Leader Of Austria Praises The Uk’s Immigration Efforts And Mentions Its Deportation Plan To Rwanda

While hosting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Vienna on Tuesday, the leader of Austria commended Britain as a “pioneer” in outsourcing asylum proceedings to locations outside of Europe, citing a British bill to send migrants to Rwanda.

In an election anticipated this autumn, the far-right Freedom Party will present a serious challenge to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s conservative party, which has long taken a hard stance on immigration.

Nehammer stated that regarding having the ability to carry out asylum proceedings in safe third countries, Austria and the United Kingdom—which departed the European Union in 2020—are “strategic partners.”

Among the 27 nations that make up the European Union, Austria is one of fifteen that demanded last week additional agreements with nations that migrants enter or leave in order to reach Europe. This appeal followed EU countries endorsing comprehensive changes to the bloc’s dysfunctional asylum system.

The British Parliament approved legislation in late April that would have sent some migrants to Rwanda, paving the way for flights this summer under Sunak’s contentious plan to discourage people who are desperate to reach the United Kingdom from attempting dangerous English Channel crossings.

Human rights advocates and organisations that support migrants have vowed to keep opposing the policy because they believe it to be immoral and cruel.