VIENNA (Sputnik) — Earlier this week, the Austrian federal government and some provincial governors agreed to reduce migration to the country to some 37,000 people per year, significantly lower than the over 90,000 asylum applications the country received in 2015. Prior to that, Vienna enhanced the measures to defend state borders against illegal border crossings.
"In the most part, the refugees behave peacefully. But, of course, it is possible that some will try to use force against the police and the army. Yes, it can lead to ugly scenes," Sebastian Kurz told the newspaper Oesterreich in an interview to be published on Sunday.
He added that limits to refugee flow are necessary as many of them bypass safe European countries, as Austria, Germany or, for instance, Sweden are wealthier and more prosperous.
"The next wave of refugees threatens the Schengen. I am hundred percent sure that we will finally find a common European solution. Domino effect will increase the pressure for this to happen faster."
Europe is struggling to find a solution to a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Germany and Austria are among the destinations most popular with refugees.
EU border agency Frontex detected some 1.6 million illegal border crossings in 2015.
