MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The first non-Austrian to address the national parliament, Ban spoke a day after Austrian lawmakers passed strict asylum laws that would declare a state of emergency in case of an extraordinary influx of migrants. The amended legislation allows Austria to reject asylum seekers at the border and send them to neighboring countries.
"I am concerned that European countries are now adopting increasingly restrictive immigration and refugee policies. Such policies negatively affect the obligation of member states under international humanitarian law and European law," The Guardian daily quoted Ban telling Austrian lawmakers in Vienna.
The bill was passed after a right-wing Freedom Party of Austria candidate, Norbert Hofer, won the first round of the Austrian presidential election held last week.
Additionally, Austrian media reported Wednesday that the country was planning to construct a 1,300-foot fence on the Italian border to prevent new migrant arrivals. The European Commission sent a letter to Vienna this month demanding explanation for the construction of a border control post at the Brenner Pass in purported violation of the visa-free travel Schengen Agreement.
