Germany, Austria to Discuss Differences over Caps on Migrant Arrivals

Austria and Germany plan to discuss differences in their approach to the number of migrants each of the two EU member states allows to enter its territory, the AP reported on Tuesday.

A meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Austrian Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner will take place in Berlin on Wednesday.

While Germany favours  an open-border approach and remains the most cherished destination for migrants, Austria has capped the number of arrivals in a bid to stem a migrant flow transiting its territory en route to Germany.

Austria’s decision has been replicated by other countries lying on the so-called Western Balkans route from Greece to Western Europe. The limits set on on migrant numbers have restricted the influx to Western Europe, including Germany, but have led to pile-up of asylum seekers on Greek territory.

Angela Merkel has disagreed with Austria’s approach. She has told German SWR radio station on Tuesday that she was not grateful to Austria, according to the AP.