24 February 2016, 13:32 GMT
VIENNA (Sputnik) — The refugee crisis could put into question the existence of the European Union itself, Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said Wednesday.
"The issue of refugees could be an issue of the survival of the European Union," Mikl-Leitner said.
Europe has been beset by a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants fleeing their home countries to escape violence and poverty. Many of them travel to wealthier EU states where they intend to apply for asylum.
Austria is one of the most desirable EU member states for refugees due to its social benefits and stable political system. According to the Austrian Interior Ministry, some 680,000 refugees have transited through Austria since September 2015, while 90,000 have applied for asylum in the country.
