Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson urged the EU to strengthen its response to irregular migration. Speaking at a meeting in Vienna marking 30 years of EU membership for their nations, the leaders emphasized the need for tighter border controls and efficient mechanisms to return rejected asylum seekers.
Nehammer and Kristersson highlighted migration as a critical issue for the EU, which has influenced elections and bolstered far-right parties across Europe. Kristersson proposed the establishment of “return hubs” to expedite the deportation process, a plan discussed during the EU leaders’ October summit.
Austria and Sweden Present United Front
Kristersson commended Austria for aligning with Sweden’s migration stance, calling for innovative solutions. “These issues are meant to be solved, not endlessly debated,” he said. Nehammer praised Sweden as a key ally and credited Kristersson with keeping migration at the forefront of the EU’s agenda.
The Vienna meeting underscored the leaders’ shared commitment to addressing irregular migration, signaling a unified push within the bloc. Both leaders called for a spring deadline for concrete EU action plans on returns.
Reflecting on Three Decades of EU Membership
The meeting also marked 30 years since Austria, Sweden, and Finland joined the EU, increasing its membership to 15 states. The nations, neutral during the Cold War, sought EU membership amid economic challenges in the 1980s to secure access to the single market.
Accession negotiations were particularly contentious, involving disputes over agriculture, regional aid, budgets, and fishing quotas. Referendums followed, with Austria and Finland voting decisively in favor, Sweden narrowly approving, and Norway rejecting membership. This historic expansion reshaped the EU and strengthened its influence across Europe.
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