09. 10. 09. - 15:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

09. 10. 09. - 15:00

Activists protest over migrant laws

By David Rogers

Activists protested today (Fri) in front of the chancellory in Vienna over what they claim are "unusable" new laws for migrants.

Philipp Sonderegger from non-governmental organisation SOS Mitmensch said activists had cut apart chairs in front of the chancellery to make them unusable - just like laws on migrants’ right to remain in Austria which came into force on 1 April.  

The platform "Right to Remain" said only 400 people of the thousands who had applied for it had been given permission to remain in Austria on humanitarian grounds since 1 April.

The platform said: "The law has not provided a solution for people who have lived here for a long time without legal permission."

It added the special advisory council set up by the Interior Ministry had considered only four migrants’ cases because security authorities had the right to pre-screen which ones it would examine.

The platform also criticised People’s Party (ÖVP) Interior Minister Maria Fekter’s plans to deport asylum applicants during ongoing asylum proceedings.

The new law also disqualifies migrants who arrived in Austria after 1 May 2004 from a special right to remain in the country on humanitarian grounds.

Only those who entered Austria before that date, have lived in the country since their arrival and have a quasi-legal claim to residence, are eligible to receive permission to remain on humanitarian grounds.

Such people can apply to the government of the province they are living in for permission to remain on humanitarian grounds. If the provincial government grants it, the case is referred to the Interior Ministry for its approval within two months.

Austrian Times

Christie + Co to open Vienna office
Christie + Co has presented plans to open its first branch in Austria later this year.

Woman hides in forest for two days after petrol assault
A Styrian woman hid from her jobless husband for two days after he had showered her with car fuel, it has been announced.

Austrian found after getting lost in Croatia cycling trip
An elderly Austrian who went missing during a cycling outing in Croatia was found this morning (Thurs) after an all-night search in Croatia.

Iraq veteran faces new life to save brother in Traiskirchen
A Moroccan-born man who fought in the American army during the US invasion of Iraq is now fighting another battle to save the life of his brother.

Plane crash claims two
Two people were killed in a plane crash in Upper Austria this afternoon (Thurs).

Lukas and Sarah top baby name charts
Lukas was the most popular name for boys born in Austria for a 14th year in a row last year, according to a study.

Austrian's website lauded by Time Magazine
A stock market information platform created by an Austrian is in the top three in a prestigious US magazine’s annual ranking of the best homepages in the world.

Ban warns of difficult Middle East peace talks
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned that reopened peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority will "not be easy".

Strache hits out at 'centralist' EU
Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has attacked the European Union (EU) for being a "centralist" association.

Denying Greece support 'dangerous', Pröll warns
People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Josef Pröll has warned of "dangerous developments" as European Union (EU) member states have backed out of the previously agreed upon support package for Greece.