed that backup plans to extend the fence to 25 km were in place, but that this would only apply should the Slovenian measures to maintain an orderly flow of migrants to Austria falter, and if increased patrols planned at the site of the shorter fence do not have intended effect.

Additionally, the fence will involve no barbed wire, as had been initially speculated in media reports, but rather will only be made of dense wire mesh, and be 2.2 metres high.

Barbed wire will, however, be present in storage containers by the site, and could be rolled out and implemented should the need to strengthen security arise.

The fence is expected to be completed by the end of the year, and will cost an estimated 1.2 to 2 million euros (1.29 to 2.1 million U.S. dollars).

Mikl-Leitner said it falls in line with Schengen rules and thus will not go against European Union regulations, especially as it is able to be dismantled again. The European Commission has also already been notified of the planned construction, it was confirmed. Endit