Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) sees the Netherlands as allies in the fight against illegal migration and against terrorism. The common concern is to get the EU Commission to accelerate the repatriation of rejected asylum seekers from the EU area, Nehammer told journalists after a visit to The Hague. A joint counter-terrorism working group was also agreed with the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is seen as a model country when it comes to the fight against terrorism. According to experts, an integrative concept is being pursued there that focuses on the prevention of attacks and deradicalization. Nehammer also spoke to the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security Ferdinand Grapperhaus about this topic. “You can only fight terror if you work transnationally,” emphasized Nehammer.
In a joint working group, Austria and the Netherlands want to exchange know-how on how to deal with hate preachers, radicalizing associations and how to finance them. The aim is to advise on best practice models and possible measures for problem areas. Other partners are to be taken on board.
The Netherlands is also “a strong ally” when it comes to migration, said Nehammer after a bilateral meeting with Dutch Migration Minister Ankie Broekers-Knol. Even if the “rhetoric is different”, Holland is “on the same line” with Austria. Unlike Austria, the Netherlands had agreed to accept migrants from the burned-down Greek refugee camp Moria. These 100 migrants were deducted from the resettlement quota, according to diplomatic circles.
When asked whether Austria could not take in a small number of refugees, as in the Dutch example, Nehammer referred to the great burden of illegal migration. In Austria and the Netherlands, which are around twice as large with 17 million inhabitants, the same number of asylum applications were made this year: 22,000. “Austria is in third place in the EU when it comes to granting protection,” emphasized Nehammer and criticized the fact that this was not recognized by the EU Commission.
