Minister rebukes states over asylum housing
The Local Austria - [email protected]
Published: 15 Jul, 2014 CET.
Updated: Tue 15 Jul 2014 13:19 CET
Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) has presented states that are failing to fulfill their obligations to accommodate asylum seekers with an ultimatum.
The states which had not achieved the targets set by the end of June include Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg and Upper Austria. If they don't relieve the unacceptable levels of overcrowding at the Traiskirchen reception center near Baden in Lower Austria, then the Interior Ministry will itself create quarters, she said.
The situation in Syria has caused an increasing number of asylum applications in Austria and throughout Europe. In Traiskirchen, there is therefore still "no significant relief." If the other Austrian states complied with at least the agreed upon asylum levels of 88 percent established in the 2012 summit, there would not be such a problem in the Lower Austrian town. "If the states do not honor their agreements by the end of July and relieve Traiskirchen significantly, then the Home Office itself will create quarters. Especially, of course, in the states that are particularly delinquent," said Mikl-Leitner. She referred to Tyrol, where the relevant authorities had already become active and will now operate their own accommodation. "This is the way we plan to go with the other defaulting states in August. First we will use private accommodation. As a second step, we will think about using vacant military barracks," said Mikl-Leitner of the plans.
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The states which had not achieved the targets set by the end of June include Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg and Upper Austria. If they don't relieve the unacceptable levels of overcrowding at the Traiskirchen reception center near Baden in Lower Austria, then the Interior Ministry will itself create quarters, she said.
The situation in Syria has caused an increasing number of asylum applications in Austria and throughout Europe.
In Traiskirchen, there is therefore still "no significant relief." If the other Austrian states complied with at least the agreed upon asylum levels of 88 percent established in the 2012 summit, there would not be such a problem in the Lower Austrian town.
"If the states do not honor their agreements by the end of July and relieve Traiskirchen significantly, then the Home Office itself will create quarters. Especially, of course, in the states that are particularly delinquent," said Mikl-Leitner.
She referred to Tyrol, where the relevant authorities had already become active and will now operate their own accommodation.
"This is the way we plan to go with the other defaulting states in August. First we will use private accommodation. As a second step, we will think about using vacant military barracks," said Mikl-Leitner of the plans.
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