Meet Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz – a 32-year-old politician who is one of the most influential politicians in Europe. His view of migration is close to that of the Visegrad Group and not only because of the rejection of migrant quotas.
Kurz unexpectedly won the Austrian election not only because of his charm, but also because of his decisive attitude towards migration policy. During his first months as chancellor, Kurz introduced a series of measures to deter migrants from choosing Austria for a new life.
His voice has been even more strengthened since Austria took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU with the motto “Europe that protects”. He agrees with the V4 countries that the decision on partial questions should be taken at a national level. Among other things, he promotes the setting-up of detention centers outside the Union and also the strengthening the power of the Frontex Agency.
And there´s more. Even as the youngest Foreign Minister in EU, he focused on the crisis in eastern Ukraine and also hosted an international meeting on the Iranian nuclear program in Vienna. And he did not hesitate to oppose Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At the time of the culmination of the refugee crisis in Europe, it was also him who set out to close the Balkan route.
It is also important to highlight the fact that Austria is the only country in Europe, where the so-called right-wing populists party (FPÖ) is part of the cabinet. However, Europe does not protest against them because the time has changed. Once again thanks to Kurz.
