Wikström, Verhofstadt and Mlinar: Is Haider back?

Press release from the ALDE group:

Commenting on the news that Austria will build a fence on its border with Slovenia, the first wall to be built within the Schengen area ALDE Group leader Guy Verhofstadt said:

“Austria is destroying the Schengen area from within. Instead of building fences, the Austrians should help the Slovenians to protect their border as decided last Sunday during the Summit on the Western Balkan route. Or use the bricks of their so-called fence to build schools in the refugee camps! In a Schengen area with joint borders, Slovenia’s border is Austrian’s border. ”

Cecilia Wikström (Sweden, Folkpartiet), ALDE’s spokesperson on the refugee crisis:

“At a time when a record of 60 million people globally are fleeing their homes due to war and oppression, it is unacceptable that Austria plans to build a wall of barbed wire towards another EU-member state in an attempt to prevent refugees from entering, instead of showing solidarity and humanity. Building walls has historically never proven to be a viable approach. The refugees do not disappear just because certain member states are trying to isolate themselves. As long as Europe keeps the values of peace, democracy and security high, people will do everything they can to find a way to get here. If somebody builds a wall of three meters somebody will get ladder of four.”

Angelika Mlinar (NEOS, Austria) adds:

“If our Minister of the Interior can think of nothing better than spending money on useless fences, it’s time for her to resign. The money that she plans to use here to cover up for the lack of any political strategy, should rather be used to build and secure refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan or Lebanon. There we should use the bricks of these walls -to protect the refugees. Walls that can help people to stay closer to their original home.“