Kurz suggests military option to stem migration crisis
December 24, 2017
The Austrian chancellor has urged the EU to consider establishing "safe areas" in refugees' countries of origin. But in a controversial twist, he said Brussels should organize it and "back it militarily."
"Forcing states to take refugees doesn't take Europe any further. The discussion makes no sense," Kurz told the Saturday edition of Berlin-based newspaper Bild.
"Migrants who set off for Europe don't want to go to Bulgaria or Hungary. They want to go to Germany, Austria or Sweden."
More than one million people entered the EU irregularly in 2015 and 2016, many of them fleeing conflict and extreme poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. However, Kurz, who served as Austria's foreign minister, has been a vocal critic of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy to refugees, saying it challenges the fabric of European society.
While serving as Austria's foreign minister, Kurz traveled to Macedonia's southern border with Greece to see how authorities are preventing migrants from traveling northward towards central EuropeImage: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Tatic
'Back it militarily'
Kurz has instead proposed that the EU consider providing support "militarily" to refugees by establishing secure conditions in their countries of origin, in what appeared to be a call for so-called "safe zones."
De-escalation zones, also known as "safe zones," have been implemented in Syria since earlier this year. They represent areas in which warring parties agree to not engage in combat, consequently establishing a secure place for humanitarian groups to serve those displaced by conflict.
"If (redistributing refugees) isn't possible, then they should be helped in safe areas on their own continent," Kurz said. "The EU should support that, perhaps even organize it, and back it militarily."
Last week, Kurz said in a Time magazine op-ed that the "robust control of the European Union's external borders remains a prerequisite if we want to find sustainable solutions for the migration crisis."
How did Europe's refugee crisis start?
From escalating violence in the Middle East and Africa to incoherent asylum policy at home - DW looks at how the EU has found itself in the midst of a refugee crisis.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Fleeing war and poverty
In late 2014, with the war in Syria approaching its fourth year and Islamic State making gains in the north of the country, the exodus of Syrians intensified. At the same time, others were fleeing violence and poverty in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Niger and Kosovo.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Seeking refuge over the border
Vast numbers of Syrian refugees had been gathering in border-town camps in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan since 2011. By 2015, with the camps full to bursting and residents often unable to find work or educate their children, more and more people decided to seek asylum further afield.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
A long journey on foot
In 2015 an estimated 1.5 million people made their way on foot from Greece towards western Europe via the "Balkan route". The Schengen Agreement, which allows passport-free travel within much of the EU, was called into question as refugees headed towards the wealthier European nations.
Image: Getty Images/M. Cardy
Desperate sea crossings
Tens of thousands of refugees were also attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean on overcrowded boats. In April 2015, 800 people of various nationalities drowned when a boat traveling from Libya capsized off the Italian coast. This was to be just one of many similar tragedies - by the end of the year, nearly 4,000 refugees were reported to have died attempting the crossing.
Image: Reuters/D. Zammit Lupi
Pressure on the borders
Countries along the EU's external border struggled to cope with the sheer number of arrivals. Fences were erected in Hungary, Slovenia, Macedonia and Austria. Asylum laws were tightened and several Schengen area countries introduced temporary border controls.
Image: picture-alliance/epa/B. Mohai
Closing the open door
Critics of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" refugee policy claimed it had made the situation worse by encouraging more people to embark on the dangerous journey to Europe. By September 2016, Germany had also introduced temporary checks on its border with Austria.
Image: Reuters/F. Bensch
Striking a deal with Turkey
In early 2016, the EU and Turkey signed an agreement under which refugees arriving in Greece could be sent back to Turkey. The deal has been criticized by human rights groups and came under new strain following a vote by the European Parliament in November to freeze talks on Turkey's potential accession to the EU.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Altan
No end in sight
With anti-immigration sentiment in Europe growing, governments are still struggling to reach a consensus on how to handle the continuing refugee crisis. Attempts to introduce quotas for the distribution of refugees among EU member states have largely failed. Conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere show no signs coming to an end, and the death toll from refugee sea crossings is on the rise.
