Austrian FM hopes for softer stance on asylum intake from hardline EU states

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said Wednesday he hopes EU states with a hardline stance on the intake of asylum seekers may soften their approach under the right conditions.

He made the comments at a press conference in Vienna, where he was joined by Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva following talks, Austria Press Agency reported.

He said the stance of countries such as Hungary could be more flexible if the EU outer borders were better-protected, and that they may then be prepared to take in asylum seekers from war-torn regions.

The minister also criticized the quota system for the relocation of refugees that has not been implemented. Instead, "proper outer border protection" should be implemented, and refugees brought directly from crisis regions to Europe.

"I can well imagine that even states that are not showing readiness (to accept asylum seekers) will then also do so," he said.

Both officials also expressed caution at the EU deal on asylum seekers with Turkey.

Kurz said the EU must be careful to not reach a "dangerous dependence" on Turkey and reiterated the need for improved protection of the outer borders.

Kuneva said while her country's relations with neighboring Turkey were good, it must also not be allowed to use stream of migrants into Europe as a means of applying pressure. Endit