Austrian Leader Applauds UK’s Outsourcing of Asylum Proceedings to Rwanda

Vienna, Austria |Kigali, Rwanda– Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer commended the United Kingdom on Tuesday for its pioneering approach to outsourcing asylum proceedings to non-European countries. This statement came during a joint news conference with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, held in Vienna.

Nehammer's conservative party, known for its stringent stance on migration, faces significant competition from the far-right Freedom Party in the upcoming elections expected this fall. Amid this political climate, Nehammer highlighted the UK’s recent legislation to send migrants to Rwanda as a model worth emulating.

"A strategic partnership between Austria and the United Kingdom is essential for conducting asylum proceedings in safe third countries," Nehammer asserted. "The United Kingdom is a pioneer for this path, which will also be important for the European Union. With the Rwanda model, it is a pioneer for us being able to put asylum proceedings in safe third countries on the European Union's agenda too."

Austria, alongside 14 other countries in the 27-member European Union, recently called for more agreements with nations that serve as departure points or transit routes for migrants heading to Europe. This initiative followed the EU's endorsement of comprehensive reforms to its struggling asylum system.

In April, the British Parliament approved legislation to deport some migrants to Rwanda, paving the way for implementation of flights this summer under Sunak's controversial plan. This policy aims to deter dangerous English Channel crossings by individuals seeking to enter the UK.

Prime Minister Sunak emphasized the necessity of innovative solutions and deterrents, such as the UK's Rwanda scheme. "We have to pursue new ideas, solutions, and deterrents — removals to safe third countries — like the UK’s pioneering Rwanda scheme," Sunak said. "It's increasingly clear that many other countries now agree that that is the approach that is required: bold, novel, looking at safe country partnerships."

Despite governmental support, the plan has faced significant opposition from human rights activists and migrant advocacy groups, who argue that the policy is unethical and inhumane. They have pledged to continue contesting the policy in various forums.

As both Austria and the UK navigate their respective migration challenges, their leaders' alignment on this issue underscores a broader trend towards tougher immigration policies in Europe. This collaboration may influence future EU policies on asylum and migration.

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