Johanna Mikl-Leitner

The Austrian government invited Bulgaria for participation at an extraordinary meeting between the interior and foreign  ministers of the countries along the Western Balkans migrant route.

The invitation was sent by Austria's Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz.

Austria on Friday morning began enforcing restrictions on the number of migrants that can enter the country each day.

Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner previously announced that a maximum of 80 asylum requests will be accepted daily from those arriving via the Balkan route, while 3,200 refugees will be allowed to enter each day.

Unless Greece secures EU's external border, the Schengen border will move towards central Europe, says Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

Ahead of a meeting of the Council of EU interior ministers in Amsterdam, the Austrian minister told her colleagues that Vienna's decision to limit the reception of asylum seekers stands.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias was berated at the Hellas Filmbox festival in Germany for the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government’s policies in Greece. According to sources, a man told Kotzias that he was visiting Berlin for tourism when people are dying on the streets of Greece.

Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas slammed the Financial Times report alleging that several EU ministers and senior EU officials believe that threatening suspension from the Schengen Zone could force Greece to protect its borders more effectively.

Austria's government has temporarily put on on hold plans to build a fence along its border with Slovenia, Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner has said.

She spoke during a news conference to say the decision was made on Slovenia's request.

Europe's migrant crisis cannot be solved with the construction of fences or walls at borders, Germany has said after Austria announced plans to erect fences on its border with Slovenia to slow the influx. 

Austria will construct a fence along its border with Slovenia, Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner has announced.

According to her, the country must take measures in case of deterioration of the situation.

Johanna Mikl-Leitner says that unless the situation with refugees is brought under control it will be necessary to build "Fortress Europe."

The Austrian interior minister was speaking during a tour of the border crossing Spielfeld with Slovenia through which thousands of refugees arrive in Austria every day.

Bulgaria's State Agency for Refugees said on Thursday that a total of 52 people have been sent back to the country by the Austrian authorities this year, BGNES reported.