No new arrivals as Austria starts asylum seeker intake limit for first day: media

Austria has implemented its new limit of 80 asylum applications per day at its southern border crossing from 8 a.m. local time on Friday that incidentally saw no new arrivals throughout the day, local media reported.

There were thus no asylum applications made nor were there transit refugees, on whom there is now also a 3,200-person daily limit, wishing to travel onward such as to Germany.

Authorities are however expecting an increase as colder weather conditions subside.

The border management system at the Spielfeld site by the Slovenian border is now to be in operation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., meaning once limits are reached persons will have to wait in Slovenia until 6 a.m. the following day.

There are concerns from some quarters over the limits, which when reached will lead to a temporary border closure, as they could lead to a backlog of refugees waiting in neighboring countries along the Balkans route and potentially a humanitarian crisis.

Government leaders have however defended the measures in the face of criticism, such as Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who said Austria does not lie on the EU outer borders and thus cannot be the first safe country for migrants. Endit