Thomas de Maiziere warns Italy not to direct immigrants to Germany

Thomas de Maiziere warns Italy not to direct immigrants to Germany

Italy should avoid directing immigrants north to Austria and Germany, otherwise it will face restrictions on movement along a major transport corridor North-South axis, said German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere yesterday.

Austria, which has mainly played the role of conductor to Germany for immigrants who have flooded Europe since last fall, also played a leading role in closing the main route used by migrants to Europe via the Balkans from Greece.

While returning the highest temperatures on the continent, Austria preparing for the arrival of more immigrants who choose another path, traveling across Italy to the north after crossing the Mediterranean from North African countries such as Libya.

Vienna said it is prepared to adopt more stringent control measures if needed at Brenner Pass in Austria-Italy border, a major gateway for freight between Italy and northern European countries such as Germany.

"Italy can not wait to stay open forever over Brenner," warned de Maiziere on television ORF channel during his visit to Austria to meet counterparts from other German-speaking countries, adding that Rome can not "guide any more people to the north, as in the past. "

Austria said that tighter controls - motor controls and mass control measures such as roadblocks and a fence like this in southern border with Slovenia - will come into force at the Brenner if needed numbers of arrivals.

"We hope that there will need to decide on such matters," said de Maiziere at ORF. But he added that it also depended on the behavior and Italy.

"We assume of course that the number (of immigrants) coming to Italy is not high. We also assume that Italy fulfills its obligations," he said, adding that he had been informed of the plans of Austria.

A spokesman for the Austrian Interior Ministry said yesterday that the number of migrants crossing Austria for Germany has dropped to zero.

De Maiziere said recently it had dropped to 140 a day in March, compared with the thousands a few months ago.

De Maiziere said that if the number of arrivals remained at low levels, Germany will lift border controls have created delays in transport and have infuriated many people traveling to Germany from Austria.

"According to current data, although the numbers remain so low, it will not keep border controls beyond May 12," the minister said, adding that Germany wants to be ready anyway for the possibility of changing the flow trend immigrants.