SPÖ leader Babler: “We don’t need loudmouths, we need solutions”
Vienna (OTS/SK) – Fast asylum procedures at the EU’s external borders, a fair distribution of refugees in the EU, a reduction in illegal stays including negotiation of repatriation agreements, integration from day one, the empowerment of women as the key to integration, and protection and security for Austria – these are the core points of the “SPÖ Master Plan on Asylum, Migration and Integration”, which SPÖ Federal Party Chairman Andreas Babler presented today, Saturday, in a joint press conference with the Carinthian SPÖ State Party Chairman, Governor Peter Kaiser, and the deputy club chairwoman and SPÖ women’s chairwoman Eva-Maria Holzleitner. With the “Master Plan on Asylum, Migration and Integration”, which is based on the principle of “Humanity and Order”, the SPÖ is sharpening its position paper adopted in 2018 in terms of communication and underlining its unique selling point. “The SPÖ is the only party that has an offensive paper on asylum, migration and integration with pragmatic solutions so that conditions become better and more manageable for everyone,” said SPÖ leader Babler. “The SPÖ is committed to the human right to asylum. People fleeing war and terror must be helped. This fundamental right must never be questioned.” ****
SPÖ leader Babler stressed that it was his principle “not to step on people.” Even the production of “screaming headlines” by the FPÖ and ÖVP and escalation did not solve a single problem. The SPÖ solves problems with pragmatism and expertise, said Babler, who made it clear that the SPÖ wants to enforce a fair distribution of refugees in the EU with sanctions. This would lead to 75 percent fewer asylum applications in Austria. If the ÖVP and FPÖ had taken care of the problems in the 24 years they were in charge of the Interior Ministry, Austria would have fewer asylum seekers and integration problems today, Babler pointed out, pointing out that the ÖVP and FPÖ have also thinned out the police.
Governor Kaiser stressed that there is a need for rapid asylum procedures at the EU’s external borders instead of endless asylum procedures – at an operational level, European Asylum Centers must be set up for this purpose. “Migration is a pan-European phenomenon. We cannot pray it away or ignore it. It is better to deal with it in the way that we Austrians have always been known for and have done well with: with pragmatism,” said the governor.
Another key point of the “SPÖ master plan on asylum, migration and integration” is the reduction of illegal residence, for which repatriation agreements must be negotiated. It is also clear: “Anyone who has neither a reason for asylum nor a residence permit cannot stay in Austria.” With regard to the labor market, there should be the possibility of a “change of lane” under certain conditions, especially for young asylum seekers who work and integrate – and thus a chance of obtaining a different residence permit, said Kaiser.
SPÖ women’s chairwoman and deputy club chairwoman Holzleitner emphasized: “We are always on the side of women and will support them on their way to a self-determined and violence-free life. No matter where they come from.” Women are often the key to the integration of the entire family. This makes targeted women’s empowerment programs, German courses, access to educational institutions and protection from violence all the more important. “The FPÖ and ÖVP are instrumentalizing the issue to escalate and shout, but they are not providing any solutions, especially for women,” said Holzleitner.
SPÖ leader Babler underlined the importance of integration from day one. Those who stay in Austria should be able to learn German as quickly as possible, find work and thus become part of society. The SPÖ therefore wants to reintroduce the compulsory integration year with German and values courses, targeted support for women and measures to qualify them for the labor market. The SPÖ gives those who come to us a clear goal with an “integration compass” – with unshakable values such as democracy, human rights and women’s rights, said Babler.
When it comes to protection and security, the “SPÖ master plan for asylum, migration and integration” provides for severe sanctions if integration fails – ranging from long prison sentences to deportation, for example in the case of violent or terrorist crimes. “We must protect the population, whether migrant or not, from fundamentalists. But it is very important to differentiate here: we are dealing with a radicalized minority – and we must also protect Austria’s migrant, Muslim community from fundamentalists. There must be no general suspicion, after all, these anti-democratic social ideas are exactly what most people have fled from,” emphasized Babler. (End) mb/pok
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